Thanking God Ahead of Time

[Luigi]

Here's an interesting concept, excerpted from the vocations newsletter published in November 2015 by St. Andrew Svorad abbey in Ohio.

"Thanking God Ahead of Time for His Call

Venerable Fr. Solanus Casey, OFM. Capuchin, the humble friar from Detroit who died in 1957 and whose cause for beatification proceeds, had a famous saying, “Thank God ahead of time.” It is also the title of a book about his life that was published in 1985. He explained that we can show our confidence and trust in God’s providence by periodically thanking Him for how He will choose to answer our petition prayers and what He will allow to happen to us in our lives in the future. In other words, even if our prayers for a particular cause are not answered the way we are hoping for, there will still be reason to thank God because He will have a good reason for how He responds. ... This is especially true of those who are praying sincerely for God’s guidance to help them know their vocation. A vocation is simply a call from God telling us in subtle, yet increasingly clear ways, how God wants us to use the unique gifts that God has given us to help build his Kingdom in this world. It takes courage to “Thank God ahead of time” about a future vocation. It certainly means that we trust that God’s plans for us are more significant that our personal interest in what we would like to do for the rest of our life. It also gives God a clear signal that we will welcome all the hints and nudges He will give us to show us the vocation He is calling us to follow."

[Pia Jesu]

Thank you, for sharing this, Luigi!  I'm fortunate to live near the Capuchin Monastery in Detroit--where the Ven. Fr. Solanus Casey lived.  As many faithful visitors leave prayer requests and notes of thanksgiving on his tomb in their beautiful chapel, I would encourage all PM'ers to visit http://www.solanuscenter.org with their own intentions!  

[vee]

Thank you for sharing this as I always need to remember to be more thankful no matter what.

[MarysLittleFlower]

Thank you for sharing that I think I needed that I really like Fr Solanus Casey and I have a third class relic of his