Habitual Gratitude

Not long after moving to Nashville 25 years ago, I had the special blessing of becoming the "adopted daughter" of Deacon Bill Steltemeier and his wife Ramona.  Deacon Bill was Mother Angelica's right-hand man for decades and guided the growth of EWTN until his death in 2013.  You might imagine - and you would be correct - that our close relationship afforded many opportunities for memorable encounters and privileged experiences.  

Deacon Bill had one expression that everyone who knew him was sure to have heard: "Thank you, Jesus!"  Whether he was working in his professional capacity at the network, playing a hard-fought game of cards with Ramona, or humbly receiving care toward the end of his life, these three words were always on his lips.  Following his death, the Nuns at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, made a car magnet in his honor and have made it available in their gift shop ever since.  This expression so embodied Deacon Bill that Ramona even had it etched on their gravestone, smiley face and all! 

What a wonderful legacy - to be remembered for always thanking Jesus! 

During a recent confession, a priest suggested that I practice what he called "habitual gratitude" - at several points throughout the day, stop and take even just five minutes to thank God for anything and everything good in my life.  Being in the mindset of thankfulness from morning till evening, he said, would make it much easier to resist the many moments of temptation toward impatience, anger, pride, uncharitable conversation, etc.  In other words, when we are so busy thanking God, we can keep our peace and resist the devil's efforts to rob us of it.  

Habitual gratitude was definitely a practice of Pier Giorgio Frassati.  " I cannot but give thanks to God at every moment..." he wrote to a friend just four months before his death.  In many of his letters over the years, he took time to thank the person he was writing to for something - most of the time they were little things like a postcard or a note or a prayer.  He was grateful for any kindness shown to him.  

We've all been put to the test this year but it really does help to keep an attitude of gratitude throughout the day.  Of course, this isn't new advice.  Long before Pier Giorgio or Deacon Bill, Saint Paul reminded us often to give thanks in everything and to keep our focus on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

And while you're thinking about such things, be sure to thank God for them.  A simple, "Thank you, Jesus!" will do.  :)

Happy Thanksgiving! Verso l'alto! ///cmw

p.s.  My habitual gratitude always includes the generosity of everyone who has supported the ministry of FrassatiUSA in any way since it began in 2007.  Thank you for joining this mission!