The United States of America was, as far as I know, the first country to have a secular holiday set aside to give thanks to God, and we definitely should not blow this great opportunity to glorify our Lord and express our gratitude to Him for all of the great gifts, which He has given not only to each one of us, personally, but most especially to this greatest of all countries.
Let’s begin a perpetual “Novena of Thanksgiving” to God for the many wonderful favors, He has granted to our country, as well as to petition Him to help us change our ways to please Him and to gain eternal salvation for ourselves, our fellow countrymen, and all others:
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O God, of Whose Mercies there is no number, and of Whose Goodness the Treasure is infinite; we render thanks to Thy Most Gracious Majesty for the gifts Thou hast bestowed upon us, evermore beseeching Thy Clemency, that as Thou grantest the petitions of them that ask Thee, Thou wilt never forsake them, but wilt prepare for the reward to come. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in Unity with The Holy Ghost, Ever One God, world without end. Amen.” (Mass of Thanksgiving)
“Hear, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the prayers of Thy suppliants and punish not the sins of those who confess unto Thee; but in Thy Bounty grant us both forgiveness and peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in Unity with The Holy Ghost, Ever One God, world without end. Amen.”
“To my hearing, [O God], Thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice. Alleluia.” (Mass for Remission of Sins)
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The following was mentioned by a prominent talkshow host last year, and I found it on the Internet and formatted it a little. Please print out the attachment at the bottom, copy it, and distribute it to as many others, as possible.
Let’s remember that our country is suffering greatly from our inattention to and unwillingness to follow God’s Commandments as well as for our ingratitude towards Him for all of the benefits, which He has given to us. If we do not turn to Him, now, we might not have an opportunity to do so, in the future.
G E N E R A L T H A N K S G I V I N G
By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;– for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;– for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;– and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;– to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
(signed) G. Washington
Source: The Massachusetts Sentinel, Wednesday, October 14, 1789
(taken from: http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/firsts/thanksgiving/thankstext.html)
Copyright and All Rights Reserved, The Holy Family House. Feast of our Lady Mother of Grace, A.D. 2/7/2012. Can be printed & distributed GRATIS ONLY, with clearly legible copyright info.