This month, leading up to the holiday in a few weeks, our entire country will focus on the concept of “thanksgiving”. Remembering to express gratitude and count our blessings is, of course, a good thing. But, interestingly enough, for much of our society, the idea of giving thanks has been divorced from religion.

That is, people are thankful, but that thanks is not always directed at God.

Did you know that the word “Eucharist” is derived from the Greek word meaning Thanksgiving? Ultimately, as Catholics, we recognize that everything good comes from the Lord.

This month, consider making time to thank the Lord in prayer for all He has given you: family, friends, gifts and talents and, yes, even the challenges that have made us stronger. We have the opportunity to thank him every day, but most especially when we receive him in the Holy Eucharist.

In the month before Advent begins, it is perhaps no coincidence that we recognize all that we have been given, before we begin to prepare during Advent for the coming of Our Saviour at Christmas.

3 thoughts on “Giving Thanks and the Eucharist

  1. Fr. We are blessed to have our Franciscan Friars among us to remind all of us to give thanks to the Lord our God, it is through Him all things come from. Thank you so much for reminding me today?

  2. Lord, I thank you for everything. You are Love and I will always love you. Help me to be what you want me to be and help me to grow in love. I want to spend eternity with you and I hope that others do as well. I ask this of Jesus. Amen.

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