They get what they deserve...

They get what they deserve...

Recently, I was privileged to attend the 32^nd Annual Convocation of Jail and Prison Ministry, in Orlando, Florida. It brought new ideas to light about the lives of the incarcerated. Over the three days of the convocation sponsored by the Society of Saint Vincent DePaul, I learned first hand from the volunteers, the families, the clergy and the formerly incarcerated.

I learned about the lack of rehabilitation, the lousy food, forced labor, loneliness, desperation and the permanent scars of incarceration. I found often times because of the way our laws are written, people can be labeled for a major crime when in fact they simply made a mistake in judgment at the wrong time and at the wrong place.

St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church, Queens, NY

Our pastor at my church has been involved in prison ministry for many years and his interest is beginning to influence the members of our parish. My natural curiosity has led me to find out more about it, as one of the things Jesus asked us to do is to visit those in prison. Jesus was teaching the parables of the ten virgins and the parable of the talents, and then he began to talk about his second coming. In Matthew 25: 35-46 we read:

Jesus is teaching: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’

Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’

And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’

Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’

 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Many people have no problem feeding the poor. Many people have no problem caring for the sick. Many people give clothing and money for the poor to clothe and house them. But why is it so hard to visit those in prison?

This is one of the things Jesus taught to the multitudes, it was one of the things the Apostles and Paul taught in Hebrews 13: 3  Paul wrote: 

Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the body.

The Apostles were imprisoned many times, and many were convicted and killed. On one occasion Peter was in prison, Acts 12:5 : Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church was fervently being made to God on his behalf.

Not all people in prison are despicable. Not all are murderers and pedophiles and rapists. Would it be easier if they were all thieves? Or frauds? Or prostitutes? Would you be able to visit them and offer them comfort and prayer or bring them communion?

          One of the first stories I heard was of a man whose father was a serial killer. Travis S. Vining was a victim as a child and as an adult, by a murderer who used his own son, and threatened him to keep him quiet when he thought his son may turn him in to the authorities. The child of a murderer, who buried memories to allow himself to live in a fantasy of normalcy. A man, who lived in pain, suffered bodily, because of suppressed memories and feelings, all because his father was a sociopathic serial killer. Travis’ discovery of faith and the Divine Mercy gave him strength and courage to reach out for help. He learned to forgive his father despite his continued fear of him, and began a ministry for the forgotten victims of major crimes, the families of the criminal, who suffer from unforgiveness, that website is: www.Victorythroughpeace.com. 

          We sometimes forget that the family of the victim is not the only family that needs comfort. The prisoners themselves often are tortured with guilt and we should be able to forgive them and have compassion for them. At the very least, we should pray for their immortal souls and for healing of their minds and hearts.The convocation was three days and there were multiple topics of which I cannot include in just one post, so I will concentrate on for aspect at a time. Today, I want to conclude with this suggestion: Pray for the imprisoned. No matter what their crimes, prayer can bring them peace and healing. Of course, not all people can be healed, and not all will repent their crimes, much like Travis’s father who sits on death row in Florida today. But our duty is to serve our Lord Jesus by following His instructions and His example of how to live for Him and with Him. 

 

         Now, before you rush out and head for the nearest jail, let me warn you that you should first seek guidance from someone in the ministry. The jail personnel will be watching you for professionalism and grace under fire. The prisoners will be watching you to see if you are what you claim to be and a miss-step in the jail can make you lose credibility with prisoners and the prison staff. Be prepared, study, and go with someone experienced.

Onward Christian Soldiers! 

Blessings,  

The Catholic Lady©