Catholic Prayers: Traditional Catholic Mealtime Prayers – Why Pray Standard Prayers?
Grace Before Meals
Catholic prayers are rich and filled with spiritual mystery.
Every day I understand Catholicism better and I am both amazed and encouraged by its depth.
I have to admit that when I first heard some traditional Catholic prayers, I felt like I was listening to a version of “God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for our food.” I’m sure some of you are familiar with this prayer.
It took me a while to really get why Catholics felt the need to say memorized prayers. I mean what is wrong with just saying whatever comes to your mind. After all, prayer is a conversation with God, right?
Well, I’ve come to realize that spontaneous prayers are good and memorized or written prayers are good also. The key to praying Catholic prayers is to pray them not by rote, but to really understand and meditate on what it is we are saying. So when we thank God for his bounty, we should be aware of all the good that God has done for us in our lives. Our prayers should always be a means for us to communicate with the almighty himself.
I’ve decided to post the standard Catholic mealtime prayers both in English and Latin, for those new converts who are still struggling to memorize prayers (like me).
May we continue to take advantage of the Catholic prayers that our fathers have given us.
God Bless!
Grace Before Meals
English
Make the sign of the cross. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Cross yourself again. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Latin
Make the sign of the Cross. In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
Benedic, Domine, nos et haec tua dona quae de tua largitate sumus sumpturi. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
Grace After Meals
English
Make the sign of the cross. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O Almighty God, who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
May the Lord grant us His peace. And life everlasting. Amen. AND/OR
And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen
Cross yourself again. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Latin
Make the sign of the Cross. In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
Agimus tibi gratias, omnipotens Deus, pro universis beneficiis tuis, qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum. Amen
Deus det nobis suam pacem. Et vitam æternum. Amen. AND/OR
Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.
Make the sign of the Cross. In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
Related posts:
