By The Rev. JOSEPH O. GOUIN

Pastor, American Martyrs

Catholic Church

Kingsford

In the early days of British history, punishments for crimes were often very cruel.

There are stories of people’s hands being cut off as a punishment for stealing. Part of the reason for this cruel and unusual punishments was to deter other people from stealing.

During this era of cruel punishment, a man was caught stealing sheep. The authorities branded on his forehead the letters S.T., standing for “sheep thief.”

The man spent the rest of his life living down that humiliating episode in his life. But he succeeded in a remarkable degree.

The letters were still visible in his old age. When the children asked their parents what the letters stood for, they replied, “They stand for saint.”

I wonder if we had the letters “S.T,” on our foreheads what a difference it would make in daily relationships. After all, if we want to be saints in heaven someday, we better act like it on this earth!

God bless.