I was recently talking to my sister-in-law about gratitude. We both married into this wonderful family and come from completely different backgrounds, so it was fascinating to hear her take on gratitude and compare it to what I’ve traditionally thought.
Currently, I think being grateful, or #blessed, is overused in regards to materialism. When’s the last time you read an Instagram post that was #blessed because he or she had just received a gift of the Holy Spirit? I know I haven’t seen a single one—nor have I posted one, so no judgement here—but gratitude is more than what you have. It’s a mindset: taking a step back to be grateful for the relationships, the deserts and valleys, the Exodus and the gifts which the Lord has given to you.
Gratitude is essential to growing our faith life. The Mass is a prayer of Thanksgiving to the Lord, the Eucharist a sacrifice of Thanksgiving; gratitude is at the heart of who we are as Catholics. So in honor of this month of gratitude, I gathered some encouragement to maintain a grateful heart.
Remember the past with gratitude. Live the present with enthusiasm. Look forward to the future with confidence.”
Pope St. John Paul II
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
Psalm 100:4
Get used to lifting your heart to God, in acts of thanksgiving, many times a day. Because he gives you this and that. Because you have been despised. Because you haven’t what you need or because you have. Thank him for everything, because everything is good.”
St. Josemaria Escriva
“Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward and learning to enjoy whatever life has, and this requires transforming greed into gratitude.”
St. John Chrysostom
“Jesus does not demand great action from us but simply surrender and gratitude.”
St. Therèse of Lisieux
“O God, grant that whatever good things I have, I may share generously with those who have not, and whatever good things I do not have, I may request humbly from those who do.”
St. Thomas Aquinas
The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is sending us every day in His goodness.”
St. Gianna Beretta Molla
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
“If souls are humble, they will be moved to give thanks,”
St. Teresa of Ávila
“Believe and adore. Believe that Jesus Christ is in this sacrament as truly as He was nine months in the womb of Mary, as real as He was nailed to the Cross. Adore in humility and gratitude.”
St. John Vianney