Grace Before & After Meals
The traditional Catholic prayers blessing food before eating and giving thanks after meals.
The Grace Before and After Meals are the traditional Catholic prayers that bless food before eating and give thanks after. Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts is the best-known version, but families often add their own. A simple grace turns a meal into a shared moment of gratitude and reminds you of the hungry. It takes ten seconds, yet children often remember it for life. In many homes it is the one prayer said every day, and it quietly teaches gratitude. If you eat alone, say it quietly. If you eat in public, a small sign of the cross is enough. Pray also for those who have no food today, and ask that you share what you have.
Pray this prayer, and save your favourites, in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle PlayGrace Before & After Meals
Before Meals:
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 give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O Almighty God, who livest and reignest forever. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
When should I pray the Grace Before and After Meals?
Pray before and after every meal, at home, in a restaurant or at work.
How do I pray the Grace Before and After Meals?
Make the sign of the cross, say the grace together, and wait for all to finish.
Who is the Grace Before and After Meals for?
Families, children, workers and anyone who eats.
Pray this prayer, and save your favourites, in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle Play