LETTERS: REMEMBER TO THANK GOD ON THANKSGIVING DAY

To the editor:

On Thanksgiving Day millions of Americans will pause from normal activity to give thanks in many different ways. For some, giving thanks on our national holiday will have no religious significance. Others will be truly grateful for what they have. Having is very important to most Americans. For others -- we would like to think for all Christians -- thanksgiving is an expression of thanks to God.

On this Thanksgiving Day I invite you to rise above being merely grateful that you have been richly blessed in many ways. Our faith in the God of Abraham and in Jesus urges us to divert our attention away from ourselves and on God.

This is how Thanksgiving Day is celebrated by persons who believe in a personal God. In our diverse American culture, we must allow to each person the right to celebrate Thanksgiving Day as he or she wishes. We pray that for everyone it will be a day of true gratitude.

MONSIGNOR JOSEPH E. GOSCHE

St. Michael Catholic Church

Fredericktown