By the President of the

United States of America

A Proclamation

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

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Having a hard time finding anything to be thankful for? Do you think your life is about as bad as it can get? Or is that one nagging issue still bringing you down on a day when you should be focused on giving thanks?

If any of that is the case, you obviously don’t know Martin Rinkart. He was a Lutheran minister in Eilenburg, Saxony, during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). He is also a man from whom we all can learn a great deal about thankfulness.

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Although C.S. Lewis wrote this article over fifty years ago, his thoughts on the commercialization of the holidays are as needful today as they were back then:

Three things go by the name of Christmas:

One is a religious festival. This is important and obligatory for Christians; but as it can be of no interest to anyone else, I shall naturally say no more about it here.

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General Thanksgiving

By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establifh a form of government for their safety and happiness:

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Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences

1. When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said “Repent”, he called for the entire life of believers to be one of penitence.

2. The word cannot be properly understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, i.e. confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.

3. Yet its meaning is not restricted to penitence in one’s heart; for such penitence is null unless it  produces outward signs in various mortifications of the flesh.

4. As long as hatred of self abides (i.e. true inward penitence) the penalty of sin abides, viz., until we enter the kingdom of heaven.

5. The Pope has neither the will nor the power to remit any penalties beyond those imposed either at his own discretion or by canon law.

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