"Bishop Fitzgerald in his book How to be A Successful Failure tells a fascinating story about a young man (barely twenty years old) who was caught one day "stealing sheep." He was charged and convicted. As a penalty, the villagers decided to make an example out of him. They took a branding iron and branded his forehead with the letters "ST"...meaning of course, "Sheep Thief." The brand was permanent and a constant source of shame to the young man. Penitent, he turned to God. He asked God for forgiveness. He asked God to help him overcome his problem. He was determined not to be remembered as a thief.

"With courage and with God's help, he began to live in a new way, giving to others, helping others in every way. He performed endless small acts of kindness for everyone. He was thoughtful, h…