Some people still risk their lives to go to Mass

When we think of martyrs, we picture the Colosseum and the first Christians. But in several countries today there are Christians who risk their lives to go to Mass or for refusing to deny their faith. There are probably more of them than in the first centuries, even though they hardly make the news. Thinking about them puts things in their place. For us, going to Mass means at most getting up early or giving up a plan. For them it can mean risking their lives. It's not about feeling guilty, but about valuing what we have and not forgetting them. We can pray for them, find out about their situation and live with more gratitude our freedom to practice our faith.