In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the Bible says that we should “give thanks in all circumstances.”
Not “some” or “the best of” – all. While it’s often easy to give thanks when we are feeling blessed and contented, when trials and temptations come our way, expressing our gratitude can prove far more difficult. Yet it is not impossible, as many of our forebears in the faith have shown. From St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who lost her mother as a young child and later succumbed to tuberculosis in her twenties, to St. Gianna Molla, who endured a painful pregnancy and sacrificed her life so the child might live, Christians throughout the ages have had the grace to express gratitude in the midst of the most dire circumstances, because they knew that “the testing of [their] faith produce[d] endurance” (James 1:3).
Today, we encourage you to read the 10 quotes on gratitude below, and remember that no matter what lies ahead, we can always give thanks to God.
Remembering the Past and Welcoming the Future in Gratitude
“Thank God ahead of time.” – Blessed Solanus Casey
“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” – St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier
“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” – St. Ambrose
“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 Saint John Paul II
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
“The best way to show your gratitude to God and to people is to accept everything with joy.” — St. Teresa of Calcutta
Gratitude in Adversity
“A single ‘Blessed be God’ in adversity is worth more than a thousand acts of thanksgiving in prosperity.” — St. John of Ávila
“Prayer is an aspiration of the heart. It is a simple glance directed to heaven. It is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy.” — St. Thérèse of Lisieux
“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, because everything is good.” — St. Josemaria Escriva