Tis_Bearself
Patron
You mean the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday, right? Corpus Christi is in May or something…after Easter.
Thanksgiving - Why do Catholics go so light (per worship) on this American holiday?
- Status
P
phil19034
Guest
No, I meant the Feast of Corpus Christi in Mayphil19034:
You mean the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday, right? Corpus Christi is in May or something…after Easter.
C
CaptFun
Guest
Wow. Thanks for those links and that Catholic Thanksgiving history lesson.
I will try to look up that reference to Christianitos, the creek in present day Orange County, CA where Catholic missionaries baptized their first converts in what is now California, USA.
As I remember it was in a history of San Diego that probed into antiquity and logged many interactions between the early missionaries and the native Americans they met. Including the “conversion” of entire tribes at times.
I will try to look up that reference to Christianitos, the creek in present day Orange County, CA where Catholic missionaries baptized their first converts in what is now California, USA.
As I remember it was in a history of San Diego that probed into antiquity and logged many interactions between the early missionaries and the native Americans they met. Including the “conversion” of entire tribes at times.
T
tawny
Guest
My Parish offers a Vigil Mass on the Eve & 3 Masses during the Day. At all of the Masses our Parish’s St. Vincent DePaul Society members hand out Thanksgiving bread baked by Parishioners to all attendees. We have the blessing of the food to be prepared for the homebound’s meals. Our Teen Club delivers Thanksgiving meals prepared by Parishioners to our Parish homebound. Our Pastor blesses all the food in the Parish Food Pantry.
F
FollowChrist34
Guest
I personally don’t get the religious spin on Thanksgiving. Why Catholics or even Protestants feel the need to go to Church that day. I see Thanksgiving as a very American, special holiday. The point being all can celebrate. Anyone who has come to this country. Thanksgiving is for me everything the 4th of July tries to be, but fails at so miserably. I hate the part where you sit around until 10 pm to watch/listen to a bunch of explosions for a half hour simply because the colonies defeated the British. At least Thanksgiving is wonderful food, time off, family, walks, camaraderie, a celebration each of us can participate in. Now, why we go to Church - don’t get it.
Last edited:
7
7_Sorrows
Guest
We have Thanksgiving Mass every year at 10 am. It is one of my favorite Masses of the year.
L
lilypadrees
Guest
I can’t think of a more perfect way to start off Thanksgiving than by going to Mass with my family and friends. After all, if we weren’t for God, none of us would be here to celebrate Thanksgiving or any other day.
E
exnihilo
Guest
Thanksgiving is a Yankee holiday. It didn’t become a national holiday until more recently. It was and is part of the dishonest history narrative that tries to make New England the focal point of early American history. Many Americans, being notoriously bad at history, think the Pilgrims were the first settlers.
The holiday is about feasting. What Americans need more than ever is days of ‘fasting, humiliation and prayer’ such as were declared by Jefferson Davis as opposed to Lincoln’s day of feasting.
Also, my community has a ecumenical Thanksgiving service. I’ve never attended nor would I. It is mentioned every year before Mass in my parish. If only our First Friday Adoration, the only Adoration we have, would be so mentioned!
The holiday is about feasting. What Americans need more than ever is days of ‘fasting, humiliation and prayer’ such as were declared by Jefferson Davis as opposed to Lincoln’s day of feasting.
My old Protestant church had a Thanksgiving service. It used to be on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. They ended up moving it to Sunday before Thanksgiving because people couldn’t be bothered to go to church the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Also, my community has a ecumenical Thanksgiving service. I’ve never attended nor would I. It is mentioned every year before Mass in my parish. If only our First Friday Adoration, the only Adoration we have, would be so mentioned!
A
Augustinian
Guest
The Corpus Christi feast was only established in the 13th Century, there is no reason why it couldn’t be moved to the 4th Thursday of November.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
I actually feel the need to go to church on a lot of days. Pretty much every day I can make it or if there is any feast or saint I like. (The “ordinary time” days are boring, but we have to leave some room for feasts for new saints.)
P
phil19034
Guest
Just courious, why is that?
F
FollowChrist34
Guest
I love going to Church too - no question. But on Thanksgiving I just go sort of American pilgrim… wherever two or three are gathered. I do whatever is up that day. I don’t associate this holiday in my mind with the Church, though I pray every morning and throughout the day to God, including Thanksgiving.
Oh, and my new name for Thanksgiving? The plight of the first illegal immigrants. If only they had been from Mexico instead of England…my goodness what a different tale we would all weave.
Oh, and my new name for Thanksgiving? The plight of the first illegal immigrants. If only they had been from Mexico instead of England…my goodness what a different tale we would all weave.
Last edited:
Tis_Bearself
Patron
Not knocking your comment, but the politicization of holidays like Thanksgiving is one reason why I am glad the Church keeps the religious aspect small.
If the Church were to stage major religious celebrations, sooner or later somebody would read into this an oppressive attitude towards Native Americans, or a lack of sympathy for modern immigrants, or some other angle.
No thanks.
F
FollowChrist34
Guest
No worries. I made the comment because I was thinking about this this morning - I just realized the incredible irony of that whole argument, right - blocking the poor hungry stranger out of the land of North America, land of plentiful resources. How nativists turning their back on the stranger is so unChristian. 25000 American Indians lived on the continent at that time, and they fought vicious tribal battles amongst themselves throughout their entire history.
But we Western Americans must answer to God for our horrible transgressions against them too. We fell from our cultural and religious ideals to honor Mammon in so many crippling ways in the US, very fast. I don’t like it when we idealize one group and demonize another. Human beings are human beings. Sin is sin. I agree on not politicizing Thanksgiving. It should fundamentally be a nonpartisan celebration. Everybody, that is the idea. If we can take away anything from our history - that should be it.
Unfortunately I think Americans carry a bit of a cross on this - it is more than ‘politicization’ - it is part of our identity to wrestle with. If I did not wrestle with this, it would not be Thanksgiving.
Each to his own. 
But we Western Americans must answer to God for our horrible transgressions against them too. We fell from our cultural and religious ideals to honor Mammon in so many crippling ways in the US, very fast. I don’t like it when we idealize one group and demonize another. Human beings are human beings. Sin is sin. I agree on not politicizing Thanksgiving. It should fundamentally be a nonpartisan celebration. Everybody, that is the idea. If we can take away anything from our history - that should be it.
Unfortunately I think Americans carry a bit of a cross on this - it is more than ‘politicization’ - it is part of our identity to wrestle with. If I did not wrestle with this, it would not be Thanksgiving.
Each to his own. Tis_Bearself
Patron
That’s fine, if that’s how you want to think. Please don’t impart this identity-wrestling to all “Americans”, however. You did end with “each to his own”, which contradicts the “Americans” this and that in the earlier part of your post.Unfortunately I think Americans carry a bit of a cross on this - it is more than ‘politicization’ - it is part of our identity to wrestle with. If I did not wrestle with this, it would not be Thanksgiving.
F
FollowChrist34
Guest
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
C
CaptFun
Guest
Well, I have a local mass to go to. My local parish DID “cancel” its daily 7 am mass … but is doing a 9 am mass. I can sleep in a little bit and
still give thanks!
I NEVER go to mass on Thanksgiving. Usually because by the time I think of going, the masses are over.
If I miss this time, bad on me. In my parish bulletin the pastor points out (as been pointed out here) that Eucharist is a Greek word meaning Thanksgiving.
This Sunday’s Gospel, from Matthew 25, depicts Jesus as King with the nations gathered before him. The sheep go on the right, goats on the left.
It’s nice to think of America, diverse as it is, unifying on this day to thank the Lord together … and separately too I suppose.
May we also remember to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoners (and lonely people in our lives), etc. as Jesus points out that the GOOD nations (and people) do.
still give thanks!
I NEVER go to mass on Thanksgiving. Usually because by the time I think of going, the masses are over.
If I miss this time, bad on me. In my parish bulletin the pastor points out (as been pointed out here) that Eucharist is a Greek word meaning Thanksgiving.
This Sunday’s Gospel, from Matthew 25, depicts Jesus as King with the nations gathered before him. The sheep go on the right, goats on the left.
It’s nice to think of America, diverse as it is, unifying on this day to thank the Lord together … and separately too I suppose.
May we also remember to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoners (and lonely people in our lives), etc. as Jesus points out that the GOOD nations (and people) do.
7
7_Sorrows
Guest
Why does is seem curious?7_Sorrows:
Just courious, why is that?
C
CaptFun
Guest
Went to mass yesterday at 9 am on Thanksgiving Day (for the first time in my life that I can remember).
FULL Church (though the usual 7 am mass was cancelled).
Multiple priests co-celebrating (pastor gave the homily).
Pre-mass: a military color-guard of three … two held flags, American and Vatican … while a third read a Thanksgiving Day greetings from the President, recounting the national holiday as one of peace between neighbors and gratitude to God for blessings granted.
While there was not a “Thanksgiving Day liturgy” selections of hymns included “Table of Plenty” and another one that I can’t remember the name of … that nonetheless blended the sentiments of Thanksgiving to both God and fellowship with neighbors appropriate to the day.
Before dismissal, the congregation blessed a Eucharistic Minister and a Troop of scouts (young adults, both genders) who’d gathered big, Santa-like sacks full of food for the poor.
Thanks to all who posted here, whatever views or feelings you shared. And I hope your Thanksgiving was one that refreshed and blessed you.
CaptFun
FULL Church (though the usual 7 am mass was cancelled).
Multiple priests co-celebrating (pastor gave the homily).
Pre-mass: a military color-guard of three … two held flags, American and Vatican … while a third read a Thanksgiving Day greetings from the President, recounting the national holiday as one of peace between neighbors and gratitude to God for blessings granted.
While there was not a “Thanksgiving Day liturgy” selections of hymns included “Table of Plenty” and another one that I can’t remember the name of … that nonetheless blended the sentiments of Thanksgiving to both God and fellowship with neighbors appropriate to the day.
Before dismissal, the congregation blessed a Eucharistic Minister and a Troop of scouts (young adults, both genders) who’d gathered big, Santa-like sacks full of food for the poor.
Thanks to all who posted here, whatever views or feelings you shared. And I hope your Thanksgiving was one that refreshed and blessed you.
CaptFun
P
phil19034
Guest
I didn’t say that it “seems curious.” I’m simply curious why Thanksgiving Day Mass is one of your favorite Masses of the year.phil19034:
Why does is seem curious?7_Sorrows:
Just courious, why is that?
Liturgically, I’ve never consider Mass on Thanksgiving Day to be any different from any other daily Mass. So I’m simply curious to see if there is another angle for me to consider.
- Status