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The First Thanksgiving

by Filed Under: 11 November, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day Leave a Comment

Today may be a secular holiday but we gather and give thanks for our greatest blessing, the First Masses said on Catholic soil.

2019 Thanksgiving

We thank God for our Catholic past and ask him to take up again the original plan for our Nation that it may rightly celebrate the Reign of Christ and Our Lady in all its festivals and actions.

9.8.1565 — The land was claimed for Spain and
a Mass of thanksgiving was said.

The first American Thanksgiving was neither at Plymouth Rock in 1621 nor in Texas on April 20, 1568 when Don Juan de Oñate crossed the Rio Grande and took formal possession of present day El Paso.

The first American Thanksgiving took place in St. Augustine, Florida, the first and oldest city of our present day US. The land was claimed for Spain and a Mass of thanksgiving was said on Sept. 8, 1565. – Reality & Myth regarding Thanksgiving, Marian T. Horvat. Ph.D.

We Continue to Strive to be TRUE Friends of the Cross ~ Thanksgiving & An Update

by Filed Under: 2014 Journey, Friends of the Cross 2014, Miscarriage, Prayers, Pregnancy, St. Louis De Monfort, Thanksgiving 8 Comments

My dear brothers and sisters, have faith in the word of God, for the Holy Spirit tells us that when we suffer cheerfully for God, the cross is the source of every kind of joy for all kinds of people. The joy that comes from the cross is greater than that of a poor man who suddenly comes into a fortune, or of a peasant who is raised to the throne; greater than the joy of a trader who becomes a millionaire; than of a military leader over the victories he has won; than of prisoners released from their chains. In short, imagine the greatest joy that can be experienced on earth, and then realise that the happiness of the one who bears his sufferings in the right way contains, and even surpasses, all of them.

  ~ St. Louis Marie de Montfort, Letter to the Friends of the Cross

~~~

My family has been showered with countless blessings during our recent trials.  The greatest blessing has been the life that continues to grow within – I am still pregnant. Deo gratias! I continue to rely on His grace.

JOYfilledbaby7weeks5daysduejan2015I have not miscarried as indicated with my earlier diagnosis. We were able to see our little blessing along with a heart beat at 7 weeks 5 days.

I’ve attempted, on several occasions, to give an update and share my family’s sincerest thanks for all the charity.  Here is my heart that I shared with my dear friend seeking to console me several weeks ago.

I have been so taken by everyone’s generosity.  I feel completely unworthy and not entirely in need.   I realize that my family’s needs are real but they seem so insignificant when I look around.  I’m left speechless but filled with emotions.  It is humility like I’ve never known.  I’m praying hard to remain joyful in the present moment, fighting seeds of resentment (scattered by the Evil One) for the wrongs done to us, and running from glimpses of despair as I begin to manifest what may lie ahead.   I’m left praying with every step and breath I take.  His love sustains me and his grace keeps me from becoming paralyzed.  I see clearly just how small I am.  Truly, I don’t want to leave this place.   There is peace that transcends all worldly understanding.

There has been much change in my spiritual progress but not much by way of the physical.  My attempts to extend a full update and offer words of thanksgiving continue to seem so inadequate.  So little in comparison to the generosity that has been extended to us – words are not enough at this time.  The only real thanks I can offer is to continue to pray for all our spiritual and physical benefactors.

My family will continue to pray for you in our daily rosary and family devotions. We will also be offering Masses for you.

MAY THE PERFECT LOVE OF GOD REIGN IN OUR HEARTS!

Giving Thanks – Craft

by Filed Under: Advent, Crafts, Thanksgiving 7 Comments

I used this craft for Little Flowers – Perseverance & St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.  My family has made this a Thanksgiving/Pre-Advent Tradition.

The Gratitude Cards are intended to be used from now until the start of Advent – Nov. 28, 2010. 

The the goal is for the children & family to work on preparing their hearts to receive the most wonderful gift, Jesus. 

The box was decoupaged with a picture of Our Blessed Mother, Lord Jesus Christ, and/or another Saint.  It can later be used as a prayer box to store the intentions of family and friends.  The box can also be used for keepsakes such as Rosary, Miraculous Medal, etc.  It also serves as a great gift for another.  We often use the boxes to present a spiritual bouquet to someone dear.

A card is to be randomly selected from the box on a daily basis.  The activity/card selected should be performed by all members of the household.

Here’s an example:  “I’m Thankful for my toys.”  Give some of your toys away to Goodwill so that other children may enjoy them. 

The card is then placed on the hanging twine for all to see.  This serves as a reminder that this task needs to be completed.  It also helps to reflect on what you are giving thanks for.

I put our twine and cards over the fireplace.  The kids love to see what they have completed and what they are thankful for. 

Sparkles couldn’t wait to start her cards.  She was even more excited when she selected the card, "I’m Thankful For Our Car."  Her task was to clean the car and then go out for ice cream cones.  She has never been so happy to clean the car.  She rallied her sisters and went to work.  I even gave a hand.  I couldn’t resist their enthusiasm.

 

SUPPLIES:

Gratitude Cards:

  • I’m Thankful for… Cards (I printed my cards from here and selected the cards that applied to my family and Catholic Faith.)
  • Scrapbook cardstock (I purchased a 4.5×6 book of Thanksgiving scrapbook papers, found at Michaels)
  • Scissors
  • Glue/double stick tape
  • Hole punch
  • Twine/raffia

Gratitude Box:

  • Paper box (purchased from the Dollar Store or Wal-Mart)
  • Gold Spray Paint
  • Holy Picture
  • Foam Brush

DIRECTIONS:

Gratitude Cards:

  • Print & cut the I’m Thankful for… Cards
  • Trim your scrapbook paper to frame the “Thankful Cards”
  • Adhere the cards to your scrapbook paper
  • Hole punch the scrapbook paper with card
  • Thread a piece of twine/raffia in the hole and tie onto the hanging twine for display

Gratitude Box:

  • Spray paint the brown/paper box with gold spray paint
  • Trim your holy picture as desired
  • Adhere the picture to the box by brushing a thin layer of Mod Podge on the box. 
  • Brush another layer of Mod Podge over the picture and entire top surface of the box.  Repeat as desired, allowing time for drying in between coats.

Father, "I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart" (Ps 138:1).

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