The Samaritan leper said “Thank You” to Jesus. In return, Jesus said more than “You’re welcome.” He said: “Your faith has been your salvation” (Lk 17:19). There is a thanksgiving which is much more than courtesy and kindness. Thanksgiving can be an act of faith by which we accept salvation. Thanksgiving can be a way by which we enter into God’s heavenly courts (Ps 100:4). Thanksgiving can be Eucharist — the eternal thanksgiving of the Son to the Father in the Spirit, as expressed by Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself on the cross.

Thanksgiving in this greatest sense of the word is supernatural. This thanks can be offered only by God’s grace. Those who are most thankful supernaturally are often the very poor, the disabled, and the rejected. These people are sometimes more thankful for a crust of bread than others would be for millions of dollars and countless pleasures. Those who give this supernatural thanksgiving are often the lowly, such as Samaritans, foreigners (Lk 17:16, 18), servants (Lk 17:9), and repentant sinners (Lk 7:42).

Ask for the grace of supernatural thanksgiving. It will change your life.

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from October 1, 2023, through November 30, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio March 15, 2023"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.