Dear Parishioner of The Sunday Mass,
“If the only prayer you said was thank you that would be enough.” (Meister Eckhart) These words from the great Dominic mystic came to mind as I sat down to write this letter. Thanksgiving is a time when in the midst of our busy lives we take a moment, a day to be grateful and thankful. Yet, if each morning we got up and utter the words, “God, thank you!” that would be enough according to Meister Eckhart.
The act of giving thanks is formative. It shapes us. When it is our prayer, like all prayer, it changes us. Being thankful causes us to look at things differently. Thankfulness and gratitude put our lives in the proper context. When we approach life with gratitude we realize that all is truly a gift from God. We earn none of it. All is grace and thankfulness is the only fitting response.
Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful for the gifts of our lives and to pray for those who do not share in our abundant blessings. Here at The Sunday Mass we want to remember to say Thank You to you during this season of gratitude. Thank you for being such loyal and faithful parishioners. Thank you for your faith filled support and generosity. Thank you for sharing your faith by walking with us.
As we celebrate the blessings of our lives and our great country please know that we will remember you and your intentions at The Sunday Mass. We know that you are grateful for your blessings and your loved ones. We join with you in praying the most perfect thanksgiving prayer there is: the Eucharist. In fact that is what the word Eucharist means: Thanksgiving.
Please take the time to send us your Thanksgiving Blessing Prayer below so that we can include it at our altar as we make our prayer of Thanksgiving together, one body of Christ joined together in gratitude.
Remember if Thank You is your only prayer that will be enough! May God bless you, your families, loved ones, and our nation as we celebrate this most beautiful national holiday.
Peace in Christ’s Passion,
Fr. Paul R. Fagan, C.P.
Pastor of The Sunday Mass