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Father Sweeney shared a strategy with us at Mass for when we are feeling downcast or grumpy. He encouraged us to pause and think of three things we are grateful for, say them aloud, and then offer a prayer of thanks to God for those blessings. It’s a simple yet effective way to shift our focus from negative emotions to the positive gifts that surround us.

He also reminded us of the importance of cultivating gratitude regularly, but especially during Mass. He pointed out two key moments when it’s especially meaningful to thank God: first, after receiving the Eucharist, and second, at the conclusion of Mass. At these times, he encouraged us to kneel and offer a prayer of thanksgiving, expressing our love and gratitude to Jesus. He modeled this with a beautiful, simple prayer: “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. I love you. I love you. I love you.”

This prayer, though simple, is deeply powerful. It’s a wonderful reminder of how we can incorporate gratitude into our daily lives—especially as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. I encourage you to model words of gratitude at home, focusing on the blessings we have in our faith and our relationship with Jesus.

While I am not feeling downcast or grumpy, I will share three things I am grateful for:

1) The opportunity to support Catholic education

2) Spending time with your children in the cafeteria daily

3) Your warm welcome this fall as I joined the St. Dominic community