VIDEO SERIES:

Real Suffering

Finding Hope & Healing in the Trials of Life

Real Suffering

Transform your sufferings in Christ: 
 Encounter Jesus in the midst of pain, loss, and guilt Let go of anger and frustration
 Engage your story with compassion 
 Embrace hope instead of fear
 Live in His freedom and transform the world

Can suffering be a catalyst to union with Christ? 

Dr. Bob Schuchts, PHD

Suffering affects everyone. For many, it is a stumbling block to faith in God and the catalyst to an unhappy life. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, it can be the catalyst to something greater: union with Christ. 

In this powerful video series, Dr. Bob Schuchts examines the complex nature of suffering based on his personal crosses and decades of encounters as a family and marriage therapist. Dissecting physical pain (with Jesus as our model), emotional loss (through the intercession of Our Lady of Sorrows), and spiritual guilt (with St. Peter as our example), he shows the underlying purpose of our sorrows and helps us to see how they can be a means of drawing closer to God.
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Bonus

FOR A LIMITED TIME, when you register, you'll receive coupons for:

20% off Real Suffering book, study guide, and journal (sold individually) 
AND
30% off Real Suffering Study Pack (book, study guide, journal)

Lessons

Intimate Teachings from Dr. Bob Schuchts

1

Three Kinds of Suffering

Through the examples of Jesus, Mary, and St. Peter, learn to embrace, rather than fear, the pain, loss, and guilt you experience. 
2

Physical Pain (Jesus)

Discover how to trust the Father, even in the midst of debilitating pain, by looking to Jesus' suffering. 
3

Emotional Loss (Mary)

With Our Lady of Sorrows as a model,  experience the mysterious joy and healing that can be found in the midst of grief and emotional sorrow. 
4

Spiritual Guilt (St. Peter)

Like St. Peter, learn to turn to God's powerful mercy in the midst of sin and guilt and embrace His mission for you. 

Profiles

Real-Life Stories of Suffering & Hope

1

The Lost Brother

Dr. Bob Schuchts shares how God miraculously brought healing to his whole family through the physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering of his brother, Dave. 
2

Do With Me as You Wish

A priest shares his transformative journey of trusting the Father through a cancer diagnosis. 
3

At Rest with the Lord

A wife and mother witnesses to the healing power of Christ's love through the suffering and pain of her husband's death. 
4

No Longer Mine to Carry

A woman gives testimony to the Father's mercy as she heals from the guilt and shame of multiple abortions. 

“What really hurts is not so much suffering as the fear of suffering. If welcomed trustingly and peacefully, suffering makes us grow. It matures us, trains us, purifies us, teaches us to love unselfishly...Fear of suffering on the other hand hardens us in self-protective, defensive attitudes, and often leads us to make irrational choices with disastrous consequences.”

— Fr. Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom

Overview

Your Course Includes:

4 Lessons 

Talks by Dr. Bob Schuchts (about 13 minutes each), weaving together teaching and personal testimony.

4 Profiles

Documentary profiles (about 13 minutes each) on ordinary Christians bearing tremendous crosses in their everyday lives. 

Follow Along 

Clear prompts to guide you as you follow the teaching with the Real Suffering book and study guide (sold separately). 

Resources to Go Deeper 

Curated book recommendations for further reflection. 
access the course

Begin Your Journey Today

$79

3 Month Access
Includes:
  • 4 Lessons: Intimate teachings from Dr. Bob Schuchts  on the meaning of suffering 
  • 4 Profiles: Real-life stories
    of suffering & hope
  • Prompts to guide your reflection with the study guide*
  • Curated suggestions for further reflection
*Real Suffering book, study guide, & journal sold separately
Perfect for: 
  • Beginning or going deeper in your healing journey
  • Follow-up after attending a JPIIHC event
  • Parish Groups
  • Small-Group Communities

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the online course work?
This course is self-paced; after enrollment, all videos and course materials are available for you to engage on your own schedule. The course consists of 8 talks, each about an hour in length. Opening reflections, journal questions, and further resources are also included alongside each talk. 
Do I need to attend another John Paul II Healing Center event before registering for this course?
No. There are no prerequisites for our online courses. 
How long do I have access to the course?
After enrolling, you will have access to this course for a period of 3 months. You can view your remaining access time on the "My Courses" page after purchasing the course. 
If I want to participate in this conference with my spouse or with a group, can they share my login to view the videos?
You are free to walk through the Real Suffering series individually or display in a group setting. However, please note that sharing  your login information is a violation of our Terms of Use Guidelines.

If leading a group through the series, please note that each participant will need a study guide (available through our bookstore). 

Additionally, the login information you will receive is unique and cannot be used concurrently on more than one device. We thank you for honoring this policy.  
Can I receive continuing education units (CEUs) for this course?
This course does not offer CEUs at this time. 
What are the technology requirements to take the course?
Once you've purchased the course, you will be able to view content from any web enabled device including a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. For the best user experience and video playback quality, we do recommend using the most updated version of your web browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer).