Thanksgiving Day is a civil holiday in the United States, observed on the fourth Thursday of November, which is embraced by many as an opportunity to offer specific gratitude to God for His manifold blessings and providence throughout the year.
Observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving Day in the United States, while a civil holiday, holds deep resonance with the perennial Christian practice of offering fervent gratitude to God for His abundant gifts and divine providence. Within the church calendar, many dioceses in the USA recognize this day with special Masses of Thanksgiving, allowing the faithful to gather and publicly acknowledge God's sustaining hand, particularly for the harvest and the blessings of family and community life. This observance reflects a timeless theme in salvation history, echoing ancient biblical feasts of harvest and ingathering where God's people expressed their profound thanks for His covenant faithfulness and provision, thereby pointing towards the ultimate heavenly banquet and the eternal gratitude due to the Creator for all His mercies. It serves as a potent reminder of humanity's dependence on God and the call to live lives of humble thanksgiving for both temporal and spiritual graces.
Thanksgiving Day, observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, stands as a unique blend of civil tradition and profound spiritual resonance, particularly for Roman Catholics. While not a liturgical feast of obligation within the universal Church calendar, it has been embraced by the faithful in America as a significant occasion for expressing gratitude to Almighty God. This day transcends its historical origins to become a national moment of reflection on the blessings received, aligning seamlessly with the deeply rooted Catholic tradition of eucharistic thanksgiving.
The popular narrative of Thanksgiving traces its roots to a harvest feast shared in 1621 by the Plymouth colonists (Pilgrims) and the Wampanoag people. This initial gathering, though not immediately recognized as an annual holiday, laid a foundational myth for future celebrations. Over centuries, various colonies and states observed days of thanksgiving at different times, often in response to specific providential events like military victories or bountiful harvests. It was President Abraham Lincoln, amidst the turmoil of the Civil War, who officially proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving in 1863, setting it for the last Thursday of November. This act sought to unify a divided nation under a common expression of gratitude for God's blessings, even in times of immense suffering. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a joint resolution of Congress moving Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday of November, solidifying its current date.
From a Catholic perspective, Thanksgiving Day offers a natural extension of the Church's perennial call to give thanks. The very word "Eucharist" means "thanksgiving," making every Mass a profound act of gratitude to God for Christ's sacrifice and the gift of salvation. While the universal Roman Calendar does not feature a specific feast for Thanksgiving, the Church in the United States has long accommodated and encouraged its observance. Many dioceses across the country celebrate a special Mass of Thanksgiving on this day, often incorporating readings and prayers that highlight themes of gratitude, divine providence, and the sharing of gifts. These Masses provide an opportunity for Catholics to gather and offer collective thanks for temporal blessings—such as the harvest, family, and peace—and to acknowledge God's sustaining hand in their lives and in the life of the nation. This integration demonstrates the Church's ability to sanctify civil observances and infuse them with deeper spiritual meaning.
The spiritual core of Thanksgiving Day lies in the cultivation of gratitude, a cardinal virtue in Christian spirituality. It serves as a powerful antidote to ingratitude and entitlement, reminding believers of their absolute dependence on God for every good thing. The feast invites contemplation of God's boundless goodness and mercy, encouraging a recognition that all blessings, both material and spiritual, flow from His benevolent hand. This annual pause allows individuals and families to reflect on the past year's joys and challenges, recognizing God's presence and faithfulness throughout. It is a day to acknowledge divine providence not only in grand gestures but also in the everyday graces often taken for granted—food, shelter, health, family, and faith. This spirit of thanksgiving naturally leads to a spirit of generosity and charity, prompting individuals to share their abundance with those less fortunate, thus embodying the Christian call to love one's neighbor.
While Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday is uniquely American, the underlying impulse to give thanks for harvest and blessings is a universal human and religious phenomenon, deeply embedded in various cultures and faiths worldwide. Many ancient civilizations and religious traditions have celebrated harvest festivals, acknowledging the divine source of sustenance and prosperity. In the Old Testament, the Israelites observed feasts like Sukkot (the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles), which commemorated God's provision in the wilderness and the ingathering of the harvest, echoing themes of gratitude and dependence. Similarly, Christian communities globally observe various days of prayer for crops or national days of thanksgiving, albeit on different dates and with different cultural expressions. This global tapestry of gratitude underscores the fundamental human recognition of a higher power's role in sustaining life and the universal human need to express thanks for creation's bounty.
Today, Thanksgiving Day remains a cherished occasion for Catholics in the United States. Beyond attending special Masses, families often gather for shared meals, a tradition that reinforces familial bonds and provides a tangible expression of gratitude around the table. The day also serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of charity, with many individuals and parishes engaging in food drives, volunteering at soup kitchens, or supporting ministries that serve the poor. By consciously directing their gratitude towards God, Catholics transform a civil holiday into a profound spiritual exercise, fostering a deeper relationship with their Creator and a more generous spirit towards their fellow human beings. Thanksgiving Day, therefore, stands as a testament to the enduring power of gratitude, a virtue that enriches both individual souls and the collective life of the Church and nation, pointing always to the ultimate source of all blessings.
The year is 1863. The United States is caught in the brutal, agonizing grip of the Civil War. Brother fought against brother, fathers against sons, and the very fabric of the nation seemed to be tearing asunder. News of devastating battles like Gettysburg and Vicksburg filled the air, each dispatch carrying fresh tidings of unimaginable loss and suffering. Homes were shattered, fields lay fallow in many war-torn regions, and the future of the Union hung precariously in the balance. Amidst this profound despair, sat President Abraham Lincoln, a man burdened by the weight of a fracturing nation, his face etched with the anxieties of a country at war with itself.
Yet, even in the depths of this national agony, Lincoln, a man of deep reflection and quiet faith, perceived a flicker of light, a persistent thread of divine providence. Despite the relentless bloodshed, the Union had achieved crucial victories, the harvests in many un-ravaged areas were bountiful, and the institutions of government, though strained, continued to function. It was a paradox: immense suffering coexisting with undeniable blessings. For years, Sarah Josepha Hale, a tireless editor and writer, had campaigned for a national day of Thanksgiving, believing it could unify the fractured states. But it was Lincoln, in his profound spiritual contemplation of the nation's plight, who saw the deeper need.
He understood that even in the midst of wrath, God remembers mercy. On October 3, 1863, with the war still raging, Lincoln issued his historic Thanksgiving Proclamation. It was not a naive dismissal of the suffering, but a courageous act of faith. He acknowledged the 'calamities which have fallen upon us,' yet immediately pivoted to the 'gracious gifts of the Most High God.' He spoke of a God 'who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.'
Lincoln's proclamation was a profound call to national repentance and gratitude, inviting the American people to set aside a day to collectively acknowledge God's hand in their affairs. He declared that it was 'fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people.' He urged them to offer 'humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience' and to 'fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.'
And so, on the last Thursday of November, 1863, amidst the thunder of cannons and the cries of a wounded land, families gathered. They ate what they had, perhaps less than in years past, but they prayed. They gave thanks. Lincoln's act transformed a scattered colonial custom into a national institution, embedding into the very heart of the American experience a profound spiritual truth: that even in our darkest hours, when hope seems lost and division reigns, we are called to look beyond our immediate circumstances, to acknowledge God's enduring providence, and to offer Him humble and heartfelt thanksgiving. This national act of faith, born from the crucible of war, continues to resonate, reminding us that gratitude is not merely for times of prosperity, but an essential posture of the soul, especially in times of trial.
November 28, 2019
My brothers and sisters in Christ,
I want to wish all of you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving Day. This is a special day in the life of our country, and it is a special day for us as Catholics.
Today we gather in our churches, as families and friends, to offer our thanks to God.
From the very beginning, Thanksgiving in America has always been a day of prayer and a day of gratitude to God. We are a nation founded on faith, and our founders knew that all of our blessings come from God.
As Catholics, we know that thanksgiving is the very heart of our faith. Every time we come to Mass, we are giving thanks to God. The word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving.”
So, today is a beautiful day to reflect on the meaning of our lives and the meaning of our faith.
We are here, first of all, to give thanks to God for the gift of life itself, for the gift of our creation. We are here to give thanks for all the good things in our lives — for our families and friends, for our homes and our communities, for the beauty of creation all around us.
We are also here to give thanks for the gift of our country.
We live in a nation of freedom and opportunity, where we are still able to practice our faith and live according to our consciences. This is a precious gift, and we should never take it for granted.
We also give thanks today for our faith. For the gift of Jesus Christ, who died for us and rose again, and who walks with us in our daily lives.
We give thanks for the gift of the Church, for the sacraments, for the wisdom of God’s word, and for the communion of saints.
And we give thanks for our vocation as Christians — to be saints, to follow Jesus, and to help build his kingdom of love and truth on earth.
My brothers and sisters, on this Thanksgiving Day, let us remember always that our blessings come from God.
And let us remember that God has given us these blessings so that we can share them with others.
Our God is a God of love, and he calls us to love one another, and to serve one another.
So today, let us open our hearts and our hands to those around us, especially those who are struggling or suffering.
Let us pray for our country and for all our leaders. Let us pray for peace in our communities and in the world.
And let us ask our Blessed Mother Mary to help us to live lives of gratitude and love, and to always give thanks to God for his goodness and mercy.
May God bless you all, and may he grant you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.
Many Catholic parishes in the United States celebrate a special Mass of Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day, often incorporating prayers and readings focused on gratitude for God's providence and blessings.
This tradition allows the faithful to acknowledge the religious significance of the civil holiday and offer collective liturgical thanksgiving to God for His gifts and mercies, aligning with the Church's teaching on the virtue of gratitude and the meaning of the Eucharist.
Families typically gather for a large meal, often featuring traditional foods like turkey and pumpkin pie, and frequently commence the meal with a prayer of thanksgiving, acknowledging God's provision.
This domestic tradition reinforces the holiday's central theme of gratitude and communal celebration of God's sustenance within the family unit, echoing biblical themes of shared meals and thanksgiving for harvest.
Many individuals and Catholic parishes organize or participate in charitable activities, such as food drives for the needy, serving meals at soup kitchens, or volunteering, reflecting the Christian call to share blessings.
This tradition embodies the Christian principle that gratitude for God's gifts should lead to generosity and service to one's neighbor, especially those in need, transforming thanksgiving into concrete acts of love and solidarity.
Some individuals and families engage in personal reflection or create 'gratitude lists' of blessings they have received throughout the year, as a private or shared exercise to cultivate a deeper spirit of thankfulness.
This practice directly fosters the virtue of gratitude, a core Christian principle, encouraging a conscious recognition of God's blessings and providence in daily life, leading to a more profound relationship with the Creator.
While distinct from the U.S. observance, Canada celebrates its own Thanksgiving (Action de grâce) on the second Monday of October, with similar themes of harvest gratitude and family gatherings, often including religious services.
This demonstrates a parallel Christian-influenced tradition of harvest thanksgiving in a neighboring country, highlighting the broader, universal concept of giving thanks to God for His bounty that transcends specific national borders.
A large, oven-roasted turkey, often seasoned with herbs and spices, serving as the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal.
Turkey became a prominent feature of Thanksgiving due to its availability and size, suitable for feeding large gatherings, and was popularized as part of the holiday's culinary tradition from the mid-19th century.
A savory bread-based mixture, often combined with herbs, vegetables (like celery and onions), and sometimes sausage or oysters, cooked either inside the turkey or in a separate baking dish.
Stuffing is a traditional accompaniment to roasted poultry, and its inclusion in Thanksgiving meals dates back to early American culinary practices, providing a hearty and flavorful side dish.
A tart and sweet sauce made from cranberries, typically served as a condiment alongside the turkey and other savory dishes.
Cranberries are native to North America and were a food source for Native Americans; their inclusion in Thanksgiving meals reflects the use of indigenous ingredients and their seasonal availability during harvest time.
A sweet custard pie made with a spiced pumpkin filling, often topped with whipped cream, serving as the quintessential Thanksgiving dessert.
Pumpkins were a staple crop in early America, and pies were a common way to prepare them. Pumpkin pie became a symbolic dessert for Thanksgiving, representing the bounty of the autumn harvest.
Creamy mashed potatoes, often served with a rich gravy made from the pan drippings of the roasted turkey.
These are classic comfort food side dishes that complement roasted meats and are integral to the traditional large, celebratory Thanksgiving feast, providing a sense of abundance and warmth.