I spent Thanksgiving with my family, and we had an unexpected tragedy. My sister and brother-in-law lost everything in an electrical fire Thanksgiving morning at 6:30 AM. If you're in the mood to donate for Giving Tuesday tomorrow, the Go Fund Me page is here.

Until next week, here is a reflection on how the Bible relates thanksgiving with praise and God's presence that I did the Friday after Thanksgiving with Guadalupe Radio, and another show on How to Pray Like Mary with Brook Taylor over at Good Things Radio. 

Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Marianne K; Tom G; Jean R; Stacey B; Eddie R; Rodney H; Melanie T; Erin B; and Tracy Lee P, for loving and lifting me!

LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on her method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary.

L - Listen (Receive the Word.)

An Advent Reflection on Thanksgiving

How to Pray Like Mary

O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

F | Franciscan –  As you receive the Eucharist this week, remember to thank Jesus for His gifts. Be specific! 

I | Ignatian –  As you pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, imagine yourself in the narratives of each mystery. Are you a by-stander or one of the participants? 

A | Augustinian – The word eucharist means thanksgiving. What does Psalm 116:12-13 add to your understanding of thanksgiving throughout the Bible?

T | Thomistic – The word eucharist means thanksgiving. The earliest use of eucharistia in the context of the Lord’s Supper is from the writings of Saint Paul. Paul uses a Greek form of the word eucharistia in 1 Cor 11:24 when he describes how the Lord’s Supper was celebrated:

And when he had given thanks (Greek: eucharistésas or “eucharisted”), he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11:24).

Take a closer look, here, at how the early Church Fathers taught and understood the Eucharist. 

V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

Amen.+ 

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*Find out your prayer temperament with this quiz! LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.

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Read the Transcript

You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.