Itte missa est!

“The Mass has ended, go in peace to love and serve the Lord”. “Thanks be to God.”

At the end of each Mass, the above is said between the Priests and the congregation. Some may think we are thankful that the Mass is over and we can leave. But rather it is thankfulness for graces that have been received and the charge that has been given.

While at Mass, we receive grace from God in an amount that can be found no where else on earth. The Mass is the highest prayer we have. And in it we receive Christ who is actually present in the Eucharist. We become, all the more, tabernacles—houses—of Christ. We become a means for others to experience Christ’s love in action. So we are charged at the end of Mass to go forth in the service of our Lord. What a charge to receive!

We truly should be thankful for this charge! Of course it is not an easy charge to receive and naturally we might try to shy away from it out of humility. But what other charge could we want? This is a charge that gives meaning to our life on earth and hope for the end of our life here when we die. Hence, we should exclaim, “Thanks be to God!”

If we wish to live eternally, to have something more after we die here on earth, should we not strive to live out this charge and only this charge?

Vote none of the above!

"May God have mercy on your soul and grant you forgiveness and the gift of eternal life in His presence and in that of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ." –Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour in his letter to Earl Wesley Berry, a MS death row inmate.

How can Gov. Barbour write these words to Mr. Berry after denying his appeal? In the same letter that Gov. Barbour refuses to save the life of a man, he wishes mercy on the soul of that same man. Does this not seem like a contradiction?

As Christians we are all called to become like Christ. Christ is our model. His glory, the glory of God, is to be the object of all of our actions!

Who is Gov. Barbour to condemn a fellow human being to death? Who am I to condemn a fellow human being to death? Who is anyone to condemn a fellow human being to death?

Are we not told by scripture to judge no one? Judge the actions, yes. But the person, no. And if the action is wrong, kill it. But do not kill the person so that they may repent!

All across the nation, there are doctors sucking babies out of the womb with no concern for the woman herself. But are we calling for the deaths of these murderous and careless doctors?

Who are we to condemn a grown man or woman for killing a few when doctors are killing hundreds!?

I am sure that Gov. Barbour had good intentions. But his actions were less than Christian.