The celebration of American Thanksgiving has become a yearly tradition at the International Seminary in Gricigliano, which now numbers well over twenty American vocations (including those seminarians who are spending the year in one of the worldwide apostolates of the Institute in order to gain pastoral experience while continuing some studies by correspondence). Under the direction and thanks to the efforts of an American chef friend traditional Thanksgiving dishes were prepared for the delight of all the seminarians, as well as the seminary professors and visiting guests who were invited. This year the American consul in Florence attended the dinner as well. The seminarians decorated the refectory and place a statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States, in a special place of honor.

At the start of the soirée, Reverend Canon Philippe Mora, Seminary Rector, gave an inspiring discourse (see below) explaining the reasons for the celebration. Afterwards, Canon Mora carved the large turkeys with the assistance of Canon Paul Antoine Lefebvre, Seminary Vice-Rector, and Canon Jason Apple, Prefect of the Seminarians in the Spirituality Year. The homemade pumpkin pie was also popular. The chef well merited the grateful applause of all present! 

Discourse of Reverend Canon Mora, Seminary Rector

Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks for all the gifts we have received, whether material or spiritual.

This beautiful feast, coming from the New World and adopted as our own, should remind us of the duty of gratitude towards the divine beneficence and for all the goods received from our neighbor:

• Firstly, our parents, from whom we have received everything since our birth;
• Then all those who have contributed to our education in the natural and supernatural virtues;
• And also the priests and religious who taught us the catechism and helped us better to know and love our holy religion.

But this duty of gratitude goes beyond those whom we have known. It must also extend towards those who have preceded us; all those who have prayed and made sacrifices for us, even without knowing us; the members of our family who have succeeded through the generations down to our day.

Everything that surrounds us and all we receive is an occasion for gratitude. At Gricigliano our gratitude must go to the family of the Counts Martelli who, according to the plans of divine Providence, had prepared for us this beautiful villa, these charming vineyards and these splendid—and abundant!—olive groves. We are also especially grateful for to predecessors, the monks of Fontgombault, who have passed all this along to us and to whom we address our filial thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving! On this beautiful day we proclaim with one voice: Agimus tibi gratias! Deo gratias!