Te Deum laudamus: te Dominum confitemur; We praise Thee, O God; we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum; In Thee have I hoped, O Lord; let me not be confounded for ever.

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

All of us identify and fell good about the uniquely American celebration of Thanksgiving Day. Yet this year those over a certain age recall probably the saddest Thanksgiving Day in our American history. It was right after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, fifty years ago. After hearing the shocking news, slowly our country pulled together and moved on. I suppose that in some ways we have never been the same. There was a loss of innocence, trust, security. Yet we reached deep down into our souls and heard our Lord speak to us: “Blessed are those who mourn, they shall be consoled.”

Giving thanks to God does not erase the pain and sorrow of life.  However, it helps us see the big picture.  Sure there is the negative, but God rises above it all and envelops us in His tremendous love.  We only need to turn to Calvary with the God-man on the Cross.  As Jesus was nailed to the wood of the cross, bleeding, in excruciating pain, facing death, all seemed lost.  Good people were heart broken and discouraged to see how their beloved Lord was treated.  They wept as they witnessed the irrational and vindictive hatred of the crowds that perversely took pleasure in the Lord’s death.  What happened then happens now.  That has always been the case.

Jesus brought the Triumph of Love by His Resurrection from the Dead the third day.  He opened the gates of heaven to those who follow Him.  He was willing to pay the high price of our salvation.  He showed us that in spite of the terrible darkness we may experience in this world, there is a God of Love that cannot be defeated.  God is so good, so very good to us, though we cannot deserve such unconditional love.  That is why we should always be able to give thanks for the many blessings we have received in good times and in bad all our days.

This Thanksgiving Day let us return our thanks to God by participating at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  The Traditional Latin Mass will be celebrated at 7:30 A.M.  and the Ordinary Form Mass in English at 10:00 A.M.

Yours in the Lord,

Fr. Mark G. Mazza