Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
James Martin, S.J.November 26, 2009

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  (1 Thess 5:161-18).  I know this painting above is most likely not historically accurate, but I've always loved it for what it says about the American tradition of Thanksgiving: giving thanks in the midst of hardships alongside those who have helped you.  Yes, the actual history of the "Pilgrims" (even that phrase is controverted) and Native Americans (another controverted phrase: many scholars today actually prefer "Indians) is quite different from what many of us learned in grammar school (check out the book "Mayflower," by Nathaniel Philbrick, for more on that).  But this symbol, this image, of thanksgiving as something at the root of American culture is quite salutary.  It is, I think, the last of the holidays to cling fiercely to its original meaning: giving thanks.  On a spiritual level, gratitude grounds the believer, which is why St. Ignatius Loyola began the Examination of Conscience with it: "The first Point is to give thanks to God our Lord for the benefits received."

On behalf of the editors and staff at America, we wish all of our readers, our viewers, our colleagues and our friends a blessed Thanksgiving, and one in which you have the opportunity to be grateful to the Lord for any of the blessings he has bestowed on you, your family, and friends.  For those of you who are struggling, or poor, or lonely, or ill, or who find it hard to see blessings in your life, we pray that somehow you might experience a sense of God's presence with you today.

Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
15 years 5 months ago
As John Wayne would say: ''Happy Thanksgiving, Pilgrim...''
Bill Bordas
15 years 5 months ago
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, because it gives me a pointed reminder to be thankful for the blessings of life I enjoy. One thing for which I am thankful is the opportunity to read, ponder, and respond to the ideas presented here at "In All Things." I don't always agree, but I do always appreciate the intellectual stimulation. I hope that all of you had a happy and safe Thanksgiving, and I look forward to reading and thinking with you in the future.

The latest from america

The influence of the Synod on Synodality for the conclave—and what the result of the conclave might mean for the future of synodality
Inside the VaticanMay 03, 2025
The role of the pope is in a process of conversion from worldly monarch to world’s priest.
Zac DavisMay 03, 2025
At the Synod on Synodality, the cardinals were ‘converted’ to working together in a new way. As they join their brothers in the conclave, they face a referendum on—and resistance to—their work.
Colleen DulleMay 03, 2025
“In a time when the globalized economic and political order is crumbling—especially exposed during the Trump era—the church may well be one of the last stubborn institutions that still holds a truly global character.”
Gerard O’ConnellMay 03, 2025