Today, in the United States, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated. While not technically a liturgical feast day, the United States has developed a Mass which can be used. While I'm not a huge fan of those Mass texts, the New Translation does do a decent job of finding a balance between the Liturgy the civil occasion. Nevertheless, the fact that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops felt a use and need to create a Mass for it does speak of its importance in the spiritual lives.
It would be well, I think, to first consider some of the original decree of President George Washington which established this civic holiday:
"By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
"Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us....
"Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789."
The most striking part of this proclamation, in my opinion, is the emphasis it places on Almighty God. It is fitting that at the close of the Liturgical Year, we should make some act of thanksgiving to God. Granted, Washington did not have the liturgical year in mind, considering he was a Protestant and did not follow Catholic liturgical principles. Nevertheless, the providence of the Holy Spirit has provided that these two events occur with each other.
Just as the end of the civil year is especially a time to reflect on God's blessings of the past year, so the end of the liturgical year is even more so. The former year is of the secular order, but the latter is of the order of grace. In Advent we were presented with the coming of the Lord, Who came to us at Christmas. In Lent we were called to repent to be renewed by the Paschal Triduum of the Lord and rejoice in Easter. Through Ordinary Time and in the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints, an opportunity was given us to increase grace in our souls. Hopefully, we have taken advantage of every means offered by the Church for increasing the life of grace in our souls, and for this we must give thanks to God alone. By His bountiful grace alone we have been able to profit from these means. However, if, by our own neglect and shortcomings, we have failed to take advantage of these opportunities for growing in grace, let us implore the infinite mercy of God on us and resolve to start afresh. In this situation though, we have even more cause for giving thanks to God!
God has offered us His graces, and even though we spurned them, we must still remember that He offered them. Our refusal to accept in no way decreases or minimizes His beneficence. If anything, we must rather see an increase in it. For not only has He offered once, but has continued to offer, and by His grace has drawn us back to Himself, for even our recognition of our failing has come about by His grace. Therefore, let us give thanks this day and at this time of year to the Almighty God, Who created us, and even though we refused His love, did not abandon us, but called us back to Himself by showing us the error of our ways, and continues to offer us His love.
The primary way, of course, in which we give thanks is through the Eucharist, which as many love to note upon this day, comes from the Greek word which means "thanksgiving." This is one of the reasons the American bishops felt it so appropriate to compose a Mass for this day. The relationship between the Eucharistic Liturgy and this holiday cannot be escaped. Attendance at Mass this day, while not obligatory is to be highly commended (plus it's still normally a little later in the morning so you can sleep in a little).
However, I would like to focus on something else instead - the great and almighty Thanksgiving Day meal. The early Christian communities celebrated the Mass alongside a communal meal. While the exact manner is not clear, for there are few texts explaining it and many that do are more localized to one area for there was only the skeleton of a universal liturgical practice, it does seem clear the early Church felt there was an important link between the communal meal (a sign of fraternity) and the the Eucharistic Sacrament (through which we are made one through the Spirit and transformation into the Body of Christ).
Now I am in no way proposing these two things need to be recombined. There were good reasons they were quickly separated; this is not the place for the discussion of such things though. Instead I wish to focus on the great benefit of this meal in the spiritual life. Yes, I do believe it can have benefit for the spiritual life.
When placed in its proper context and understanding the Thanksgiving Day meal is more than some of the other traditions common to this day, such as the Macy's Parade, the Dog Show, or a football game. The meal is not simply a tradition, albeit in many places and families this is what it has been reduced to. The meal has a special significance; through it we are allowed to be united in a special way with our families and friends. Not only that, but we give thanks for all the blessings we have been given through God's love.
Every feast should be seen as a celebration. There is a spiritual connection to feasting and fasting. As a being composed of body and soul, we must unite those two principles of our being in action. Thus, when we have a great meal, such as that of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, Easter, etc. we must strive to lift our souls up in joy and thanksgiving to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Who has provided us with the great blessing ultimately of salvation and His Church.
Nevertheless, the Lord God also bestows the blessings of health, family, friends, and many other things upon us. Even if we are lacking in these things, we have been given a Cross to bear by our Lord, which was given for our sanctification. It is appropriate then for those who have been put in a painful situation to lift up their hearts in thanksgiving this day and on all holidays. For, on those most difficult holidays, for those without family, friends, or health to celebrate with, they are able to be a vessel of prayer for the salvation of the world, for their suffering has been given them to draw closer to God, Who is the health and the Father of us all, Mary, our Mother, and the Saints who are our most perfect friends.
Thus, may all on this most wonderful day join with Job in saying, "'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21).'"
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