Turkey, mashed potatoes, and football… we don’t think of Thanksgiving as a Catholic holiday, but it’s easy to make this holiday of gratitude a truly Catholic experience.

“When people get together, sometimes there are conflicts large or small. Considering recent political developments in our country, there’s a greater chance for interesting conversations around the Thanksgiving dinner table,” says Fr. Matthew Crane, priest of the Diocese of St. Cloud and regular contributor to Morning Air. When disagreements arise, how do we discuss controversial topics while maintaining peace around the table?

The goal is to look for the common good, says Fr. Crane. “We can have the conversation, in fact, the Church encourages us to … The point is not so much to win over you or destroy your argument or your position, but to both mutually agree that we are seeking the common good, and find a way there.”

A great way to celebrate Thanksgiving is by attending Mass, either at your local parish or the parish nearby if you are out-of-town visiting relatives. On a day that is dedicated to giving thanks for the blessings in our lives, what better way to celebrate than to give worship and thanks to God, the source of our blessings?

In addition to attending Mass, it is a great practice to sit down with your family, perhaps around the dinner table, to think about and share things for which you are thankful. Practicing gratitude is an important lesson for our children and grandchildren, and Thanksgiving can remind us to carry gratitude into our daily lives all year round.