Catholic Parishes in Paincourtville, LA
and Belle Rose, LA
and Belle Rose, LA
Search
-
November 20, 2020How to Make this Thanksgiving a Real Celebration of Thanking God
In 1621, Governor William Bradford declared a day of thanksgiving to God for surviving the bitter winter and reaping an abundant harvest. Both Pilgrims and Native Americans feasted together. The holiday began by giving thanks to our Creator! Biblically, we see that thanksgiving is associated with adoration, praise, an offering, or sacrifice. We find ourselves giving thanks for what God has done and who He is. As the Pilgrims noted, God is faithful and gives abundantly to his children. Thanksgiving comes from a grateful heart to the One who has given so much and continues to bless His children (Attribution: cbn.com).
For us Catholics the greatest act of Thanksgiving is offering the Eucharist. The word Eucharist means Thanksgiving. Hence I invite the entire parish family to join me in thanking God for the many blessings we received as a family of faith this year as we celebrate the Holy Eucharist on Thanksgiving day at 7 am at St. Jules and adoration at 8 am at St. Elizabeth and Mass at 9 am. This should become a great family tradition. First thing first. Family, Food and Football has been an integral part of our Thanksgiving Day celebration, but the greatest meal is the Holy Mass.
Flowers for the Thanksgiving Altar
I request all families to bring flowers from your yard to be placed in front of the Altar, as a sign of our gratitude to the Lord for giving us bountiful harvest, and from sparing us from all the hurricanes this year. There will be vases left in front the altar in which you can place the flowers prior to Mass. Please encourage children to bring flowers and arrange in the vase.
Blessing of Food
There will be a Blessed Bread for your table from the Church with a prayer card. You can also bring other food items to be blessed at the Masses.
Bring Food for the Poor.
I encourage all of you to bring nonperishable canned food to be given out to the poor when you come for the Mass on the Thanksgiving Day. Please leave them at the Sanctuary.
Tithing by the Parish for the Poor
We will be taking up a collection for the need of the parish. However, ten percent of that collection will be earmarked for the poor. Please be generous.
May His Name be Glorified
Fr. Tomi
St. Elizabeth of Hungary, also known as St. Elizabeth of Thuringia, was born in Hungary on July 7, 1207 to the Hungarian King Andrew II and Gertrude of Merania. As soon as her life began, she had responsibilities from being a royal pressed upon her. While Elizabeth was young, her father arranged for her to be married to Ludwig IV of Thuringia, a German nobleman
Elizabeth's mother, Gertrude, was murdered in 1213, when Elizabeth was just six-years-old. From this point on, Elizabeth's perspective on life and death dramatically changed and she sought peace with prayer. Happiness was returned to her young life in 1221 when she was formally married to Ludwig, whom she deeply loved. Together the couple had three beautiful children, the third entering the religious life, becoming abbess of a German convent.
Elizabeth continued to live a life full of prayer and a service to the poor. Ludwig, who was now one of the rulers of Thuringia, supported all of Elizabeth's religious endeavors even though she was a part of the royal court. She began to lead an austerely simple life, practiced penance, and devoted herself to works of charity. She used her royal position to advance her mission for charity.
In 1223, Franciscan friars arrived in Thuringia and taught 16-year-old Elizabeth all about Francis of Assisi's ideals. She then forth decided to live her life mirroring his. She wore simple clothing and set aside time every day to take bread to hundreds of poor people in her land. Ludwig and Elizabeth were politically powerful and lived with a remarkable generosity toward the poor.
In 1226, when disease and floods struck Thuringia, Elizabeth took to caring for the victims. It is said she even gave away the royal's clothing and goods to the afflicted people. Elizabeth had a hospital built and provided for almost a thousand poor people daily.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Pray for us.
May His Name be Glorified
Fr. Tomi Attribution: catholic.org