On Giving Thanks:

"You ought to ask our Lord for just one thing, to love Him. All the rest should be thanksgiving." - Padre Pio

Jesus lifted up his eyes and said: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me…” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out” The dead man came out.

How powerful and effective is the Voice of Jesus in carrying out what He wills, in this case Raising Lazarus from the dead, but note that before the this awesome miracle Jesus lifts His eyes and prays in thanksgiving to His Father.

This is what we must do in our own prayer and before uttering any petition before the Lord; We must always give thanks and praise and be filled with gratitude. This is indeed difficult when we are beset by sufferings that are beyond us or struggles that are crushing us. But Our Lord teaches us to give thanks before all things even to the point of thanking the Lord for Particular sufferings - this is the cross.

At the last supper when Our Lord is about to give us His very precious Body and Blood He Took bread, and giving thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples saying "TAKE THIS ALL OF YOU AND EAT OF IT FOR THIS IS MY BODY.”

When supper was ended he took the chalice and, giving you thanks, he said the blessing, and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying: “TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD.” (From the Third Eucharistic prayer; cf Mt., 26:26ff; Lk 22:14ff)

Did you ever notice that here too, as with the miracle of Lazarus, Jesus gives thanks before giving Himself to us in the Eucharist and on the Cross; He gives thanks to His Father before embracing the passion.

Yes we too are invited to be grateful and to give thanks for all things even for our sufferings and Crosses. Gratitude opens the heart to the workings and actions of the Holy Spirit.



Before asking for anything, pray this psalm out loud:


Psalm 116 - Thanksgiving for Recovery from Illness

 I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my supplications.

Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I beseech thee, save my life!”

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.

The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.

Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

For thou hast delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;

I walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

I kept my faith, even when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted”;

I said in my consternation,
“Men are all a vain hope.”

What shall I render to the Lord
for all his bounty to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,

I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.

O Lord, I am thy servant;
I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast loosed my bonds.

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,

in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!


WITH THE PADRE WE GIVE THANKS:

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without fervor.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You, I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much, and always be in Your company.

Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.

Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of love.

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes; death, judgment, eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!

Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers. I need You. Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.

Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by communion, at least by grace and love.

Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it, but the gift of Your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of You!

Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.

With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen.