This Thanksgiving Day is a golden opportunity for us as Catholics to witness not only to the need for giving the Father thanks for his bountiful gifts and mercy, but also to unite ourselves with the greatest act of thanksgiving we can make as a Church. Let us gather “with humble spirit and contrite heart” in the Holy Spirit and give thanks to the Father for all his many blessings, uniting our offering with Christ’s through the most sublime sacrament of the Eucharist.

I thank you, holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, who deigned to feast me, sinful and unworthy servant, with the precious body and blood of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, not for any merit of mine, but only because of your merciful goodness. And I pray that this Holy Communion, far from condemning me to punishment, may bring about my pardon and salvation, encompassing me with the armor of faith and the shield of a good will. By it let my vices be done away, all lustful desires extinguished. May it advance me in charity, patience, humility, obedience, and every other virtue. Let it be strong defense against the wiles of all my enemies, visible and invisible, allaying for me every disturbance of flesh and spirit, binding me firmly to you, the one true God, and bringing my last hour to a happy close. I pray, too, that it may be your pleasure to call my sinful self one day to that banquet, wonderful past all telling, where you, with your Son and the Holy Spirit, feast your saints with the vision of yourself, who are true light, the fulfillment of all desires, the joy that knows no ending, gladness unalloyed, and perfect bliss: through the same Christ our Lord. Amen

St. Thomas Aquinas

Creamy Mint Cranberry Sauce
Fr. Leo Patalinghug’s

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon fresh mint, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 8 ounces canned cranberry dressing
• ¼ cup dried cranberries

Instructions
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the mint, sugar, salt, and flour to thicken the butter and create a loose paste. Slowly add the heavy whipping cream, whisking to prevent lumps. Add canned cranberry dressing, breaking it up to create a creamy pink sauce. Add dried cranberries and let come to a soft boil. Serve.

In today’s Gospel, Luke recounts the story of the healing of the lepers. At the time of Christ, lepers were one of the most marginalized and isolated groups. In order to avoid spreading leprosy, which is highly contagious, they were not even allowed to live with their families…