Conception Abbey

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will tell of all thy wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9)

It is Thanksgiving week and we are, hopefully, all taking some time to thank God for all his blessings, as well as taking time to thank one another, family, friends, neighbors etc., for all they do for us. Here at Conception most of the monks are home and on Thanksgiving Day we will take time to thank those who are celebrating jubilees this year – Father Anthony Shidler, 70 years professed, Brother Blaise Bonderer, Father Quentin Kathol, Father Allan Stetz and Father Isaac True, all fifty years professed. And finally Father Timothy Schoen, twenty years professed. For photos of these monks who are jubilarians this year go to my personal blog -- click here.

When we think of it our liturgy expresses this theme everyday. The psalms, for example, so often express gratitude and thanksgiving as their theme. Look at psalm 9 which is quoted above at the beginning of this blog. Everyday at Mass, thanksgiving is so much a part of that liturgical prayer. The very word Eucharist means "thanksgiving."

Every preface begins with words like the following: "Father, all-powerful and ever living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks." Eucharistic prayer I – "We come to you, Father, with praise and thanksgiving…". In the words at the consecration: "…he took bread and gave you thanks" or "When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks and praise…." And so in every Eucharistic prayer the words "thanks" and "gratitude" are mentioned.

Gratitude to God and gratitude to others is such an important virtue. Something we all need to cultivate and develop. Without gratitude we begin to take things for granted or we begin to think that everything I have or obtain is my due, including what comes from God. Thanksgiving and gratitude help to keep us humble.

So this week, Thanksgiving Week, take time to give thanks – give thanks to God first of all and most importantly, but do not forget to also thank your family and the many others you work and live with daily. I myself want to take this opportunity to thank all of you oblates for your affiliation with Conception Abbey. We are happy to have you as oblates, we are happy to have you praying with and for us, as we also pray with and for you.

May God bless us all, not only this week but also throughout the Advent season which also begins on Sunday, November 28. In our stores Christmas seems to already be here, but for the Church and the Christian, we are just beginning our time of preparation for this wonderful feast of God taking on our human nature.

With love and prayers to all,

Father Kenneth Reichert, OSB

Director of Oblates