This website is the home site of my criminal reformation apostolate; here you can find details about the Lampstand Foundation which I founded as a 501c (3) nonprofit corporation in Sacramento, California in 2003.

I have written twelve books, one being about Lampstand and each one of the other eleven being a response to a likely objection to Catholicism that will be encountered when doing ministry to professional criminals; and for links to all of the Lampstand books which are available—free to members—and at Amazon, go to http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=david+h+lukenbill

I also maintain a daily blog, The Catholic Eye, https://catholiceye.wordpress.com/

Lampstand also keeps track of rehabilitative programs that fail, and the one or two that appear to work, with the findings available at https://catholiceye.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/evaluation-of-reentry-programs-3/

The work connected to the apostolate is listed under the home page categories (to your left) which I will be expanding as needed.

___________________

The Transformed Criminal’s Ministry

The transformed criminal, as defined by Lampstand, is a criminal who has spent many year as a professional criminal (committing crimes for money) and is not an informer, pedophile, or rapist, has spent as least five years in a maximum security prison, possesses a graduate degree, has a solid working knowledge of Catholic social teaching, is Catholic and married.

These standards ensure credibility within the criminal/carceral world, as well as the acquisition of the deep knowledge—experiential knowledge paired with academic and religious knowledge—needed to become an effective Catholic criminal reformation ministry.

I believe the transformed criminal’s ministry is deeply important; those who have survived and transcended the criminal/carceral world ministering to those still there.

It is also a dangerous ministry because the often powerful love and respect the transformed criminal carries in his heart for the world he spent so many years living in, can pull him back into its embrace; resulting in spiritual dryness and shaking of the pillars of his faith.

There are no effective antidotes to this for it is a hallmark of the lives of saints and perhaps even a necessary companion, for in that dryness and shaking of faith, the one who stays the course, will claim the glory.

Since becoming Catholic I have not experienced this and I am thankful for that, though I also realize that I have not the opportunity—to this point in my life—of sharing the saint’s dark nights of the soul; while those who have should feel thankful, perhaps a place of understanding further along the road from the darkest nights.

The most powerful model we have of a transformed criminal and the penitential life, is Mary Magdalene, whose criminal life was transformed into that of the apostle to the apostles, and the human being who—except for the Holy Mother—was closest to Christ during his earthly ministry.

One of my favorite books about St. Mary Magdalene is the Life of Saint Mary Magdalene by Henri-Dominique Lacordaire, OP, (available online) where we find in the preface this paragraph:

It is about this woman I am writing. Praised in the entire universe by the Gospels, she has no need for a mortal hand to revive in the shadows of the 19th century her glory for all time. No name more than hers has resisted indifference, because sin itself opens paths to men’s admiration, and because virtue carves for her another pathway amongst the generations of pure hearts. Mary Magdalene touches both sides of our life: the Sinner anoints us with her tears, the Saint with her tenderness, the one soothes our wounds at the feet of Christ, the other tries to exalt us to the ravishment of her ascension. But if Mary Magdalene has no need of being praised by any other mouth than that of God, we can take joy in doing what is of no use to her, and in offering her incense which comes back to our heart like a benediction.

Retrieved March 14, 2018 from http://www.lifeofmarymagdalene.com/lifeofmarymagdalen.html

Another important source for her is the book: Mary Magdalen In the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich:

Magdalen was spoiled by her mother and her nurse. They showed her off everywhere, caused her cleverness and pretty little ways to be admired, and sat much with her dressed up at the window. That window-sitting was the chief cause of her ruin. I saw her at the window and on the terraces of the house upon a magnificent seat of carpets and cushions, where she could be seen in all her splendor from the street. She used to steal sweetmeats, and take them to other children in the garden of the castle. Even in her ninth year she was engaged in love affairs. With her developing talents and beauty, increased also the talk and admiration they excited. She had crowds of companions. She was taught, and she wrote love verses on little rolls of parchment. I saw her while so engaged counting on her fingers. She sent these verses around, and exchanged them with her lovers. Her fame spread on all sides, and she was exceedingly admired.

But I never saw that she either really loved or was loved. It was all, on her part at least, vanity, frivolity, self-adoration, and confidence in her own beauty. I saw her a scandal to her brother and sisters whom she despised and of whom she was ashamed on account of their simple life.

  1. Magdalen Inherits the Castle of Magdalum

When the patrimony was divided, the castle of Magdalum fell by lot to Magdalen. It was a very beautiful building. Magdalen had often gone there with her family when she was a very young child, and she had always entertained a special preference for it. She was only about eleven years old when, with a large household of servants, men and maids, she retired thither and set up a splendid establishment for herself.

Magdalum was a fortified place, consisting of several castles, public buildings and large squares of groves and gardens. It was eight hours east of Nazareth, about three from Capharnaum, one and a half from Bethsaida toward the south, and about a mile from the Lake of Genesareth. It was built on a slope of the mountain and extended down into the valley which stretches off toward the lake and around its shores. One of those castles belonged to Herod. He possessed a still larger one in the fertile region of Genesareth. Some of his soldiers were stationed in Magdalum, and they contributed there share to the general demoralization. The officers were on intimate terms with Magdalen. There were, besides the troops, about two hundred people in Magdalum, chiefly officials, master builders, and servants.

The castle of Magdalum was the highest and most magnificent of all; from its roof one could see across the Sea of Galilee to the opposite shore. Five roads led to Magdalum, and on every one at one half-hours distance from the well-fortified place, stood a tower built over an arch. It was like a watchtower whence could be seen far into the distance. These towers had no connection with one another; they rose out of a country covered with gardens, fields, and meadows. Magdalen had men servants and maids, fields and herds, but a very disorderly household; all went to rack and ruin. (pp. 3-4)

Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich. (2005). Mary Magdalen in the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824). Tan Books Publishers; Rockford, Illinois.

The penitential life the Magdalene modeled, draws us to Christ, and paired with the experiential, academic, and Catholic social teaching knowledge of the transformed criminal, will also draw those criminals seeking redemption to the ministry and the Church.

Lampstand Prayer to St. Mary Magdalene

Saint Mary Magdalene, penitential criminal, apostle to the apostles, by your faith and devotion y0u became the first, after our Holy Mother, to see our resurrected Lord, sharing in his glorious presence. Please intercede for all criminals that they may someday share everlasting joy through their penance and redemption. Amen.