"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
In one of Saint Catherine of Siena's revelations, God the Father told her that "thanksgiving makes the soul incessantly delight in Him; it frees men from negligence and lukewarmness altogether and makes them anxious to please Him more and more in all things."
When I am preoccupied with the cares of life and withhold my gratitude, it is reflected in my inner being. I become more anxious, prone to envy and anger, and less joyful. It seems to me that thanksgiving is the key to unlocking true gratitude, which in turn unlocks peace and joy.
Scripture shows us that Jesus Himself was distressed at a lack of gratitude. To see this clearly it is helpful to look at the whole verse:
"On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"(Luke 17:17-18).
This powerful question from Our Lord should echo in our hearts. He transformed the lives of the lepers, and He transforms ours as well, each time we receive Him in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Yet are we one of those who do not give thanks to Almighty God? The Eucharist is the perfect place where we should begin our thanksgiving to God…by remembering to offer Him a prayer of gratitude each time we receive Him. After all, the word "Eucharist" comes from the Greek word eucharistia, which means "to give thanks"!
If we are not giving thanks to God regularly - and at least after Holy Communion - we need to ask ourselves: where is our gratitude? Not only do we owe this much to Our Lord, we will be happier because of it! As St. Francis de Sales noted, we are happier when we are grateful:"The grateful heart sits at a continuous feast."
St. Paul reminds us of this call to constant gratitude: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). Thanksgiving is not optional; it is woven into the very fabric of our prayer life. We are called to give thanks in all circumstances, not just when things go well.
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17)
One of the greatest teachers on thanksgiving after Communion is St. Teresa of Avila. "Let us detain ourselves lovingly with Jesus," she said, "and not waste the hour that follows Communion." It has been said, "If your thanksgivings are poor and wretched, pray to St. Teresa and she will get you straight."
There are many prayers that can be said in thanksgiving after Communion or at Eucharistic Adoration. The following prayer is attributed to Saint Basil:
O Master Christ our God, King of the Ages, Maker of all things: I thank Thee for all the good things Thou hast given me, especially for the communion with Thy most pure and life-creating Mysteries. I pray Thee, O gracious Lover of Man: preserve me under Thy protection, beneath the shadow of Thy wings. Enable me, even to my last breath, to partake worthily and with a pure conscience of Thy holy things, for the remission of sins and unto life eternal. For Thou art the Bread of Life, a Fountain of Holiness, the Giver of all Good; to Thee we ascribe glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
As we approach Thanksgiving, it is a good time to reflect on our own gratitude. This American holiday, while a wonderful chance to bring together family and friends, is not necessarily seen as a spiritual one. But it can be. If we cannot recognize our need to thank God for all good things—our food, our family, our country—then we are missing the opportunity. Thanksgiving is a chance to practice what we are called to do every day: to give thanks to God in all things, and to remember that every good gift comes from Him.
