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As the crisp air of November settles in and autumn’s golden hues surround us, we find ourselves entering a season rich with meaning, memory, and gratitude.
Thanksgiving, a tradition rooted in our nation’s earliest days, continues to be a cherished celebration. Since the 1600s, Americans have gathered to give thanks—first for survival, then for abundance, and now for the many blessings that shape our lives. In the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving on October 3, 1863, inviting a divided nation to pause and reflect. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt adjusted the date in hopes of boosting morale and Christmas shopping, and today, we honor this day on the fourth Thursday of November.
But Thanksgiving is not the only sacred observance this month holds. November begins with the Feast of All Saints—a time to celebrate those who have gone before us and now dwell in the fullness of God’s Kingdom. We remember the great saints whose names echo through history, and we honor the quiet saints whose holiness touched our lives in gentle, unseen ways.
The day after, we commemorate All Souls’ Day, lifting up in prayer those who have passed and await the joy of eternal life. As a church family, we hold close the memory of loved ones, cherishing the legacy they’ve left and the love that endures.
It is no coincidence that these three moments—Thanksgiving, All Saints, and All Souls—come together in November. The Holy Spirit draws us into a deeper awareness of the blessings around us and the hope that lies ahead. In this sacred season, we are invited to remember, to give thanks, and to rejoice in the communion of saints—both known and unknown—who continue to inspire us.
May this month be a time of heartfelt gratitude, tender remembrance, and renewed faith.
They whom we
love and lose
are no longer
where they
were before.
They are now
wherever
we are.
~ St. John Chrysostom
May the Eucharist be for each of us a new moment of deep gratitude for all that has been and all that will be!
May your days of Advent be peaceful and may Christmas find that peace fully alive in your hearts.
We trust that these IHM Catholic EdNotes will support your best practices as a Catholic educator in the weeks ahead!
Blessings,
The IHM Catholic EdNotes Team
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