Archive for November, 2011

Origins of Thanksgiving and An Native American Prayer

November 25, 2011 - 1:41 pm 19 Comments

(bcc Net General)
Peace Sisters and Brothers:
The United States of America celebrates what it terms “Thanksgiving Day” on the last Thursday in November.
For USA historical information: http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving
For global historical information: http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/story.htm
First USA Thanksgiving (The Pilgrims): http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/pilgrims.htm
Please let us pause and give thanks. Let us Pray:

A Prayer of Thanksgiving
( http://www.angelfire.com/md/elanmichaels/thanksgiving.html)
Thanksgiving Prayer
We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.
We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water.
We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.
We return thanks to the moon and stars, which have given to us their light when the sun was gone.
We return thanks to the sun, that has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.
Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in Whom is embodied all goodness, and Who directs all things for the good of Her children.Iroquois Prayer, adapted(Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace)

Happy Thanksgiving.
Many Blessings to you and yours:
Peace and Joy!
+Robert OSB
Monastic and Ministerial Community
White Robed Monks of St. Benedict

 

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Inclusive Thanksgiving Prayer

November 16, 2011 - 9:26 am Comments Off on Inclusive Thanksgiving Prayer

O God, whose goodness and mercy have followed us all the days of our lives, we blessyou because the beautiful cup of our love and friendship is not large enough to hold all that we feel at such a time as this… The cup runs over, and our thanksgiving spills itself towards the Infinite Giver, who is great enough to understand our humble joy.

We thank you that we do not become aloof from human worth by our gratitude to you. We thank you that we have known at least a little how true it is that where love is, God is. You have prepared a taable before us, not only in the presence of our enemies, but in the presence of our dearest ones and in the face of friendly company.  …

We bless you for the tender things which hearts can never fully tell in words; for the delicate flowers of affinity which speech is too clumsy to hold; for the hopes which shine like distant stars; for a faith in the future, a faith in life, which can look over the dark valleys and see the light of dawn on faraway hills. Shepherd of all souls, in spire of our fears, may we trust in your unfolding love, and feel safe when all safey is lost.

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