Gratitude As we approach the feast of Thanksgiving it is time to take stock of the many benefits we have received from the Lord in the last year. American and Protestant in origin, Thanksgiving has become a rich tradition celebrated here and around the world. It is even celebrated in Italy, as the Holy Father has recently reminded us in His allocution of the Angelus of Sunday November 14th. This feast is a powerful reminder of Divine Providence-we cannot express such gratitude to "eternal matter" or to anyone or anything that is not God. So it may be useful to take some time out of our daily activities and, if possible, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, recall all the benefits that we have received from the Lord in the last year. We can examine our lives individually, and as members of communities and a nation, several days before the actual feast. This effort of recollection should not be hurried or perfunctory, like punching a card at the beginning of a shift. It should be done slowly and with a sense of purpose, in order not to miss anything. Many saints remind us how important it is to examine our lives to be certain that we are accomplishing in words and deeds what is pleasing in the sight of the Lord. Indeed, we pray that we always recognize the presence of the Lord in our lives. We recall not only the spiritual and material benefits that the Lord has given us, but also those which our family and friends have received, and those that our nation has received. With all the social and economic challenges we confront today, we must acknowledge and be grateful for things we might otherwise take for granted; for example, a peaceful family life or a steady job, if we are so blessed. We remember that so many persons in our times live in a frozen solitude, that a substantial number of families have troubled relationships and that many cannot find work. We should bless the Lord if we are worshiping Him in a parish that follows the constant magisterial teachings of the Church, and that leads us to adore Him with reverence and devotion. We should thank Him if our children are healthy and have good educational opportunities. We should praise our God for the result of the midterm elections, praying at the same time that the newly elected representatives would be faithful to their mandates to defend life and the family. We should also pray for the States of the Union that have not benefited from this political change and are still governed by anti-life politicians. Saints also constantly remind us to be grateful even for the crosses that we have received from the Lord. In some cases the benefits of those crosses should become evident to us right away, as they serve to increase our humility and our sense of dependence on the Lord. Against a world that tries to be autonomous from God, we always proclaim our dependence on Him. In other cases we might not understand what could possibly be the benefit, in particular when we are suffering the serious consequences of grave sins that were committed by other persons. Like Job, and others of heroic virtue in the Old Testament, we might feel inclined to question the Lord for permitting these evils. In such cases we must make some careful distinctions. First, God never wills a sin, but He does permit sin, in as much as he allows each human person the full exercise of his freedom. After all, our greatness is based in large part upon our gift of freedom, properly understood. Second, all of our sins have not only contributed to our Savior's suffering on the Cross, but they have also been atoned for by that Cross. Third, when we suffer the consequences of those sins and try to atone for them, we are adding what is lacking to the Cross of Christ, as Saint Paul states. To forgive and to strive to correct the consequences of those sins is to participate in the saving mission of Christ. Gratitude engenders hope because the recollection of God's blessings in our lives strengthens the hope that those blessings will be granted again in the future. Of course, the virtue of hope has two elements: First, the firm belief that the promises of Christ will be accomplished, and as a consequence, one day we will be rescued from this valley of tears and will enter into Paradise. Second, that we will receive all the necessary assistance of the Lord to save our souls as well as those that have been entrusted to our care. By discerning the graces that we have received in the past year, we will have a confirmation from our experience that increases our hope that those graces will be granted again to us in the future. Gratitude and Hope are not only essential Christian virtues, they are also natural and welcome responses to a loving God who has blessed us so abundantly. Sincerely yours in Christ, |
Interim President, Human Life International
