"A person who does not persevere in charity, however, is not saved, even though incorporated into the Church. Such people remain indeed in the bosom of the Church, but only 'bodily,' not 'in their hearts.' All daughters and sons of the Church should nevertheless remember that their exalted status is not to be ascribed to their own merits, but to the special grace of Christ. If they fail to respond in thought, word, and deed to that grace, not only will they not be saved, they will be the more severely judged" (Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Session III, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, no. 14).
M. G. Hysell is a candidate for both a civil and canonical doctorate in sacred theolog at Dominican University College in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He completed his B.A. in philosophy (in the analytic tradition) at Hunter College of the City Univeristy of New York, his M.A. (Hon.) degree in theology from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, CA, with a specialization in Triadology (thesis, "The Father-Son Relation in the Fourth Gospel and the Cappadocian Fathers") and his M.Th. degree in systematic theology from Newman Theological College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, (thesis, "The Sacramental Validity of the Eucharistic Form in Sign Language").
Matthew serves on the Archdiocese of Edmonton Advisory Board for Deaf Ministry and is the chaplain to the local Catholic Deaf community as well as the national chaplain for the International Catholic Deaf Association--Canadian Section. In the past, he directed the Mark Seven Bible Institute, a biblical-pastoral study week and retreat held annually at Camp Mark Seven in Old Forge, NY, for Deaf Catholics seeking a greater exposure to the Bible.