PraY
Prayer Tool
A form of prayer that Catholics often pray is called a litany. In litany, the leader invokes a person or petition, and the people answer with a recurring response. At Thanksgiving, it is appropriate prayer form to use as we recite the many things we have to be thankful for. Here is a prayer that you can use at your Thanksgiving table that concludes with a litany of thanks. Each person at the table can take a turn being the leader and naming something they are thankful for, and the rest of the group responds, "Lord we thank you."
See Fr. Michael Driscoll's November Table Prayer below to get yours started.
A form of prayer that Catholics often pray is called a litany. In litany, the leader invokes a person or petition, and the people answer with a recurring response. At Thanksgiving, it is appropriate prayer form to use as we recite the many things we have to be thankful for. Here is a prayer that you can use at your Thanksgiving table that concludes with a litany of thanks. Each person at the table can take a turn being the leader and naming something they are thankful for, and the rest of the group responds, "Lord we thank you."
See Fr. Michael Driscoll's November Table Prayer below to get yours started.
The Pope's Prayer Intention for November
This month, the Pope's prayer intention is that artificial intelligence will be developed with the common good in mind and at heart.
Here is a reflection from the Pope's worldwide prayer network website, calling us to examine our own relationships with technology.
This month, the Pope's prayer intention is that artificial intelligence will be developed with the common good in mind and at heart.
Here is a reflection from the Pope's worldwide prayer network website, calling us to examine our own relationships with technology.
Explore
St. Paul Emphasizes the Equality of All People
We have been reading the letters of St. Paul to some of the early Christian communities and drawing parallels between his messages for them and his messages for us today. While we have been largely focused on his word for us as our households navigate a pandemic, he has much to say to other issues of our time.
Here is an article about Paul’s work to promote the “siblinghood” of all Christians. Paul preached that we are all sisters and brothers in Christ, without regard to distinctions based on class, wealth, race, ethnicity, etc. His teaching is still guiding us today as we combat racism and other discrimination in our communities.
reflect
God is With Us in the Everyday
A beautiful facet of our Catholic faith is our belief in the sacramentality of all of life. That’s a fancy way of saying that we believe that God is with us in all of life and all of creation. Even the ordinary, mundane moments of life are infused with God’s loving presence. Even, and maybe especially, the messiness of family life is filled with God's grace. When we open our eyes and hearts to God’s presence in our daily lives, we discover what is meant by everyday holiness. At Vacation Bible School, we ask the kids to identify God sightings, and they are pretty good at it! We adults can learn from them.
Here is an article that very simply and beautifully describes one person’s experience of the holiness of all of life.
Here is an article that very simply and beautifully describes one person’s experience of the holiness of all of life.
Give Thanks!
"... give thanks in all circumstances..." (1 Thessolonians 5:18). This is one of the scripture verses we invited households to reflect on during this month of Thanksgiving. While many of us might be hard-pressed to find reasons to give thanks during these difficult times, this true story gives us an example of two sisters who were able to find reason to give thanks in the horrific conditions of a concentration camp during World War II. It gives us a deeper perspective on gratitude to God.
In November, we focus on giving thanks for our many blessings, blessings we enjoy even in difficult times like a pandemic. Enjoy this short musical video reflection that helps us to call to mind all that we have to be thankful for.