As we move past the feasts of All Souls and All Saints we move into the season of Thanksgiving (especially for us here in the US).  This is the beginning of the secular holiday season, where folks are out spending freely, putting up twinkling lights, and giant inflatable snowmen, Grinch, reindeer, whatever…you name it!  Well, before we go into all of that hoopla lets take a second to remember the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us for the entire year.  As a bit of a reminder that this is a season of Holy Days, not just holidays, I give you this Traditional Catholic Prayer of Thanksgiving for God’s Blessings.  This comes from our the Rural Life Prayerbook, a  favorite here on the Traditional Catholic Homestead, and is intended as a reminder of God’s blessings for us folks who live and pray out here in the countryside.  The prayer is to be recited on Thanksgiving Day (Last Thursday in November) each year, and is a great way to ground your family in the reality that this is truly a season of Holy Days.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving for God’s Blessings

(Last Thursday of November)

Lord, I am grateful that I am a farmer.  I am glad to live close to the earth that You have made.  I am happy to spend so much of my time in the open air, under the bright sun, the symbol of Your own justice and light.  I am grateful for the rain and for the freshness that it brings-the rain, a symbol of Your rich and undying blessings.

I am happy to cooperate with You in Your work of continuous  creation, by growing the food that men need to sustain life.

By Your almighty power You make grow the seeds I plant.  You fill the earth with minerals, You send the rain and the sun, the wind and the snow-and the dry, hard seeds I plant are raised to soft, green life.  You have given men great wisdom and cleverness to build machines that make the labor of the farmer much less burdensome.

Dear Lord, I am in Your almighty hands.  I depend upon You for everything.  If I sow the seed and cultivate the young plants, and You do not see fit to give me a good harvest, I will be satisfied.  You are the Lord and master and creator of all things.  You know what is good for me and what would do me harm.  I trust You, absolutely and without question.

I thank You again for calling me to a farmer’s life.  I beg of You never to let me forget its great advantages of closeness to You, absolute trust and confidence in You, and the fullness and richness of my life, close to the earth that You have made and have so marvelously blessed.

Lord, I am grateful that I am a farmer.

Amen 

Resources:

Rural Life Prayerbook : A Traditional Catholic source for prayers and ceremonies catering to the farmer, homesteader, and prayerful Catholic!