Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 2010
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19. The ten lepers
(Sorry, no audio)
Summary: Thanksgiving Day was started by the Puritans in this country. They despised Catholics, as well as celebrations, even outlawing Christmas. They could not entirely suppress the need to celebrate, to relax with family and friends, and so we have Thanksgiving.
Consider a life of prayer and teaching. Saint Francis de Sales’ “little virtues” of gentleness, kindness, humility, and cheerful optimism shape our monastic life. Washington, DC.
We should be thankful for whatever we have — our life, health, and so on. The people in hospitals don”t have their health. Homeless people in the area around the parish don”t have homes. There is one man who, when asked where he sleeps when he has no place to go, says he gets on the train and rides it back and forth all night. The greatest thing we have to be thankful for, besides life itself, is the promise of eternal life in heaven with the angels and saints.
The word Eucharist means thanksgiving, so each time we celebrate Mass we are giving thanks to God.
Today”s feast day is that of St. Catherine of Alexandria, which was part of Egypt. St. Catherine was so enthusiastic about her faith that she told others about the Gospel, converting even the empress. When the emperor heard about this, however, he had her executed. Her instrument of torture was the wheel, and that is why she is pictured in front of a giant wheel.