“Thank God ahead of time,” said Blessed Solanus Casey. This holy man was known for blessing God in all times and places, no matter what was happening.
Gratitude and blessing are essential parts of the Catholic Faith. A blessing is a life-giving gift in some way for the recipient. God blesses us and gives us all that we need, overabundantly. We, in turn, bless Him in thanking Him for those gifts.
On July 31st, the day after the feast of Blessed Solanus Casey, we celebrate the anniversary of the Dedication of the Shrine Church. We give thanks to God for the blessings He has given us in this place, and we ask Him for continued blessings. As we make our pilgrimages in this Jubilee Year of Hope, one of the greatest prayers and acts of faith we can make is, as Blessed Solanus says, to “Thank God ahead of time.” Thank Him now for the gifts He will give us. A pilgrimage of hope can also be a pilgrimage of anticipatory thanksgiving. Where more fitting and when more fitting to make such a pilgrimage than the Shrine here in La Crosse, on the anniversary of its dedication. On this day, we thank God for this place where His Blessed Mother wraps us in the peace of Her Son, heals our ills, comforts our afflictions, and answers our prayers. And we thank God for this place where He will continue to do so through her, trusting that He Who has cared for us so tenderly in the past will continue to provide for all our needs in the future.
