488 PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

YOUCAT Lesson 488

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

488  Why should we thank God?

Everything that we are and have comes from God.  Paul says, “What have you that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).  Being grateful to God, the giver of all good things, makes you happy.  [2637-2638, 2648]

 King  David playing the harp by Jan de Bray 1670.  The titles of seventy-three psalms mention David, and thirteen of these relate explicitly to incidents in the king's life.  Others named in psalm titles include Asaph (12), the Sons of Korah (11) and Solomon (2). …..488

Psalm 103

1  Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!

2  Bless the LORD, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts,

3  Who pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills,

4  Who redeems your life from the pit,^aand crowns you with mercy and compassion,

5  Who fills your days with good things, so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.^*

6  The LORD does righteous deeds, brings justice to all the oppressed.^b

7  He made known his ways to Moses, to the Israelites his deeds.

8  Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in mercy.^c

9  He will not always accuse, and nurses no lasting anger;

10  He has not dealt with us as our sins merit, nor requited us as our wrongs deserve.

11  For as the heavens tower over the earth, so his mercy towers over those who fear him.^d

12  As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.

13  As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

14  For he knows how we are formed, remembers that we are dust.^e

15  As for man, his days are like the grass; he blossoms like a flower in the field.^f

16  A wind sweeps over it and it is gone; its place knows it no more.

17  But the LORD’s mercy is from age to age, toward those who fear him.

18  His salvation is for the children’s children of those who keep his covenant, and remember to carry out his precepts.

19  The LORD has set his throne in heaven; his dominion extends over all.

20  Bless the LORD, all you his angels,^gmighty in strength, acting at his behest, obedient to his command.

21  Bless the LORD, all you his hosts, his ministers who carry out his will.

22  Bless the LORD, all his creatures, everywhere in his domain.

Bless the LORD, my soul!  Hallelujah!

The greatest prayer of thanks is the “Eucharist” (which means “thanksgiving” in Greek) of Jesus, in which he takes bread and wine so as to offer in them to God all of creation, transformed.  Whenever Christians give thanks, they are joining in Jesus’ great prayer of thanksgiving.  For we, too, are transformed and redeemed by Jesus, and so from the depths of our hearts we can be grateful and tell God this in a variety of ways.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1  Thessalonians 5:18

“For what is past—thanks!  For what is to come—yes!”  Dag Hammarskjold (1905-1961) United Nations Secretary

[2637-2638, 2648]

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
2637 Thanksgiving characterizes the prayer of the Church which, in celebrating the Eucharist, reveals and becomes more fully what she is. Indeed, in the work of salvation, Christ sets creation free from sin and death to consecrate it anew and make it return to the Father, for his glory. The thanksgiving of the members of the Body participates in that of their Head. --CCC

2638 As in the prayer of petition, every event and need can become an offering of thanksgiving. The letters of St. Paul often begin and end with thanksgiving, and the Lord Jesus is always present in it: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"; "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”( 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Colossians 4:2.)¹²⁰ –CCC

IN BRIEF

2648 Every joy and suffering, every event and need can become the matter for thanksgiving which, sharing in that of Christ, should fill one's whole life: "Give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).