Yes, Catholics still say Grace!

by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

"Saying Grace" is prayer before and after meals. Roman Catholics as well as people of other Faiths, pray before and after meals. When the family sits down at table, many people pray. That many Catholics do not say Grace while dining in public places, is unfortunate, but many do. I do, because I want Our Lord to bless the food which I am about to consume. Tradition has brought us these simple prayers:

"Bless us O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord, Amen"

After meals, we often use this prayer:

"We give Thee thanks, O Almighty God, for these Thy benefits which we have received from Thy bounty.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

In a world where there is so much fighting and crime in many of our cities, we could all benefit from the practice of praying when sitting down to eat. We do not have to use the two prayers above, but we can ask God for something we need, someone we wish to pray for, and also ask Him to bless the food we are about to eat. The best prayers are those that come from the heart. Of course there are some prayers that are very special, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Doxology (Glory be to the Father...). That's because these three prayers are in Scripture. The "Our Father" is the prayer that Jesus Christ prayed to the Father. (Matthew 6:9)

"Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen."

The "Hail Mary" came about from the words of the Angel and the answers of the Blessed Virgin. (Luke 1:28 ff., also, Catechism of the Catholic Church, para. 2676) The Doxology "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was, is now, and will be forever. Amen" is known as the "Minor Doxology" and the "Glory be to the Father" as prayed during the Mass, is known as the "Greater Doxology."

"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen." is a common form, of this prayer, but for clergy and religious, and Secular Orders, who pray the Liturgy of the Hours (e.g. Breviary), this Doxology goes like this: "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen."

Some Catholics will pray the "Our Father" before meals, and you may want to do that since we are asking the Father to "Give us this day our daily bread." - so that is very appropriate. The main thing is, that people pray during the day, at meals. And also when arising from sleep. We can ask Our Lord to bless our day, and all whom we meet or spend time with. And in a similar fashion, at night, we can ask forgiveness for our misadventures during the day, and to bless our sleep that we may safely awaken the following morning to do God's Will, all over again.

Fred Schaeffer, OFS
2011, 2023