We also celebrate Thanksgiving Day this Thursday, and we give thanks in a special way for the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed on us.  We are reminded to strive to not permit ourselves to get distracted by any shopping frenzies, but rather truly take time to reaffirm our commitment to make Thanksgiving Day a day for Our Lord, family and friends.

The following Thanksgiving prayer, provided by “Catholic Online”, reflects the spirit which should be embraced on this special day:

Father, all of Creation rightly owes you thanks and praise. Your justice, love and mercy abound. We thank you this day for all that you have given us.

For the Passion and Death of your Divine Son, we thank you Father, through the Cross, He redeemed the world.

For the Church, we thank you Father, it is our beacon for salvation.

For the martyrs and saints who give testimony to your Son, we thank you Father, their witness to your Son is our inheritance.

For our loved ones and friends who have died and gone before us, we thank you Father, their love abides with us forever.

For loving spouses, we thank you Father, together we seek you.

For the gift of children, we thank you Father, they are your precious gifts to us and to the world.

For the gift of our families, loved ones and good friends, we thank you Father.  Through them we see the reflection of your Son.

For jobs, our homes and all that we have, we thank you Father, give us only that which we need, as we seek Your Kingdom.

For the bounty we are about to eat, we thank you through Christ Our Lord.  Amen.

As we reflect on this prayer, our bishops once again suggest that beginning Monday, the days before Thanksgiving be set aside for deeds of charity, for penance, and for prayers for economic justice.  We can also pray that Thanksgiving will be a time for family and friends to get together to thank God for blessings received.

On behalf of the clergy and staff at Saint Brigid we hope that you will enjoy this special time.