Fifteen Years Mandatory Sentence

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 'It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,' but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. 'Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. 'You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'* But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you. 'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,* and hate your enemy.*' But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.

Christian Portal

Christian Resources

Vote!


	Fifteen Years Mandatory Sentence

Author: Testimony,
Love One Another! 15/2010 → Suffering and Love

I am currently an inmate serving time with the Florida Department of Corrections. While attending Holy Mass recently, I received an old issue of Love One Another Magazine from Sister Kathy. I have read the personal testimonies in the magazine. The issue is about five year’s old, so I am praying that the magazine is still in circulation and that this letter will find its way to the right place.

I enjoyed the articles very much and thank you for publishing the magazine in English. I thought I should write and share my testimony with your readers and others who read these letters.

Born in Newburgh, N.Y., I was raised a Catholic by my parents and moved to Florida at the age of nine. From that time on, I did not attend Holy Mass until I arrived here at Liberty Correction Institute in Bristol, Florida. I am now twenty-nine years old and serving a sentence of fifteen mandatory years. I have thirteen years left to serve and am tempted each day while inside these walls.

I am here because of “drugs.” In addition to messing up my own life by doing them, I have messed up the lives of many people who truly care for me. The drugs led to robbery and the robbery led to “fifteen years mandatory sentence.” But the greatest thing is that the “fifteen years mandatory sentence” have led me back to God. I was lost, but now am found!

I still struggle with daily reminders of the person I used to be, but that is all right, because now I know who I want to be. I attend Mass every Sunday and pray my rosary each night so as to become the person I want to be. I have a lot to work on, but with God on my side, who can stop me?

I can easily obtain drugs in my current surroundings, but with God’s help I choose to say “no” to drugs and alcohol. I have other bad habits to overcome. I really struggle with cursing and “dipping” (tobacco). I pray I will able to overcome both of these habits. Please pray for me as I pray for you.

I want your readers to know that, no matter what they are going through, Jesus will help them get through it. My little brother died on July 16, 2008. He was only nineteen years old; and I could not even go to his funeral! If you are on any kind of drugs, get off them, because they are not worth the loss of your family or your freedom. Nor is any drug in this world worth the loss of heaven. Seek the kingdom of God, and everything else will fall into place. You cannot do it alone. All is done with God and through God. I found out the hard way, but at least I found out. Do not wait for tomorrow, when today is already here. God loves you and wants to help you. All you have to do is ask. He wants to help you through all your problems and troubles. So do not be afraid to ask for His help.

I am content being inside these walls, because when I arrived here, God was waiting for me. He is inside your home, in your car, in your place of employment. He is everywhere, waiting for you to come to Him. So stop now and ask Jesus to take the wheel of your life. Accept Him as your Lord and Savior and then sit back and watch your life become transformed before your eyes. Go to Mass and Holy Communion. Pray your rosary and live first of all for God. That is what He wants you to do. You will surely be blessed. God bless you and your readers.

Richard Cowan

Please e-subscribe

If you are interested to download entire issue in PDF format

Log in, if you already have e-subscribtion
Please e-subscribe, if you have not done it yet

The above article was published with permission from "Love One Another!" in June 2016.

Top

Recommend this page to your friend!