“Thanks be to God” was the prayer most often on his lips, coming directly from his heart. Always filled with a true sense of gratitude himself, first to God and then to the benefactors, he tried to lead others to this attitude. In 1937 he was invited to deliver a little “radio address” at the time of a benefit party arranged for the soup kitchen. This is an excerpt from that talk.
“From all parts of the city men and women came to us asking how they might help. We Capuchins are told that the city of Detroit wishes to show itself grateful for the help we have given during the days of the Depression. We admit that we have tried to be of service to the poorest of the poor, but must add that it was a simple duty. St. Francis, our holy founder, impressed it upon his brethren that they must labor for their daily bread. And he added, “Should the wages of our work be not given us, then shall we have recourse to the table of the Lord asking alms from door to door.” Our lot has been cast among the simple lives of the poor, and our object is to give them spiritual aid and, if possible, material help as well. When speaking of those days of the Depression, we cannot forget that our work in relieving the misery of poverty was made possible only by the willing cooperation of such people as bakers who supplied bread, the farmers who gave us vegetables, and our numerous friends who made donations from their fairly empty purses. It is to these generous souls that we want to pay tribute today. May the all-bountiful God, who leaves no glass of water offered in His name to pass unrewarded, recompense the generosity of our friends with true happiness—the peace of the soul.”
—from the book Gratitude and Grit: The Life of Blessed Solanus Casey,
by Brother Leo Wollenweber, OFM Cap, pages 49-51
//Franciscan Media//