Catholic Expression of Gratitude

As families prepare for Thanksgiving Day, parents may teach their children a prayer to share at table. Write a child's Thanksgiving prayer, which recalls the sacrifice of Jesus and anticipates the hope of a new day. Write on a card, "Father in heaven, we are so grateful for this food and for our family. We join in prayer to thank you for your greatest gift, your son, Jesus Christ. Show us the way of love. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Ask a child to lead the table in prayer.

Communal Prayer

Catholics pray in community. They celebrate the Eucharist as a community of believers who live out the Lord's Supper at every Mass. As they pray, Catholics intone intentions for the universal church and for the living and the dead. Prayer achieves global proportions. Teach children a Thanksgiving prayer that recalls the Catholic communal love. As the website Catholic Answers suggests, this love of community is based on Christ's assurance that he is with two or more who gather in his name. A child's communal Thanksgiving prayer might read,

"Our Father, we are so happy to be together today as a family. We thank you for showing us how to come together with the supper your son shared with the disciples. We love you and thank you for loving us." Then teach the child the "Glory Be" prayer to lead diners to recite together.

Social Justice Prayer

Catholic social justice reaches out to the poor, the hungry and the homeless. On Thanksgiving, inspire children to consider the unfortunate who suffer on the fringes of society, for these are the people with whom Jesus surrounded himself. Ask children to think of one or two groups of people or individuals for whom they would like to pray at Thanksgiving. Suggest a simple prayer, such as

"Father of light and love, as we fill our plates in our warm home, let us remember those who have no home and who have no food. Give us the love to reach out to them because we know you love them and that we are supposed to take care of them. Thank you, living, loving God."

Lectionary Readings

The Catholic Church provides biblical readings for every day of the year. Teach a child about the Catholic Lectionary by showing her the reading for Thanksgiving Day. Ask your child to read the Gospel or Hebrew Scripture reading at the table. Join in reciting the "Our Father" to close the reading in prayer.