Stuart Ignatius Long (July 26, 1963 – June 9, 2014) was an American boxer and Catholic priest who developed a rare progressive muscle disorder.

However, after two years, the Franciscans encouraged Long to consider diocesan priesthood, and he was accepted as a seminarian by Helena bishop Robert C. Morlino, who sent him to Mt.

[1] During his time at the seminary, Long experienced some difficulty walking, which doctors initially believed to be a treatable case of polymyositis.

However, he was eventually diagnosed with inclusion body myositis, a rare progressive muscle disorder similar to muscular dystrophy.

During this time, Long visited the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, believing that the Virgin Mary would miraculously heal him.

According to a close friend, while visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, Long had a mystical encounter with Joan of Arc, after which he felt he was being called to carry his disease for Christ.

[1] After returning home from the pilgrimage to France, Long learned that Bishop George Leo Thomas of the Diocese of Helena had decided to ordain him.

As he grew weaker, friends assisted Long to celebrate Mass by guiding his fingers to touch the right items.

His parents went through RCIA and were received into the Catholic Church, and many of the healthcare workers at the care facility converted to Catholicism.

[5] After Russell dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, Rosalind Ross wrote the screenplay and then made her directorial debut with the film.