Authentic Fasting

I have a guest blogger, today.  My friend, Marina, is an associate professor of philosophy at Boston College.  She's also a favorite with my "cloistered brothers."  In this post she is looking at "fasting."  She's talking about the real thing:

"This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly,

untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed."(Isaiah 58:6-9a)

Isaiah speaks about the difference between superficial fasting and authentic fasting. God, he says, does not want fasting where people "afflict themselves" but rather a fasting that sets others free in some way. Isaiah's wisdom is that even fasting can be self-centered. In this reading, the people are fasting in order to receive something from God. But genuine fasting, Isaiah suggests, is for others' sakes. 

Many years, the Dominicans fast at Lent. But to fast for the sake of others in a prison, where one already has limited meals (and very limited money) is challenging. One year the guys fasted by giving up the coffee they drank at Sunday and Wednesday community meetings. The money used to purchase the coffee was donated to others. The sacrifice involved in not drinking coffee is much more substantial in that context than in ours, as coffee is one of the few "extras" allowed. It was also a community sacrifice, since some prisoners have no money at all—not even enough for a bottle of shampoo—if they have been completely abandoned by family outside. The funds for coffee is pooled community money, and so is the donation. That year, their action reminded me of the example of the poor widow who puts in her two small coins, and Jesus notices her faith. 

If we ignore the poor in Lent, we are not really "doing" Lent. Augustine puts it directly:

"First and foremost, clearly, please remember the poor, so that what you withhold from yourselves by living more sparingly, you may deposit in the treasury of heaven. Let the hungry Christ receive what the fasting Christian receives less of. Let the self-denial of one who undertakes it willingly become the support of the one who has nothing. Let the voluntary want of the person who has plenty become the needed plenty of the person in want." (Sermon 210)

Isaiah's words are about being "hands-on": not only cutting a check to help others, but being present to those who are "poor" in some way. Sharing bread, breaking bread with another; clothing those in need whom we see.

Isaiah writes, "then your wound shall quickly be healed." How? Because the deepest wounds we have are those that separate us from one another:  not missing out on a new shirt, not doing without a cup of Starbucks, not even a little genuine hunger. One of the greatest wounds in our society is the division between the rich and the poor. Lent is an opportunity to overcome that division through genuine fasting that puts us back in solidarity with one another.

God Kisses Better

My “cloistered brothers” were recollecting when they first encountered God.  Some felt peace, saw light, heard joy, in various circumstances.  Some were in accidents, some while attending Cursillo, some participated in a healing service, and some were reading scripture.  

The memories soon changed into life after encountering God.  My brothers spoke of feeling protected, not alone, or God has my back.  There were frequent references to God’s plans.

 

We realized that we were speaking as if God planned this to happen, which isn’t true.  We very well could have chosen not to be receptive to the Holy Spirit.  We could have shaken off whatever grace filled promptings that were blessing us.  But we didn’t.  We freely chose to accept God.

We were sounding like we had no choice--that we were predestined to such and such behavior.  Just the thought evoked laughter because with our history, we were more than likely to choose the wrong way.  (So much for predestination).

The way to look at it, we concluded, was that we freely chose, but accepting God and His Will, made it better.

 Oh yes, it makes all the difference in the world.

Faith Calling

What do you think?  Poor picture, I know.  It's a picture taken from my Kindle.  I'll describe what it is.  There's a lighthouse with Jesus at the entrance. The lighthouse is actually Brant Light on Nantucket. There's a little bridge to it.  On the bridge are people from my Lay Dominican Chapter.  The very last person, the lady yelling, is me.  I have a big mouth, no?

At first, I didn't understand.  I kept focusing on my big mouth.  "Why am I yelling?"  But my friend told me to look at it this way.  The light is Jesus.  People are going to him, and I'm yelling for others to come, too.

This picture is from the book, Pencil in the Hole, written by one of my "cloistered brothers."

Penance

Penance

by 

"a cloistered brother"

Why my Lord?

Why must I commit these sins,

The more I pray for strength,

The more the Demon grins,

I can hear the demons laughter

as I say I'm not afraid,

Jesus can you hear me

can you hear me when I pray?

Worthy I am not of Love

Oh Shepherd I hold so dear,

How dare I ask for guidance

through this valley soaked in tears,

self inflicted penance

Who are men to say where saved?

No more demons laughing

now they know I'm not afraid,

Angel prayers and secrets

no sorrow, guilt or shame

The Saints and I

know El Shaddai

and Jesus are the same,

fallen angels tremble

Horrified in darkness lost,

Satan lost his battle

when they put Christ on the cross.

Jonathan Wayne Nobles

     The Story of Jonathan Nobles by Simon Roche OP -- 

·         Father Simon Roche, O.P. is the Promoter of Lay Dominicans in Cork, Ireland.  He relates the story of a “cloistered brother.”  This is the story of one of them, Jonathan Wayne Nobles.  On the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, 7th of October 1998, Jonathan was executed by lethal injection at Huntsville prison, Texas. Jon was a Lay Dominican trying to follow Jesus in the spirit of St Dominic. In 1986, high on drugs Jonathan, then 25 years of age, stabbed two young women to death and seriously injured Ron Ross; a horrific crime for which he was sentenced to death. He was convicted almost entirely on the strength of his own confession. He never took the stand during his trial. He sat impassively as the guilty verdict was read out and only flinched slightly when the judge sentenced him to death. When he arrived at the prison he quickly alienated himself from the guards and most of the prisoners.

·            Somehow, in what is among the most inhumane environments in the civilised world Jonathan began to change. In Huntsville prison, Jonathan underwent a conversion and entered the Church. A group of eleven young men present at the time of his admission to the Church were members of the St Martin de Porres Lay Dominican Chapter. Through them he became interested in the Dominicans and was received into their Chapter in 1989. In 1991 he made his final commitment and was instrumental in introducing other prisoners to the Lay Dominicans. He developed a deep devotion to the Rosary and to St Catherine of Siena. For eight years Jonathan was a spiritual leader on death row bringing the Good News to those who themselves faced the same sentence.

·            He stood as godfather at the baptism of Cliff Boggess, a fellow inmate. He later helped officiate at the Mass celebrated the night before Cliff Boggess was executed. He encouraged his companions to experience God's word in the Scriptures and invited others to attend the celebration of the Eucharist. He loved the Eucharist and taught non-Catholics to present themselves to receive a blessing at the time of Communion.

·            He accompanied all who wished, asking them if they would like him to pray with them, talking with them through his own brokenness, his conversion, his coming to the faith. Isn't it amazing that Jonathan could be missioned out of that brokenness. He was free, interiorly to do this.

·           For ten years Steve Earle, the country musician, corresponded with Jon who asked him to be a witness at his execution. Ten days before [He spoke of] his fire ‘for preaching and work for the conversion of others. When asked what he would like for his last meal he said he would like the Eucharist. Steve came to visit Jonathan. Jonathan sought forgiveness and reconciliation with those he had injured and whose lives he had taken. He suffered the pain of not being able to be reconciled to all.

·             Three months before his death he appeared on Tv and donated his kidneys: 'I want to do something good before I die.' Five days before his execution fr Chris Eggleton visited Jonathan. 'He came out in shackles but was not the slightest bit upset about it. He seemed so at peace.' They prayed and talked together for several hours. Jonathan told his story and shared some of his poetry, spoke of his love of Mary, the Rosary and St Dominic, his 'fire' for preaching and work for the conversion of others. He was so grateful that he could preach like Dominic. 'Look at this I can accompany others maybe help them to change their lives, letting them know about Christ. It wasn't always successful but I felt that if someone was going to be executed God could work through whatever relationship we had.'

·             'Jonathan was a very positive guy. There was no superficiality about this man.'' Jonathan placed his hands flat up against the Plexiglas divide which separated us and I placed my hands up against his ... He helped me to pray. Then alternating we prayed. I was so grateful that he accepted me to visit.

·             'Jonathan met Bishop Carmody when he celebrated Mass for the inmates. He asked the bishop to be one of the witnesses at his execution.' I said I would be there with him, and a promise made is a debt unpaid... I made sure I would keep my promise.' He fasted on his last day. When asked what he would like for his last meal he said he would like the Eucharist. He called it 'spiritual food for the journey home.

·            ‘The funeral Mass was held at St. Thomas an hour after Jonathan was pronounced dead. He was laid out in the Dominican habit; Bishop Carmody celebrated the Mass with others. Jonathan had chosen the readings and the hymns. A few days after his death Chris Eggleton received a letter Jon wrote the night before he died:' I pray that Our Lord bless you that his Spirit rest upon you; filling you with true peace and joy. I am very sorry that I do not have the ability to share in greater length with you here on earth or even in this letter. However be assured that I shall pray for you in heaven with Dominic, Mary and all of our Dominican Family. 'Jonathan had great devotion to Saint Catherine of Siena, famously known for befriending a young man, who like himself, had been condemned to death. His name was Nicolo di Toldo. Catherine describes what happened :(continued on p.30)Spirituality... Men and women cry out for an experience of hope in a world which has lost direction ..."Stay with me and do not leave me and then I cannot but be well and will die content. "... We can be largely unaware that he actually loves each of us personally. ..Women cry out for an experience of hope in a world which has lost direction- in the teaching of Duns Scotus, Franciscan Spirituality has within its hand that hope-filled experience and the end of that longing. For if God willed the Incarnation from all eternity, then it was always his intention to become part of sinful creation - sin determines the manner of that becoming, but it does not determine the fact that it was going to be. The Incarnational thought of Duns Scotus needs a broader hearing, for it is pertinent to all Christians and the world, not just the Catholic tradition. The Incarnation is of God, not man. Scotus is indeed in the tradition of Francis and his Incarnational theology is not complex- it is utterly simple: God is love and all that has been, is and ever will be is because God is love and is among us in Jesus who is ever present.*****(continued from p.9)

·             'I went to visit him ...he was consoled and made his confession ... He made me promise that for the love of God I would be with him at the time of his execution. In the morning before the bell tolled I went to him .. .I took him to Mass and he received the Eucharist ... there remained a fear that he would not be brave at the last moment ... "Stay with me and do not leave me and then I cannot but be well and will die content." I will wait for you at the place of execution and I think his heart lost all fear ... I waited at the place of execution in continual prayer ... seeing me he laughed and asked me to make the sign of the cross over him ... He knelt and stretched out his neck and I bent down over him ... he kept repeating 'Jesus and Catherine' and as he said the words I received his head into my hands ... '*****(continued from p.19)

·           It is possible to see Jesus as an utterly loving person who has done wonderful things for us and for all people, and yet be largely unaware that he actually loves each of us personally, and dearly wants to be loved by each of us. Our experience of deep and faithful love inhuman relationships in the course of our lives gives us a glimpse of what the love of Jesus is like. Meditating prayerfully on the Eucharist we may recognise that love. St Albert experienced it. He wrote about the Eucharist: 'It is as if Christ said: "I have loved them so greatly, and they me, that I desire to be eaten by them: they have desired to receive me within them, to be embodied in me as my members. In no deeper way, or one more consonant to nature, can they be in me and I in them." 'What Jesus began on Holy Thursday, he continues into our own day: in every celebration of the Eucharist he shows the full extent of his love.

This story is a true story published in "Spirituality" magazine of Ireland January -February, 2012.

Country musician, Steve Earle corresponded with Jonathan Nobles and was a witness to his execution.  His story is riveting.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2001/jan/22/features11.g2 

The victim's mother meets with Jonathan.  http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-18559_162-31506.html

Why is this story important to me?  It is because when my prison chapter was trying to be admitted as a bona fide  Lay Dominican Chapter, we were having a hard time, until the President of LFSD, Laurie Biszko read about Jonathan Wayne Nobles.  

Mr. Jonathan Wayne Nobles, O.P., wasn't the only one who was changed.

Prison Blessings

My "cloistered brothers" and I were discussing blessings tonight.  We were impressed how many blessings there are all around us.  But one needs "eyes that see, and ears that hear." Proverbs 20:12.  Even events, that we once perceived as tragedies, and the worst days of our lives, in retrospect were a necessary part of what we needed to get closer to God.  We see that now.

Even prison.  One "cloistered brother" said he doesn't regret a minute of being in prison.  He found God.  He loves God.  He wants to spend the rest of his life learning about God, praying to Him, and serving Him.  And if he weren't in prison, he doesn't know if he'd be able to do that.  The prison is his monastery.  

Badda Bing, Badda Boom

Saint Monica   and    St. Augustine
My "cloistered brothers" and I were discussing Augustine's Confessions, Book 8, in Dominican Study Group, tonight.   Attention was called on Augustine's process of conversion.  He resisted.  He wrestled with himself.  He even came to the conclusion that the Church was true, but hesitated about joining.  He dragged his feet about converting.  He suffered from inertia.
You know the rest of the story.  The child's voice telling him to "Take up and read."
badda bing, badda boom
Although, the child's voice was the impetus to get Augustine up off his duff, his conversion process is not that unusual.    One of my "cloistered brothers" pointed out that most of us move into a deeper spiritual direction, in much the same way.  We don't look for a bolt of lightning, or a voice, but something moves us.  We're open.  We know the Church is true.  But we're too content with our own life styles to think too much about how, or whether we should, commit ourselves into a closer relationship with God.
Maybe we're too busy with our teen age lives.  Maybe we're just beginning our careers.  Our young families keep us very busy.  Whatever...we know the Church is there...but we put it on hold.
Then one day, we have an empty nest, and it's quiet.  It's quiet enough to hear the voice of God.
badda bing, badda boom
Maybe one day a friend takes us to a Life in the Spirit Seminar.
badda bing, badda boom
Maybe a relative takes us to a Cursillo.
badda bing, badda boom
Perhaps, curiosity takes us to a charismatic healing service.
badda bing, badda boom
We go to Medjugorje to see what all the hoopla is about.
badda bing, badda boom
A bolt of lightning could knock you off your donkey.
badda bing, badda boom
And then again, a child could tell you, "Take up and read."


              

Dominican Litany of Saints

You thought the Litany was long before.  Blessed Lataste has been added.  He's the friar in the middle of this picture. Sorry it's so poor.  It's a picture of a holy card, one of my "cloistered brothers" drew it.  That's Pere Lataste in the center.  Mother Henri Dominique is last, in the second row, right.  An anonymous "cloistered brother" is in front--the only one not in habit.  He's just wearing the Dominican Laity's scapular for those who are Final Promised.  Oh! There's one other not in habit.  First row right, the last  lady, is in 1860 French prison garb, representing a prisoner from Cadillac prison.  To understand this cast of holy people, please read the Spring edition of eLumenate.

As I was saying, the Litany of Dominican saints is not an ejaculatory prayer.   It's very long.   It's not said often.  One reason is because it's so long, but also, it's potent.  It's a powerful prayer.  Over the weekend, the President of the LFSD was requested by our Provincial, to start praying the Litany.  It seems that Archbishop Augustine Di Noia, O.P. has requested that the Dominican Litany be prayed for the success of full reconciliation of the Society of Pius X with Rome.  Archbishop Di Noia has been made vice president of the commission charged with bringing the SSPX back home.

The last time the Dominican Litany was prayed by the Dominican Family was to pray for a satisfactory solution to bring back those Anglicans who wish to come back to Rome.  Archbishop DiNoia helped set up the personal ordinoriates to accommodate all those Anglicans.  The Dominican Litany was successful then, and will be again.  You are welcome to join us.

Litany of Dominican Saints and Blesseds

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Christ, hear us .Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the heavenly Father, have mercy on us.

God, the heavenly Father, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Pray for us.

Holy Mother of God,

Holy Virgin of Virgins,

Saint Michael,

Saint Gabriel,

Saint Raphael,

Saint Joseph,

Saint John the Baptist,

All you holy angels and archangels,

All you holy patriarchs and prophets,

All you holy apostles and evangelists,

All you holy martyrs,

All you holy virgins and widows,

All you holy men and women,

Saint Mary Magdalene,

Saint Catherine of Alexandria,

Saint Augustine,

Holy Father Francis,

Blessed Jane of Aza,

Blessed Reginald of Orleans,

Holy Father Dominic,

Holy Father Dominic,

Blessed Bertrand,

Blessed Mannes,

Blessed Diana,

Blessed Jordan of Saxony,

Blessed John of Salerno,

Blessed William and Companions,

Blessed Ceslaus,

 Blessed Isnard,

 Blessed Guala,

Blessed Peter Gonzalez,

Saint Zdîslava,

Saint Peter of Verona,

Blessed Nicholas of Paglia,

Saint Hyacinth,

Blessed Gonsalvo,

Blessed Sadoc and Companions,

Blessed Giles,

Saint Margaret of Hungary,

Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza,

Saint Thomas Aquinas,

Saint Raymond of Penyãfort,

Blessed Innocent,

Blessed Albert of Bergamo,

Saint Albert the Great,

Blessed John of Vercelli,

Blessed Ambrose,

Blessed Cecilia,

Blessed Benvenuta,

Blessed James of Varazze

Blessed James of Bevagna,

Blessed Benedict,

Blessed Jane of Orvieto,

Blessed Jordan of Pisa,

Blessed Emily,

Blessed James Salomonio,

Saint Agnes of Montepulciano,

Blessed Simon,

Blessed Margaret of Castello,

Blessed Augustine Kazotic,

Blessed James Benefatti,

Blessed Imelda,

Blessed Dalmatius,

Blessed Margaret Ebner,

Blessed Villana,

Blessed Peter of Ruffia,

Blessed Henry Suso,

Blessed Sibyllina,

Blessed Anthony of Pavonio,

Saint Catherine of Siena,

Blessed Marcolino,

Blessed Raymond of Capua,

Blessed Andrew Franchi,

Saint Vincent Ferrer,

Blessed Clara,

Blessed John Dominic,

Blessed Alvarez,

Blessed Maria Mancini,

Blessed Peter of Castello,

Blessed Andrew Abellon,

Blessed Stephen,

Blessed Peter of Geremia

Blessed John of Fiesole,

Blessed Lawrence of Ripafratta,

Blessed Anthony della Chiesa,

Saint Antoninus,

Blessed Anthony Neyrot,

Blessed Margaret of Savoy,

Blessed Bartholomew of Cerverio,

Blessed Matthew,

Blessed Constantius,

Blessed Christopher,

Blessed Damian,

Blessed Andrew of Peschiera,

Blessed Bernard,

Blessed Jane of Portugal,

Blessed James of Ulm,

Blessed Augustine of Biella,

Blessed Aimo,

Blessed Sebastian,

Blessed Mark,

Blessed Columba,

Blessed Magdalen,

Blessed Osanna of Mantua,

Blessed John Liccio,

Blessed Dominic Spadafora,

Blessed Stephana,

Blessed Adrian,

Blessed Lucy of Narni,

Blessed Catherine of Racconigi,

Blessed Osanna of Kotor,

Saint Pius,

Saint John of Cologne and Companions,

Blessed Maria Bartholomew,

Saint Louis Bertrand,

Saint Catherine de Ricci,

Blessed Robert Nutter,

Blessed Alfonsus and Companions,

Saint Rose of Lima,

Saint Dominic Ibáñez and Companions,

Blessed Agnes of Jesus,

Saint Lawrence Ruiz and Companions,

Saint Martin de Porres,

Blessed Peter Higgins,

Saint Francis de Capillas and Companions,

Saint Juan Macias,

Blessed Terence O’Brien,

Blessed Ann of the Angels,

Blessed Francis de Posadas,

Saint Louis de Montfort,

Saint Francis Gil,

Saint Matteo Alonso,

Blessed Peter Sanz and Companions,

Saint Vincent Liem,

Saint Hyacinth Castañeda,

Blessed Marie Poussepin,

Blessed George,

Blessed Catherine Jarrige,

Saint Ignatius Delgado and Companions,

Saint Joseph Diaz and Companions,

Saint Dominic An-Kham,

Saint Valentine Berrio-Ochoa and Companions,

Blessed Jean-Joseph Lataste,

Saint Francis Coll,

Saint Arnold Janssen,

Blessed Hyacinthe Cormier,

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati,

Blessed Bartolo Longo,

Blessed Maria Alfonsina Danil Ghattas,

Blessed Josefina Sauleda Paulis and Companions,

Blessed Buenaventura García Paredes and Companions,

Blessed Celestino José Alonso Villar and Companions,

Blessed Enrique Izquierdo Palacios and Companions,

Blessed Maria Ascension of the Heart of Jesus,

Blessed Michael Czartorysky,

Blessed Julia Rodzinska,

All you holy Dominicans,

Pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.

Let us pray

God, source of all holiness, you have enriched your Church with many gifts in the saints of the Order of Preachers. By following the example of our brothers and sisters, may we come to enjoy their company for ever in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Corpus Christi

I went to two Masses today. The first one was in my parish, where I was assigned to read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Drama Queen that I am, I relished putting my heart where my mouth was, and proclaiming This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

Besides being food for the soul, this reading was food for my mind. I find it amazing that for over 2000 years this memorial has been continued. That today, I am in communion with the early Christians. We carry on. This Eucharist unites us into the Communion of Saints. We are one catholic family: Mary, apostles, saints, everyone, and me. United through God because once we partake of His Body and Blood, we are united in Him. We become part of His divine life. It's wicked awesome, when you think about it.

Then in Chapter, Father Nic celebrated Mass for my "cloistered brothers." Again I heard 1 Corinthians 23-26. But this time, Father Nic emphasized the reason we believe that God is truly present in the Bread and Wine. And although Father Nic didn't reveal anything new; it wasn't anything I didn't know; it wasn't anything a child making their First Communion couldn't have told you; yet it reached my heart. Before I knew it in my head. However, this time my cloistered brothers reached my heart.

The reason we Catholics believe that the Bread and Wine on the altar is God, is because Jesus told us. God can not lie.

My cloistered brothers understood it in simple terms. They believe because Jesus told them too.  Their faith reached into the heart of this Faith.  God bless them.

Ave, verum corpus
natum de Maria Virgine,
Vere passum immolatum
in Cruce pro homine,
Cujus latus perforatum
unda* fluxit (et)* sanguine,
Esto nobis praegustatum
in mortis examine.

Hail,true body
born of the Virgin Mary,
Who truly suffered, sacrificed
on the Cross for man,
Whose pierced side overflowed
with water* and blood,
Be for us a foretaste**
In the test of death.

Where are you?

Think about the part in the Genesis story where God calls out to Adam. Genesis 3:10-11 Just think about that for a minute.

Wow. God came looking for him. And God comes looking for us. Always. He never gives up on us. My cloistered brothers are very thankful that God doesn't give up on us because they were hard to find. You can run, but you can't hide from God.

The poet Francis Thompson describes it in his poem,

The Hound of Heaven

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.

Mmmmmm.............

My experience has been different. God's pursuit of me wasn't so relentless. He was always there and every once in awhile (when I needed it) He'd bug me. God is more like a cat, than a dog.

Apology to Francis Thompson

I sought Him, up all night and up all day.
I sought Him, all my sinful life.
I sought Him, through the academic maze,
professional cubicles, and children's strife.

I looked for Him, I reached out, I touched,
across the land, I held tight,
the gentle breeze of His approach
would calm my racing heart at night.

No hound of heaven; rather playful kitten,
scratching at the door--not to be ignored,
circling feet, rubbing, caressing, tail high.
Alack! You have always been my Adored.

A Meditation

The other day I was visiting the "cloistered brothers" in prison and I noticed someone missing. It was Rosie. Rosie is a beautiful golden labrador retriever. This prison has some sort of arrangement whereby some of the inmates train dogs to be service dogs to the blind, handicapped, etc. I had often seen Rosie and her trainer.
Rosie would do anything I asked--anything anyone would ask. And therein lies the problem.
Rosie flunked her service test. She was obeying an order when someone else gave her another. She obeyed the second, which was not from her trainer.
Poor Rosie.
In explaining this story to me, one of my brothers said, " You know, it's like when you've been in too many foster homes. You don't know which authority figure to obey. You know?"
Actually..........no...............I don't.