Catholic Prayer: Blessing Before and After Meals: Third Plan
Description:
1030 Christians, whether alone or with companions at table, say grace before and after meals to thank God for his goodness in providing their daily food. This practice is also a reminder that the Lord Jesus combined the sacrament of the eucharist with the ritual of a family meal and showed himself to his disciples as their risen Lord in the breaking of the bread.
1031 As they gather at table and see in the food they share a sign of God's blessings on them, Christians should be mindful of the poor, who lack even the bare minimum of food that those at table may have in abundance. By their moderation they will therefore try to provide help for the hungry and as a sign of Christ's love will on occasion invite the poor to their own table, in keeping with the words of Christ recorded in the Gospel (see Luke 14:13-14).
1032 The plans, texts, and formularies provided in the present chapter are to be regarded as models for the use of families or of any type of community. But the blessing at table should be given a tone that is in keeping with the festive or penitential character of the various days and seasons of the liturgical year.
Prayer:
BEFORE MEALS
1063 When the community has gathered, the one presiding at table says: Let us bless the Lord for his gifts. R. We thank him at all times.
Let his praise be ever on our lips. R. We thank him at all times.
(A priest or a deacon makes the sign of the cross.) We praise you, 0 Lord, from whom all good things come. Bless + this food we are about to receive. Grant that in the spirit of genuine love for one another we may always remain one in you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
AFTER MEALS
1064 Blessed be the name of the Lord. R. Now and for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. R. Now and for ever.
God our Father, we thank you for the food your bounty has given us, your gathered family. Grant that we also may freely give to others what you have so generously given to us, and that we may all share in the banquet of heaven.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Prayer Source: Book of Blessings by Prepared by International Commission on English in the Liturgy A Joint Commission of Catholic Bishops' Conferences, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1989
