By Angela E. Pometto
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 3/3/05)

"You think you’re the only one with pain to suffer? Everybody’s got a thing they gotta suffer. Rich or poor don’t matter gotta suffer."

In his latest music video, the rapping priest, Franciscan Father Stan Fortuna, offers valuable lessons about the certainty and meaning of suffering. "Everybody Got 2 Suffer" includes the video and 75 minutes of teaching about Pope John Paul II’s apostolic letter "On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering." The season of Lent presents an excellent time to meditate on the mystery of suffering. Father Stan’s teaching brings the pope’s theology down to a level that parents and teens can both appreciate.

The music video has a powerful message and is supported by equally powerful music and images. The song tells two stories. The first is of the death of a wealthy father. Even though the family has money, they still suffer after his death. The second is a group of kids involved in a drug deal. The deal goes bad, and an innocent boy is shot.

Along with these stories, images of a wide range of human suffering are seen. Pictures of historical figures who were assassinated, Nazi concentration camps, the malnourished in Africa and the September 11th terrorist attacks all invoke an emotional response from viewers. Father Stan uses his urban setting of the Bronx, N.Y., for most of the footage, which makes the video feel real.

"Every person on the planet suffers in some way," said Joseph Campo, producer. "Father Stan hits this right on point. We’re all hoping that you can learn from suffering." Campo said that the actors in the video are all natives of the Bronx and East New York City.

"We’re not working with [professional] actors or a stage set," said Chuck Kinnane, director. "We’re acting in places where stuff like this happens. It adds a real authenticity to the production."

According to Kinnane, the production team met up with Father Stan in Vienna, Austria, while he was singing at a concert. Father Stan saw the film they made of him and contracted them to work on the music video.

"Music is a part of my life," he said. "When I have Christ inside me, music becomes a powerful means for it to be expressed in a way people can understand." Christ can sanctify rap music — or any kind of music — and elevate it to do His will.

According to Father Stan, the culture teaches people to avoid suffering at all costs. It’s seen as something evil that has no value, but Christians are called to take up their cross and suffer with Christ.

Pope John Paul II has "begun a revolution for youth, elderly, the Church, clergy, married state, single state, religious state, all believers, unbelievers, for every single person," Father Stan said.

During his talk on "Salvifici Doloris," Father Stan breaks the pope’s apostolic letter into 10 points. For those who may have difficulties reading the pope’s writing, Father Stan reads from the actual text and then elaborates. He makes the lessons of suffering, as taught by the pope, accessible to everyone.

"Jesus draws close to the world of human suffering," he said. "Jesus makes even that which is ugly, beautiful."

He compared Mary at the foot of the cross to a mother caring for a sick child.

"When Mary stood there, it was the deepest emptying of faith in human history," he said. "Love is the ultimate source of the meaning of suffering. The power of this love gives us the ability to stand."

In order to fully grasp the theology of suffering, one must have an interior relationship with Christ. "Living with Him in the interior realm will make you more enthusiastic and energetic of giving yourself," he said.

Father Stan encourages viewers meditate on this apostolic letter. "You have to learn how to sit still and have some silence," he said.

Along with "Everybody Got 2 Suffer," Father Stan has produced 10 instructional videos concerning culture, priests, Mass, family and the Holy Spirit. His upbeat talks are aimed at teens but have a wide appeal. Parishes or families interested in obtaining a copy should call (718) 401-7349 or go to www.francescoproductions.com.