REJECT THE CULTURE OF DEATH – Father Stan Fortuna connects with teens at St. Jude Parish¹s youth rally in Chalfont. (Sarah Webb)
By NADIA POZO
CS&T Staff Writer
By NADIA POZO
CS&T Staff Writer
"Wiggling" Father Stan style means knowing how to move around the culture of death in order to plant seeds of the Gospel truth in everyday life.
"Jesus said you must be as cunning as a serpent and as innocent as a dove," said the internationally acclaimed rapper-priest from Yonkers, N.Y. "It's not enough to criticize the deficient things in the culture of death – though we must – we need to go to the inner workings so it can be transformed."
He spoke of an article written in the New York Times Sunday lifestyle's edition by Alex Kuczynski as an example of how to"³wiggle." The writer managed to get the words unborn infant, unborn child and unborn baby alongside the politically correct term of "fetus" in an article entitled, "The nine months of living anxiously."
Kuczynski managed to get pro-life words in a newspaper that is very openly "pro-choice," which is a great example of how to be as cunning as a serpent and innocent as a dove when engaging the culture of death, Father Stan explained.
Father Stan points to Pope John Paul II as the master "wiggler" who has been bringing the Gospel to contemporary culture. He asked the teens to pray to Jesus to show them how they are to do the same in their everyday lives.
"It's not enough to say Jesus is your best friend, you must bring the reality of Christ to the classroom and to your friends."
In order to be able to do this, Father Stan warned the teens to see with the eyes of their soul the reality they live in and to discern the lies they are fed.
"The culture of death has perverted the intentions of God in general but, in particular, it's perverted the sacredness of the body. The body is a gift from God. It's good."
The Franciscan Friar of the Renewal points out that the culture has the deceptive power to make one believe that nothing is a big deal or that bad. What has become legalized, has become normalized, he said, making the culture more and more confused to the truth although it speaks with authority.
Creatively using song, rapping and personal testimony, Father Stan connected with the teens and brought home the message of freedom found in Jesus.
"Choice is the power of choosing," explained Father Stan. "In Dueteronomy 30:19-20 it says, 'I have set before you life and death... Choose life, then, that you and your descendents may live, by loving the Lord, your God, heeding His voice, and holding fast to Him.'"
"The culture of death will get the better of us unless we learn and relearn obedience. If we're obedient to the Spirit and the Will of God, the love and peace that's beyond our understanding will be ours. St. Francis says, 'If you want to blow dust in the eyes of the devil, have spiritual joy.' You won't get it unless you summit to the Spirit and Will of God."
The teen retreat, which ended with Mass concelebrated with Father Stan and pastor Rev. Msgr. James P McCoy, proved to be a great success, according to its organizers, who wanted to share the inspirational preaching of Father Stan with the teens of St. Jude and surrounding parishes.
"Father Stan is so full of life and really is able to connect almost instantly with the teens he speaks to," said organizer Micky Dominick of St. Jude parish. "He makes it known he understands the ways of the world, but he offers what really works. He offers Christ."
An inspired 19-year-old Amy Shanahan agreed. "The way he sings and the way he incorporates everything appeals to teenagers today. He was amazing."
To learn more about Father Stan Fortuna, to invite him to speak or to purchase his CDs, visit www.francescoproductions.com or call (718) 401-1589.
Contact Nadia Pozo at npozo@adphila.org or call (215) 965-4614.