Thanksgiving liturgy

[Digitonomy]

I have not recently attended mass on Thanksgiving. But I’m curious whether there is anything unique about the liturgy, other than the readings. I’m also curious who selects the readings - is it the USCCB Committee for Divine Worship? Are there other strictly national holidays that have dedicated liturgies? Do Canadians use the same readings for Thanksgiving in October?

 

[FrDavid96]

I have not recently attended mass on Thanksgiving. But I’m curious whether there is anything unique about the liturgy, other than the readings. I’m also curious who selects the readings - is it the USCCB Committee for Divine Worship? Are there other strictly national holidays that have dedicated liturgies? Do Canadians use the same readings for Thanksgiving in October?

Thanksgiving day in the US has it’s own propers: opening, offertory, and post-communion. It also has it’s own preface. That preface is one of the best in the entire English Sacramentary (page 541). It’s a very meaningful and spiritual comparison of the experience of peoples in the US with the people of the Exodus and all of Christianity. It’s a shame that it can only be used on Thanksgiving. It would be a good choice (were it a licit one) for other civic holidays and observances in the US. It realy is an issue that I personally think the US bishops should consider.

 

[zab]

In our parish, we have had a long tradition of taking up a collection for our local Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The church is full even though it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. During the Offertory the people go pew by pew to take up nonperishable food and toiletry items and give them to the priest. Monetary donations are also taken up. This has been a real help in restocking the shelves at St. Vincent’s.