With Thanksgiving arriving this week, we recommend that our members and friends read an article entitled "Saint Businessman" by Father Robert Sirico of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty in the November 15, 1999 Forbes magazine.

Sirico writes: "We forget that the apostles in the New Testament were fishermen first, who learned about hard work and diligence in a market setting. We forget, too, that for many centuries, and even today, monks have had to market goods like wool and honey to the outside world to support their lives of prayer, reflection and contemplation."

He continues: "Thus I see nothing strange in hoping for the eventual canon ization of a New York hairdresser, a man named Pierre Toussaint. He overcame incredible odds to become one of America's first rich, black professionals. In his life we see capitalistic achievement and personal piety coexisting."

The entire article is well worth reading, particularly at this time of year.