A Prayer of Gratitude by St. Francis de Sales

Nov 27

This prayer of thanksgiving is based on the writings of St. Francis de Sales. It comes from one of my favorite prayer books in Salesian Spirituality: Set Your Heart Free: 30 Days of St. Francis de Sales by John Kirvan. As we pray this, may we thank God for all the gifts He has given us.

Lord,
Thank you for the gifts of this year,
especially for those times when you took me by the hand
and led me through them.

Thank you for all the good things of the world that
you put within my reach this past year.
Thank you for blessing my efforts during this past year
and not caring if they were great or small,
done well or badly.
It mattered only that I tried to do your will.
It was enough.
It always is.

Thank you for making me the person who I am.
Thank you for the garden in which you placed me
and where I alone will find you.

Yes Lord, thank you for the past year-
for all those moments of the year when you took me by the hand,
walked with me,
chatted with me,
mourned with me,
and laughed with me.

Now, lead me gently but firmly into the year to come.

Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

May we continue to always

Live + Jesus!