Prayer for the World November 28, 2024

THANKSGIVING

Introduction

Our Prayer for the World this week will focus on Thanksgiving.  As we celebrate our National Holiday of Thanksgiving, it is fitting to offer prayers of gratitude and petition.  We will begin with the first words of Psalm 118, Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.  Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus.  God has blessed us with life and provided more than we could ever imagine.

Mantra:  Confitemini Domine. Taize’,

Youtube.com https://youtu.be/khXIGwIhpYE?si=Gi9dtRSzehp8RZVn 

Focus of Our Prayer:

Let us ponder briefly the act of giving thanks.  How is it that we as a Nation have a special day dedicated to thank-giving?

In 1789, George Washington declared Thursday, November 26, a Thanksgiving holiday, but only for that year.  It was President Lincoln that later declared it an annual Holiday on the 4th Thursday of November.  For Washington it was intended as, and I quote, a “public thanksgiving and prayer” devoted 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.”

Ilia Delio shares this observation about St. Francis’ attitude of thanksgiving:  Because he encountered the manifold gifts of God in the everyday experiences of life, Francis lived with a seep sense of gratitude.  And so we look forward to gathering around the table to share God’s gifts and celebrate God’s goodness with a deep sense of gratitude.  And we pray for those who are lonely or in need of food, with the hope that others will reach out to them in their need.

Silent Prayer

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Petition

Aware of our Creator God’s generous blessings and of the many needs in our world, we pray:

In gratitude for God’s loving care, we pray that God will continue to guide Pope Francis in his efforts to awaken the world to a spirit of gratitude and care for all of creation, we pray:  Hear us, O God.

In gratitude for our country, we pray for God’s help for President Biden and President Elect Trump and all our elected officials, that they may be mindful of the welfare of our Planet and of ALL our brothers and Sisters, we pray:

In gratitude for family and friends, and we pray for God’s blessing upon those who are alone or grieving the loss of loved ones at this time, we pray:

In gratitude for the food we share around our tables, and we pray for justice in the workplace for those who grow and harvest our food, we pray:

In gratitude for all our Sisters, family members and friends who have gone before us, that God might grant them fullness of life in his presence, we pray:

Silent Prayer

Mantra:  Confitemini Domino