Sarah Mitchell
Saying grace is a common practice in many religions, including Catholicism. It involves saying a short prayer before or after a meal, expressing gratitude and blessings. While there is no mandatory prayer for Catholics, there are several traditional prayers that are widely used. These prayers often begin with Bless us, O Lord, and these, thy gifts... or We give you thanks almighty God for these and all your benefits.... Saying grace is a powerful way for Catholics to thank God for their meals and express their faith, whether in private or in the company of others.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To thank God for the food |
| Timing | Before and/or after a meal |
| Tone | Thankful |
| Examples of Catholic prayers before a meal | "Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty" |
| "Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest; let this food, to us, be blessed" | |
| "O Christ God, bless the food and drink of Thy servants, for Thou art holy, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen." | |
| Examples of Catholic prayers after a meal | "We give Thee thanks, O Almighty God, for all Thy benefits, Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen." |
| "We thank Thee, O Christ our God, that Thou hast satisfied us with Thine earthly gifts; deprive us not of Thy Heavenly Kingdom, but as Thou camest among Thy disciples, O Saviour, and gavest them peace, come unto us and save us." |
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What You'll Learn
Grace before and after meals
Saying grace is a short prayer or thankful phrase said before or after eating. Theologically, the act of saying grace is derived from the Bible, in which Jesus and Saint Paul pray before meals. The practice reflects the belief that humans should thank God, who is believed to be the origin of everything.
Grace Before Meals
Before meals, Catholics ask God for His blessing. There are many ways to say grace before meals, and there is no precise prayer that must be said. Here are some examples:
- Bless us, O Lord, and these, thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
- Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty. In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
- Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, our morning joy, our evening rest; let these gifts to us be blessed, and us to Thy loving service.
- O Christ God, bless the food and drink of Thy servants, for Thou art holy, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Grace After Meals
After meals, Catholics give thanks to God for all His benefits. Here are some examples of prayers to say after meals:
- We give Thee thanks, Almighty God, for all Thy benefits, who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.
- We thank Thee, O Christ our God, for satisfying us with Thine earthly gifts; deprive us not of Thy Heavenly Kingdom, but as Thou camest among Thy disciples, O Saviour, and gavest them peace, come unto us and save us.
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The meaning of 'grace'
The act of saying grace is derived from the Bible, in which Jesus and Saint Paul pray before meals. Theologically, the practice reflects the belief that humans should thank God, who is believed to be the origin of everything. Pope Francis has encouraged all believers to return to the custom of giving thanks to God before and after meals.
Saying grace is a short prayer or thankful phrase said before or after eating a meal. The term is commonly associated with Christian traditions, although it is also practised in other religions. In English, reciting such a prayer is sometimes referred to as "saying grace". The term comes from the Ecclesiastical Latin phrase "gratiarum actio", which means "act of thanks".
In the Latin Catholic tradition, before eating, one may say:
> Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty.
Eastern Catholics, Eastern Lutherans, and Eastern Orthodox believers may say the following prayer before a meal:
> O Christ God, bless the food and drink of Thy servants, for Thou art holy always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
After the meal, all stand and sing:
> We thank Thee, O Christ our God, that Thou hast satisfied us with Thine earthly gifts; deprive us not of Thy Heavenly Kingdom, but as Thou camest among Thy disciples, O Saviour, and gavest them peace, come unto us and save us.
In the Anglican tradition, one may say:
> Bless, O Father, Thy gifts to our use and us to Thy service; for Christ’s sake. Amen.
In the Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, the following prayer is said before a meal:
> Be present at our table, Lord. Be here and everywhere adored. From Thine all bounteous hand, our food may we receive with gratitude. Amen.
The above are just a few examples of graces said before meals. The practice of saying grace is a way to thank God for the food one is about to receive and to recognise that all good things come from God.
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Short prayers
Before Meals
- Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Amen.
- Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are about to receive from your bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
- Lord Jesus, our brother, we praise you.
- Father of us all, this meal is a sign of your...
- Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let this food, to us, be blessed.
- O Christ God, bless the food and drink of Thy servants, for Thou art holy, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
- We give you thanks, O Christ our God, for you have satisfied us with your earthly good things. Do not deprive us of your heavenly kingdom, but as you came into the midst of your disciples, O Saviour, granting them peace, so also come to us and save us.
- Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, we ask You Christ God, to bless this food and drink for Your servants, for You are holy, always, now and forever and ever. Amen.
After Meals
- We give Thee thanks, Almighty God, for all Thy benefits, Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.
- We give Thee thanks, almighty God, for all Thy benefits.
- We thank Thee, O Christ our God, that Thou hast satisfied us with Thine earthly gifts; deprive us not of Thy Heavenly Kingdom, but as Thou camest among Thy disciples, O Saviour, and gavest them peace, come unto us and save us.
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Praying as a family
Choosing a Prayer
There are many different prayers that can be said before and after meals. You can choose a traditional Catholic grace prayer, such as the ancient one originating from the Gelasian Sacramentary in the 8th century:
> In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty. Amen.
You can also opt for a shorter version:
> Bless us, O Lord, and these, thy gifts. Amen.
Or, you may prefer a more modern variation:
> Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, our morning joy, our evening rest. Let these gifts to us be blessed, and us to your loving service. Amen.
If you have young children, you can even sing grace to the tune of a familiar song, such as "Are You Sleeping, Brother John?"
Making it a Family Affair
Encourage family members to take turns leading the prayer. This not only involves everyone actively but also adds a personal touch to the tradition. Each person can choose a prayer that resonates with them or take turns reciting different parts of a longer prayer. If you have guests, you can invite them to join in as well, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere.
Adding Personal Touches
Consider adding personal touches to your family's grace tradition. You can include specific intentions or petitions for loved ones, such as praying for a family member's health or a friend in need. You might also want to include a moment of silence for personal reflections or allow each person to share something they are grateful for. These additions make the experience more meaningful and intimate.
Remembering the True Essence
While the specific words of the prayer are important, the true essence of saying grace is gratitude. Whether you recite a formal prayer or simply express your thanks from the heart, the key is to cultivate a mindset of appreciation and blessing. Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to saying grace. The beauty lies in making it your own and allowing it to evolve as your family grows and changes.
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The origin of grace
The origin of the word "grace" comes from the Ecclesiastical Latin phrase "gratiarum actio", which means "act of thanks". The word itself is derived from the Latin "gratia", meaning thanks or gratitude for a grace received.
Theologically, the act of saying grace is derived from the Bible, in which Jesus and Saint Paul pray before meals. In the Bible, Jesus gives thanks to God before breaking bread and starting a meal (Matthew 14:15-21; 15:32-38). In Luke 24:13-35, Jesus joins two of his followers for a meal and "gave thanks, broke [the bread] and began to give it to them". This practice reflects the belief that humans should thank God, who is believed to be the origin of everything.
The duty of saying grace after a meal is also derived from Deuteronomy 8:10: "And thou shalt eat and be satisfied and shalt bless the Lord thy God for the goodly land which he hath given thee". Verse 8 of the same chapter mentions "the land of wheat and barley, of the vine, the fig and the pomegranate, the land of the oil olive and of [date] syrup". Thus, only bread made of wheat or barley is deemed worthy of the blessing commanded in verse 10.
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Frequently asked questions
"Bless us, O Lord, and these, thy gifts..."
"In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty."
"We give Thee thanks, Almighty God, for all thy benefits, Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to reward with eternal life, all those who do us good for Thy name’s sake. Amen. V. Let us bless the Lord. R. Thanks be to God."
