THE FOURTH BLESSING In Eucharistic Prayer C, on page 370 of the Book of Common Prayer, we find those words of gratitude: “you...blessed us with memory, reason, and skill.” One can hardly disagree. But I’ve wondered why the composers of this prayer didn’t acknowledge one more blessing, without which the first three would, in my view, be cold and sterile. In fact, they could be used in brilliant but evil ways against us or our fellow man [or woman—we are NOT sexist!]. It gives purpose to all our other blessings, and enriches the quality of our lives beyond compare. And indeed He has blessed us with it, and continues to bless us with it, asking only that we recognize and utilize it. All mental illness, all strife between persons and nations, all manifestations of greed, envy, and hate, are due to our ignoring this precious gift, ours for the asking. What is it, you ask? It’s the capacity to love—him, each other, and his creation. It’s the ground of our being, the salvation of our souls, and using it is his greatest commandment! Now why didn’t those composers think of that? Did you?