Catholic Prayer: Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals Ordinary Time (4th 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

1065 When the community has gathered, all make the sign of the cross and the one presiding says the following (a priest or a deacon makes the sign of the cross). Bless + us, O Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your goodness. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

1066 Or: Protect us, O Lord our God, and give us the help we need in our frailty. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

1067 Or: May your gifts refresh us, O Lord, and your grace give us strength. R. Amen.

1068 Or: Every good and perfect gift comes from you, O Lord. We ask you to bless + this food, which we wish to receive with grateful hearts. R. Amen.

1069 Or: Blessed are you, almighty Father, who give us our daily bread. Blessed is your only begotten Son, who continually feeds us with the word of life. Blessed is the Holy Spirit, who brings us together at this table of love. Blessed be God now and for ever. R. Amen.

AFTER MEALS

1070 The one presiding says: We give you thanks for all your gifts, almighty God, living and reigning now and for ever. R. Amen.

1071 Or: Lord, you have fed us from your gifts and favors; fill us with your mercy, for you live and reign for ever and ever. R. Amen.

1072 Or: God is blessed in all his gifts and holy in all his works, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. R. Amen.

1073 Or: We give you thanks, holy Lord, our Father, for your loving gifts of our food and drink. Grant that some day we may sit at the table of your heavenly kingdom and there sing a hymn of praise to you for ever. R. Amen.

1074 Or: For the sake of your name, O Lord, reward those who have been good to us and give them eternal life. R. Amen.

1075 Or: Lord, give all people the food they need, so that they may join us in giving you thanks. 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