But the fighter still remains: gritty, inspiring Father Stu

Viewers might be surprised to find that Father Stu, which debuts in theaters on Good Friday, has rough language throughout. If they stick with it, however, they’ll find it’s among the most Catholic movies in recent memory.

Father Stuart Long was a Montana product who saw his boxing career cut short by injury, then worked various jobs — even trying a Hollywood acting career — before a near-fatal motorcycle accident sparked a conversion experience that brought him into the Catholic Church and the priesthood. Although stricken during seminary formation with a progressively debilitating muscle disorder, he was ordained for the Diocese of Helena and served several years — much of those spent hearing confessions in a convalescent center — until his death in 2014 at age 50.

This Hollywood production, with Mark Wahlberg in the title role and Mel Gibson as his gruff, distant father, hits the highlights effectively. Long’s gradual transformation from chip-on-his-shoulder atheist to stalwart apologist for the Faith is portrayed credibly even amid the setbacks and opposition he encounters. While Fr. Stu mellows during his seminary formation, he remains rough around the edges, which helps him communicate pastoral wisdom in no-nonsense terms. He becomes a powerful witness to many, including his nonbelieving parents.

Saint Paul compared himself to a boxer: “I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it” (1 Cor 9:26-27). Father Stu translated his pugilistic skills to his faith journey, refusing to let adversity knock him out. “We shouldn’t pray for an easy life,” he says, “but for the strength to endure a difficult life.”

Unlike many films, Father Stu gets Catholicism right. Catechists and priests explain points of faith accurately. Long’s vocation comes as the fruit of much prayer and discernment — and realizing he’d been lovingly embraced by his heavenly Father. “God saved me and forgave me to show there’s a reason why I’m here,” he says.

The overriding themes here are that no lost sheep stands outside God’s reach, and that our suffering has a sacred purpose. “The experience of suffering is the fullest expression of God’s love,” says Fr. Stu. “It’s a chance to be close to Christ.”

GERALD KORSON is a Legatus magazine editorial consultant and staff writer.