Catholic Prayer: Holy Thursday Table Blessing

Description:

The Easter triduum is a three-day celebration of the Lord's death and resurrection. It begins on Holy Thursday "with the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, reaches its high point in the Easter vigil, and closes with evening prayer on Easter Sunday" (Roman Calendar, no. 19).

The following prayers are used on the most holy days of the Lord's passion, death and resurrection.

Prayer:

BEFORE THE MEAL

Leader: Christ for our sake became obedient unto death. Let us worship him and say: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

ALL: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Leader: Lord Jesus, be with us as we share this meal. Prepare us to celebrate with faith the saving deeds you have worked for us, and let us share in your passing-over from death to life, both now and for ever.

ALL: Amen.

AFTER THE MEAL

Leader: Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for sharing yourself with your apostles at the Last Supper and for giving your love to us at this meal. Give us grateful hearts for the life you poured out for us, for the suffering that takes our sin away. Glory and praise to you, Lord, both now and forever.

ALL: Amen.

Prayer Source: Prayers at Meals by Michael Kwatera, O.S.B. and Dietrich Reinhart, O.S.B., The Liturgical Press