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Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
Count your blessings this Thanksgiving
Published: November 4, 2024
During this season of thanksgiving, we invite you to share your blessings with us. Did you know that in addition to prayer needs, our Prayer Book of Intentions can also receive prayers of thanksgiving for petitions answered? So, in addition to your prayer requests, we invite you to share with us how God is working in your life. Submit your prayer of thanksgiving here.
"We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all. See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:14-18)
As we prepare to gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, we take part in a tradition that began in 1621 when Gov. Bradford of the Plymouth colony called for a day of public praise and prayer to celebrate the first harvest. This came after many setbacks and hardships had plagued the first settlers of the New World.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that in addition to prayers of petition and intercession, we can also offer prayers of blessing and adoration, praise and thanksgiving to God. (No. 2623-2649)
During this season of thanksgiving, we invite you to share your blessings with us. Did you know that in addition to prayer needs, our Prayer Book of Intentions can also receive prayers of thanksgiving for petitions answered? So, in addition to your prayer requests, we invite you to share with us how God is working in your life. Submit your prayer of thanksgiving here.
All are welcome to submit prayers to our Prayer Book of Intentions in English or Spanish. You have the option of posting anonymously or including your name and/or parish. All submissions are reviewed before being made public. Please allow up to three business days for your submission to be posted.
These prayers are being offered up at Masses celebrated by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor and other priests at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. Others are also invited to pray for these intentions in your parishes, schools or prayer groups. For more information, Contact Us.
We may struggle with different hardships but still turn to the same God to see us through difficult times. Like the first settlers, we invite you to join us in thanking God for his presence and love. The following prayer is an excerpt from "Celebrating Faith: Year-round Activities for Catholic Families" by Mary Cronk Farrell (St. Anthony Messenger Press).
Thanksgiving Table Prayer
"O Gracious God, we give you thanks for your overflowing generosity to us. Thank you for the blessings of the food we eat and especially for this feast today. Thank you for our home and family and friends, especially for the presence of those gathered here. Thank you for our health, our work and our play. Please send help to those who are hungry, alone, sick and suffering war and violence. Open our hearts to your love. We ask your blessing through Christ your Son. Amen."
For additional resources to help you reflect on your blessings, see "How to Grow in Gratitude" using the examen, an Ignatian spiritual exercise from Ascension, "Gratitude through Hard Times" from Catholic Mom, "Scripture to Help You Be Thankful When It’s Hardest" from Ascension, "10 Ways to be Thankful" and stories about relevant saints from Franciscan Media, reasons to love Thanksgiving from Life Teen and a variety of Thanksgiving prayers from Hallow. You may also like "First Thanksgiving began with the Mass" and "Eucharist is the true food of thanksgiving."
