Dead Man Walking

So I received my evaluation yesterday from one of the Brothers over in the Philippines. There are good parts, then there are the not so good parts. However, it seems that the negative parts always bring me down, make me feel like a failure. I don't think anybody really enjoys receiving negative feedback especially young people in this generation. It bothers me at first, then I get over it. No matter what negative comments or concerns are brought up to me, it is a way for me to grow. Thus far in my novitiate I have felt that I have grown and the Philippines helped me see the world differently. I am also working on my own evaluation at this time, which I am mentioning different aspects of the Philippines. I am taking my evaluation day by day, not trying to rush to get through it, just simply going at my own pace.

Other than that I stated reading "Dead Man Walking" by Sr. Helen Prejean. Now I had the opportunity to meet Sr. Helen a few years ago when one of her sisters in her community, Sisters of St. Joseph, was making her final profession. I really didn't know who she was, but most recently she was up in the upstate New York area to talk at one of the colleges. I didn't attend, but it made me interested in reading her book. Now I only started the book yesterday and have already read about 100 pages. I actually teared up in reading it. I just felt the emotion that she was experiencing when faced with this guy who was not responsible for there deaths and trying to save his life, but was not successful. It really made me think about the death penalty and how as a pro-life person, I should be against such acts like that. I wonder how many pro-lifers just focus on abortion and forget about the death penalty all together. As Catholics we are to respect all life, even those lives of people who have taken a life away. I feel as if the death penalty is a way to seek revenge for some people who have had to face losing a loved one. I would rather them face the hardships of prison life, in some sense realize what they did, then have them killed. It seems to simple. These are just the thoughts running through my mind.