Thanking God: The First Catholic Thanksgiving

On this Thanksgiving Day, Catholic Mom contributor Julie Larsen discusses the early celebrations of Thanksgiving among Catholics in the United States.

The celebration of the Eucharist (the Mass) is the highest form of thanksgiving for Catholics.  Since I wholeheartedly agree with this, in celebration of Thanksgiving, I decided to research about where the first Mass in America was celebrated.

There is considerable debate about where the first Mass was or could have been held. One claim is to St. Brendan the Navigator who discovered North Canada area back in the 6th century!

However, since no one stayed in Americas back in the 6th century, let’s flash forward several centuries to the 1500s. Coronado was an explorer from Mexico and wanted to go north into what later became American territory (who knows what it was called back then) to the land of the Quivera Indians, as they supposedly had “gold.” 

Guess who accompanied this explorer? Well, come to find out, a priest named Father Juan de Padilla accompanied him. When Coronado crossed over the Arkansas River (near today’s Dodge City, Kansas), Fr. Padilla offered a Mass of Thanksgiving in the year 1541 (some say it was June 29 – a feast of St. Peter and Paul).

Bringing the Faith to Others

Fr. Padilla ministered to the Native Americans  there for a while. He later wanted to bring the Faith to a neighboring tribe (Kaw Indians) in the year 1542. However, the Quivera Indians were jealous, and Fr. Padilla was martyred by that tribe around Christmas Day, 1542. There is a Padilla Cross erected near Lyons, Kansas, which some say is near where he was martyred!

I find this interesting: the first Mass was offered in the United States in 1541, long before the Pilgrims had their “first Thanksgiving,” and before Protestants settled in New England and Virginia.

Another first Catholic Mass in what would become the USA took place near modern-day St. Augustine, Florida, where missionaries arrived from Spain; this Mass was offered in the year 1565 on September 8th (Mary’s birthday). The priest who offered the Mass was Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales. 

On the same day, they had a feast of food (so a type of Thanksgiving meal) – but nothing like the Pilgrims' meal. A simple meal was shared on that day. One I probably would have enjoyed, as truth be told, I am one who prefers fish over turkey. 

The National Park Service gives more details of what was eaten at this first Thanksgiving meal:

What was the meal that followed? From our knowledge of what the Spaniards had on board their five ships, we can surmise that it was cocido, a stew made from salted pork and garbanzo beans, laced with garlic seasoning, and accompanied by hard sea biscuits and red wine. If the Seloy contributed to the meal from their own food stores, then the menu could have included turkey, venison, gopher tortoise, mullet, drum, sea catfish, maize (corn), beans, and squash.” (National Park Service, "The First Thanksgiving")

So, have some beans and sea biscuits, and that’s your Thanksgiving meal! Perhaps some fish, too. I am really a lover of fish, so I bet that they are near the ocean – someone probably caught a fish to eat as well. 

Grateful for the Eucharist

Of course, the Mass, being the ultimate Thanksgiving to God, attending Mass on Sunday and daily (if possible) is the best way to give God our thanks. Jesus came to earth to offer Himself on the Cross — so we should pray and attend Mass as our thanksgiving to God. We should consider every Sunday a day of Thanksgiving!

Copyright 2020 Julie Larsen
Image: Pixabay (2018)