Those of us who know Christ have countless reasons to be grateful – for God’s grace, for the gift of salvation, for the many blessings we have in the Lord. But why is gratitude so important, and how does it make a difference in our lives? As we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Thanksgiving, we invite you to reflect upon 10 insightful quotes about gratitude from various popes and saints.
Practice Gratitude in All Things
“Be eager for more frequent gatherings for thanksgiving to God and His glory. For when we meet in this way, the forces of Satan are rendered powerless, and his destructive power is cancelled in the concord of your faith.” — St. Ignatius of Antioch
“When you lie down on your bed, remember with thanksgiving the blessings and the providence of God.” — St. Anthony the Great
“Get used to lifting your heart to God, in acts of thanksgiving, many times a day. Because he gives you this and that; because you have been despised; because you haven’t what you need or because you have. Thank him for everything.” — St. Josemaria Escriva
Joy and Gratitude
“The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.” — St. Gianna Molla
“Joy springs from a grateful heart… [It] is spontaneously impelled to serve the Lord and to find expression in a life of commitment to our work. Once we realize how much God has given us, we learn that a life of sacrifice, of working for Him and for others, becomes a privileged way, a privileged way of responding to His great love.” — Pope Francis in his New York City Vespers Reflection
“The Apostle St. Paul says to the Thessalonians: ‘Brothers, rejoice always.’ And how can I rejoice? He says: ‘pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances.’ We find our Christian joy in prayer; it comes from prayer and from giving thanks to God.” — Pope Francis in his Homily on December 14, 2014
“The best way to show your gratitude to God and to people is to accept everything with joy.” — St. Teresa of Calcutta
Remembering the Past and Welcoming the Future in Gratitude
“O my God, let me remember with gratitude and confess to thee thy mercies toward me.” — St. Augustine of Hippo
“Remember the past with gratitude. Live the present with enthusiasm. Look forward to the future with confidence.” — Pope John Paul II
Thanksgiving as a Recognition of Grace
“The prayer of thanksgiving always begins from here: from the recognition that grace precedes us. We were thought of before we learned how to think; we were loved before we learned how to love; we were desired before our hearts conceived a desire. If we view life like this, then ‘thank you’ becomes the driving force of our day. And how often we even forget to say, ‘thank you.’” — Pope Francis in his Speech at the Library of the Apostolic Palace
“We must take to heart, brothers, from what stuff we were created, who we were and what kind of creatures we were when we entered the world, as if from a tomb and from utter darkness. Having prepared for us bountifully before we were born, He who fashioned us and created us and brought us into His world. Since, then, we owe all this to Him, we ought to give Him thanks for everything.” — Pope Clement I
Additional Source:
A Dictionary of Quotes from the Saints, Paul Thigpen.