This morning at Mass, Father reminded us of the importance of giving thanks.
 
The true meaning of this national holiday isn’t given the prominence it really deserves.  With Christmas decorations already up in many places, and big sales underway, one can easily forget the thanks giving part of this fourth Thursday in November. 
 
In speaking of the grateful leper in today’s gospel, Father pointed out that the Greek word used to refer to his action was Eucharisteo. 
 
As Catholics, that should sound very familiar to us.  After all, we come together to participate in the Eucharist on a regular basis. 
 
As you may know, this familiar sounding Greek word means: “He gave thanks.”  The Samaritan leper in today’s passage from Luke gave thanks for his healing, when his comrades did not. 
(How often I fail to give thanks to God for the many blessings I receive each day!)
 
Though I’m no scholar of ancient languages, I think the connection given us in the word used for the Sacrament of Sacraments, the Source and Summit of the Christian life, should definitely be a clue for us.
 
If eucharistia is at the very center of our faith, what does that tell us about the importance of gratitude to God should have in our lives?
 
I think this word gives us a glimpse into Christ’s own heart. 
 
The sacrifice of the Mass, which re-presents the paschal mystery for us, is an offering of thanksgiving to the Father.  Jesus wants us to be part of this thanksgiving.
 
Our thanksgiving, however, need not end when we walk out the church doors into a wintry morning. 
 
It can, and should, become a habit throughout our day. 
 
Thanksgiving is a pretty big deal!

It’s been two and a half weeks since I’ve posted here – I’m sorry.  
 
The reason for the long lapse is that I’ve been away, and have been pretty busy.  I was at our provincial house, helping with a number of projects, including jelly-making and website maintenance for our retreat center there. 
 
The previous weekend, I had been in Fargo, attending a diocesan workshop for parish musicians.  This was a very enriching experience, and I even had a mini organ lesson!
 
I got a ride back to Grand Forks with Sister Donna, who would be staying a few days to enjoy a little respite and attend a meeting up here later in the week.
 
With her, to my delight, she brought new booklets from our religious congregation: the photo/contact directory of our Sisters – and – the name day book! 
(Isn’t it crazy how we look for our own photo, and those of people we know well, before anything else when getting a new publication?)
 
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t thrilled with the picture that was chosen for me, but life goes on. 
 
My faint displeasure was more than compensated for, though, when I opened the name day book!
* * *
Around the time I was received as a novice, there was a discussion about a nameday.  Since we belong to a German-based congregation, the celebration of one’s namesake (usually saint) is a prominent one for us.  We pray for our Sisters around the world on the eve of their nameday (or for certain provinces, their birthday).
 
At that time, I had indicated that the feast of Corpus Christi has always been a special day for me; it’s been pretty much my nameday since birth, especially since I was born right around that time in June. 
 
However, much to my dismay, I was informed that I couldn’t use this as my nameday because it was a moveable feast (changing each year based one when Easter falls).  I had, instead, to choose a another date, one that had a unchanging date on the calendar.  Thus, for the past sixteen years, July 24th has been my nameday “in the books.” 
 
I have nothing against the Saints Christina who are honored that day, and am grateful for their intercession, but the feast of Corpus Christi is extremely special and important to me. 
 
This past year, when preparations were being made for new booklets, we were asked to submit a little information.  Along with our birthplace and home diocese, we were to indicate our special day as well. Having noticed that one Sister’s nameday is on Pentecost (which is also a moveable feast), I had dared to hint that I would really like to return to my original nameday of Corpus Christi, but had heard no more about the matter.
* * *
Last evening, then, when I eagerly opened the new document, I saw that my name was not listed among those to be remembered in prayer for July 24th.  After flipping back to the end of May, I saw my name, but there was what looked like a strange German word next to it: Fronleichnam. 
 
A quick Google search revealed that Fronleichnam would be on June 8 in 2023 (two days before my birthday), but I wanted to confirm my suspicions of what that foreign phrase meant.  Another search revealed that this was, indeed, the German word for my beloved feast of Corpus Christi – My nameday had been changed back! 
 
Fronleichnam is actually German for “the Lord’s Body,” and this is what they call the feast in Germany, rather than retaining the Latin as we do in English. 
 
So, in German, it’s hard to make a case for this being my nameday, but in English, there’s a stronger tie. 
 
I guess this is just one of those things that’s “lost in translation.”