In his final message of 2020, the end of a difficult year, Pope Frances said, “Above all, let us not forget to thank: If we are bearers of gratitude, the world itself will become better, even if only a little bit, but that is enough to transmit a bit of hope.”

What I appreciate most about the pope’s message is that we are charged to thank as an action, to be “bearers of gratitude” in a mindful way that supports and sustains others and therefore brings hope, even in a small way. He reminds us that gratitude is a mindset that recognizes, in everything, the grace we’ve been given:

“The prayer of thanksgiving always begins here: to recognize that grace precedes us. We were thought of before we learned how to think; we were loved before we learned how to love; we were desired before our hearts conceived a desire.”

“If we view life like this, then ‘thank you’ becomes the driving force of our day.”

We have many great opportunities to be bearers of gratitude in fulfilling our mission at Mendoza, and the evidence of the faithfulness of our faculty, staff and students is abundant throughout our history. I see the evidence daily in the way you serve our students, each other and our larger community.

In this season of Thanksgiving, I’m thankful to all of you for your hard work, compassion and spirit of grace. May the holiday be one of blessings and rest for you and your families.

In Notre Dame,

Martijn