Federal Christopher Andre Vialva, 40 Concentrate Meditate “I’m ready, Father.” Pray “Jesus was deeply troubled.” Reflect God, is silent. Federal William Emmett Lecroy, Jr., 50 Concentrate Meditate “Sister Battista is about to receive in the postal service my last statement.” Pray “Jesus became paralyzed with sorrow.” Reflect God, cry with us. Pray “He took his closest friends with him…” Reflect God, you are friend. Federal Keith Dwayne Nelson, 45 Concentrate. Federal Lezmond Charles Mitchell, 38 Concentrate Meditate “No, I’m good.” Pray “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Reflect God, draw us to sit. God, I am in the valley of the shadow of death.
Federal Dustin Lee Honken, 52 Concentrate Meditate “Hail Mary, Mother of God, pray for me.” Pray “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane…” Reflect God, I keep reflecting. Jeff Hood FebruThough the circumstances are varied and a few were undoubtedly innocent, the following 40 people were convicted of the murders of over 60 people. May the lessons contained herein manifest in us so that we might manifest life in the lives of those we have condemned. Salvation comes from giving ourselves so that others might live. In these reflections, it is my hope that God might find us in the last words of others so that we might find and advocate for life in the here and now. There are italicized words to help guide you on what to do on each page. Every reflection offers brief information about the execution, a picture of the executed, the final words of the condemned person, words of Christ’s from the Garden of Gethsemane, a response to all previous words and a final prayer. Each reflection is from one of the last 40 people to be executed in the United States. The question thus becomes what are we willing to give so that others might live? In the pages that follow, I engage the words of others who were about to be executed to see what they might offer us in terms of lessons in grief…and, for that matter, lessons in life. Aware of what was coming, Christ grieves. It is a time to consider what it must have been like for Christ to have realized that he was about to be given over to his oppressors to be executed. Orationes Mortuorum (Prayers of the Dead) A Lenten Series, 2023 Jeff Hood Sponsored by: Saint Miriam Parish and Friary Death Penalty Action Clergy United Against the Death Penalty Red Letter Christians The season of Lent is about grief.
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