Prayer

For those of us whose apostolate is within the world, the prayerful power and contemplative intercessions of the religious has our back, for they are a mighty arm of the Church and their prayer is one of the sharpest swords of the Word, now as it was centuries ago, when St. Teresa of Avila wrote these words: "I think we should act as people do when, in time of war, the enemy has overrun the country and the king finds himself hard pressed. He retires into a strongly fortified town from whence he sometimes makes a sortie. The small company with him in the citadel, being picked men, are better than a large army of cowardly soldiers; thus they often come off victors, they are not vanquished for there is no traitor in their ranks and famine alone can conquer them. No famine can force us to surrender--it may kill us--it cannot vanquish us! But why have I told you this? To teach you, my sisters, that we must ask God to grant that, of all the good Christians in this fort, none may desert to the enemy, that no traitor may be found here, and that the captains of this castle, or city--that is, the preachers and theologians--may be proficient in the way of our Lord. Since most of these are religious, you must pray that they may advance in perfection and may follow their vocation more perfectly. This is very necessary, for, as I said, it is the arm of the Church and not of the State which much defend us now. We, being women, can fight for our King in neither way: Let us, then, strive so to live that our prayers may avail to help these servants of God who have laboured hard to arm themselves with learning and virtue with which to help their Sovereign." The Way of Perfection, [1565]. (1997). Rockford, Illinois: Tan Books and Publishers. (pp. 16-17)

Membership

Support our work through your membership.

Membership Benefits

1) Annual Book (Chulu Press): This is a 120-200 page treatment of the key issues around the transformation of criminals.

2) Annual St. Dismas Feast Day Policy Primer Research Report: This is a 40-50 page research paper focusing on some area of the work of Lampstand that has importance in the transformative process.

3) Quarterly Newsletter: The newsletter is a 6 page document in essay format, sometimes including a book review, concerning subject matter related to the mission of Lampstand.

4) Monthly E Letter: The e letter is 1-3 pages and is generally a reflection on the spiritual aspects of some part of Lampstand's work.

5) Periodic Monographs: A 10-20 page focused look at some issue related to Lampstand and criminal transformation.

6) All publications are free to Lampstand members.

Annual & Lifetime Membership Levels

Student $10 - Individual $25 - Family $40 - Apostolate $50 - Supporter $75 - Non Profit $100 - Business $200 - Corporate Patron $500 - Lifetime $1,000 - Foundation $1,500

Our membership list is kept completely private and is not given, sold, or in any other way distributed to any other individuals or organizations.

Mail membership to: David H. Lukenbill, President - The Lampstand Foundation - PO Box 254794 - Sacramento, CA 95865-4794

It takes a reformed criminal to reform criminals.

"Doing follows being." (St. Thomas Aquinas)

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before them that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

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"Criminalized and executed himself, Christ's first act of canoization was making the penitential criminal Dismas a saint, and upon his resurrection the first person to whom he revealed himself was the penitential criminal Mary Magdalene, the apostle to the apostles.

"Dismas is the only human being to accompany the Lord in death, from earth to heaven--his partner in act one of the eternal three act drama central to human history--Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.

"Christ could have merely said, for the kind comment of Dismas; "Your sins are forgiven you", or "You will receive your reward in heaven" or any number of promises he had previously made in his ministry on earth, but he chose instead the greatest gift he ever gave to one sinner "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."" (David H. Lukenbill, (2008) The Criminal, The Cross & The Church: The Interior Journey pp.20-21)