The Preface is worded in the solemn language of THANKS and praise. It is a reflection upon the greatness of God's sweeping majesty, His heavenly and earthly effects, His love and His promise of salvation. The Preface and the rest of the Eucharistic Prayer bring us to a spiritual frenzy of praise and THANKSGIVING. In the Preface, we begin this process, crescendoing in the Sanctus.

The Sanctus is an anticipatory prayer. It anticipates the account that we're about to hear of God's role in human history. His role will shortly be delineated by the reading of the Eucharistic prayer. However, the liturgy recognizes that we know what is going to happen and are overwhelmed with the joy of the salvation story.

Praise is one of the greatest ways we can tell God that we're not ungrateful louts, just taking and taking. We also know that to thank someone with just a simple 'thank you' is rarely enough, for it leaves the hearer wanting. Yet were we to say why we're thankful, it would hold a very different meaning.

If the spouse rises from the table and blurts out: 'Thanks honey.' It's automatic, without thought and may not mean much to 'honey!' Yet were that same person to say: 'The pot roast had a great flavor, you put just the right amount of garlic. And the potatoes....! '

Thanksgiving is best shown through an expression of an internalized appreciation. Many of us have never thought of, reflected upon and verbalized the reasons WHY COLLECTIVELY we are appreciative, let alone why we are PERSONALLY thankful.

Maybe the reason why the Holy Mass is so boring for so many people is because they are profoundly ungrateful to God for all He has done for them -- and the reason they are so ungrateful is because they really haven't thought about it.

Psalm 92:2 "It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name."