Why is Thanksgiving Important for Catholics?

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just mere days away. By now, the TVs, YouTube, and other platforms have shown Christmas ads by now. We’re rushing into the Christmas season as always prematurely.

Amid this rush, we really need to take a step back and realize that we do have an important holiday that deserves our worthwhile attention.

George Washington and Abraham Lincoln knew that there was a need for a holiday to thank God for his blessings on the citizens of the United States.

For Washington, he issued a proclamation on America’s first Thanksgiving just months after becoming the first President of the United States on November 26th, 1789. In it, he mentioned, “That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation”.

Nearly eight decades later, Washington’s proclamation for Thanksgiving would help guide his successor, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was leading the nation through a tumultuous time as a nation was divided. He fulfilled the request originally made by Sarah Josepha Hale. Hale had a campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday from 1827 until Lincoln fulfilling her lifelong plea in 1863.

In his address, Lincoln reminds us, “And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him.” This would come at the heels of the carnage brought about as the Civil War was still going on after two years.

For Catholics, we have the Eucharist as the best way to celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s not an annual or weekly occurrence. Rather, we should strive to make it a daily commitment. Eucharist comes from the Greek word eucharista which means Thanksgiving. We celebrate Thanksgiving every time Catholics receive Jesus in the Eucharist. We even celebrate it every time we adore him for minutes if not hours through adoration.

The Eucharist helps Catholics be thankful for Jesus as he laid down everything for us. Catholics, let us be thankful for the most amazing gift from God… Him in the Eucharist.