"“Were not ten made clean? And where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17).

When we reflect on our own prayers and the manner in which we say them, we will find ourselves beating our breasts and saying: O Lord, be merciful to me for my appalling ingratitude. How often has it happened that we have had some trouble that really worried us – illness, for instance. It may have been an illness that posed a real threat to our lives. We thought that it was something really bad. We prayed – prayed with humility and faith – and our illness disappeared. Yes, it was just gone. And we took it for granted, as if it were our due. The fact is that something very extraordinary happened to us as a result of our prayer. This has been the experience of all of us. No wonder the power of prayer is voiced so strongly. As regards our thanksgiving to God for granting our petitions in prayer, a good resolution would be to spend as much time in thanking God as we spent petitioning him for what we needed.

Such a suggestion may come as a surprise to us. Yet, God’s answer to our prayer is greater than all our thanksgiving. But, you say, I had been praying for years for this intention. Do I now have to keep thanking God for years? My answer to you is: no thanksgiving could be long enough in return for a favour from God. As for the length of your thanksgiving, don’t worry. Just make the sincere intention of putting this act of thanksgiving into all your prayers for the rest of your life. Do not neglect, however, to make specific acts of thanksgiving immediately after receiving a favour from the Lord."

-- Christ our Model by Matthew Aherne, OCarm

Thanksgiving Day in the USA and territories

If you got up this morning feeling more healthy than sick, then you are luckier than 1 million of other humans who will be dead by next week.

If you never fought in a war, were never in a prison, have never been tortured, and have never felt the agony of constant hunger, then you are luckier than 500 million of other fellows living in this world.

If you can freely practice your religion without the threat of prison or death, then you are happier than 3 million others.

If you have food in your fridge, have clothing to wear, a roof over your head and a place to lay your head, you are wealthier than 75% of other people.

If you have a bank account, some money in your wallet you belong to the to 8% of the wealthiest people in the world.

 
Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. (UNCTAD)
 
-o-
 
Psalm 118
 
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!
2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."
5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.
6* With the LORD on my side I do not fear. What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees, they blazed* like a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! 13 I was pushed hard, * so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
15 Hark, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
16 the right hand of the LORD is exalted, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"
17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has chastened me sorely, but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation.
22* The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25* Save us, we beseech thee, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech thee, give us success!
26 Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar!
28 Thou art my God, and I will give thanks to thee; thou art my God, I will extol thee.
29 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever!
 
-o-
 
This year, just about everyone is feeling the pressures of the sad economic times, job losses and great difficulty finding new employment, etc. It's easy to feel stressed, anxious, and even depressed. But there is much to be thankful for: family, friends, our Faith, God's blessings and love for us... There are many people that spend this American holiday by themselves, alone. Even if you're not able to share a meal with them, consider contacting them, call them on the phone and wish them a day full of God's graces and blessings. You will brighten their day and share in the true spirit of thanksgiving: "O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever!" Hapy Thanksgiving Day!

V. Thanksgiving

"'The thanksgiving,' says Father John of Jesus-Mary Aravalles, 'ought to grow out of the contemplation, so that there is no division or interruption between them.' Thanksgiving, therefore, is only the prolongation of the loving colloquy which forms part of the act of contemplation and should even, according to the author, increase its fervor. The soul gives thanks first of all for the graces which are related to the object of the meditation. Thus, for example, if one has been meditating on the Passion, one thanks God for the grace of Redemption and salvation. If one has been meditating on heaven, one thanks God for the hope of attaining it. The soul recalls also the other blessings received from God: its creation and the dignity of being a child of God; His gift of Jesus to us; the Incarnation, the Passion and other mysteries of the Word made Flesh; the Holy Eucharist; the gift of Mary our Mother; our predestination to Heaven; our religious vocation, etc...

The soul praises God for His goodness and takes delight in Him."

-- The Spirit and Prayer of Carmel by Fr François Jamart, ocd