"Saint Patrick tells us one hundred times in the day and one hundred times in the night, on the slopes of the Irish hills, he genuflected in humble gratitude to his God. Saint Francis of Assisi spent the last years of his life, night and day, in repeating, "My God and my all". So overpowered was he with God's greatness and his own nothingness, God's love and his own ingratitude, that all his heart's effort was expended in that cry.
    In the many ways wherein the saints differ from us, then, this one is outstanding: they remembered to return to give thanks. Probably in prayers of petition, we are as sincere as any saint in heaven; the nine lepers [in Jesus' parable] who did not remember to return were no doubt as clamorous for their cleansing as was the Samaritan who did- probably more so, for he looked upon himself as unworthy, while they were of a race that almost demanded help from God. If we could feel half the unction and sincerity after we have received a gift that we felt while we prayed for it, we should be far along the road to sanctity.
    Many a man and woman who is a success in his or her profession has spent days in prayers of petition; it would be interesting to know how many spend one hour in thanksgiving. Many a man and woman has said numerous novenas, bespoken numerous Masses, to get successfully over an operation or through a business deal. How many have made one novena, dedicated one Mass, of thanksgiving? Who shall tell the number of prayers a young man says that he may become a priest? How many priests have ever said one Mass of thanksgiving for the priceless gift of ordination?
    We could go on indefinitely, but the questionaire would not add to our composure; for arising out of every question is the spectre of our own ingratitude. We excuse ourselves by saying that we forgot. The French proverb has it that he who excuses himself acuses himself. And we will leave it with a merciful God to see in our answer an excuse or an indictment.
    If in the past we have been quick to forget the gifts God so unobtrusively gave us, we can at least make an intention now to remember in the future; we can decide that gratitude will be a habit of mind for us from now on...."

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Taken from the book Holy Hour by Fr. Isidore O'Brian, O.F.M. ((1932)