Te Deum

Te Deum!
It's a prayer, actually a hymn that is sometimes merely recited.
It is a prayer of deep praise and gratitude to God. The very opening says it well: Te Deum Laudamus! To You, God, we offer our praise!
Actually, if I understand correctly, it is the prayer that provided the inspiration for the more popular hymn, Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.
Growing up, I can recall that at the end of Forty Hours Devotion (if you don't know, Google it!) in our parish Te Deum was sung. Also in our parish there was a Mission every three or four years and those also ended with Te Deum.
In the official prayer of the Church, the Liturgy of the Hours, on all Sundays except those in Lent, and also on Solemnities and certain feasts, the Office of Readings ends with Te Deum.
It is a very special prayer used at very special times in our faith-life.
Back in 1999 I gained an even deeper appreciation of the Te Deum.
New Year's Eve that year was that memorable and historic moment. We were entering not just a New Year but also a new century and with that a new millennium as well. Many celebrations were extra special and even carefully planned, some choosing to celebrate this moment in exotic venues.
For me and a group of pilgrims, we made a journey to Rome. We would be in the Eternal City as this historic moment arrived.
Thanks to the efforts of our late Cardinal Edmund Szoka, who was stationed in Rome at that time, we were granted tickets admitting us into St. Peter's Basilica that evening for the ending of the year Evening Prayer led by Pope (now Saint) John Paul II.
At the end of the Evening Prayer the Holy Father stood facing the great high altar of the basilica and he intoned the words: Te Deum Laudamus!
The building vibrated with the voices raised in song and praise to God!
We give You praise - for the blessings of the past year, of the passing century, of the passing millennium, of all time - we give You praise!
And for the opportunities You have granted us.
And for the challenges to which You have called us.
We give You praise!
What an appropriate way to end the year, the century, the millennium.
And I understand that this was not a one time occurrence.
Tradition is that every year ends with the Pope leading Evening Prayer at St. Peter's and then intoning Te Deum.
We look back in faith to blessings, opportunities and challenges - gifts from God.
And we look ahead to the uncertainties of the future with faith, hope and trust.
Te Deum!
Perhaps you do not have that text handy but there is no reason why, as the year draws to its end, you cannot in your own words, from the heart, acknowledge how you have been blessed.
And then give praise and thanks.
Te Deum!

Te Deum (text)

Te Deum (Video)