Hey Deacon!

The week after the Feast of the Holy Family, my wife and I took a road trip to visit our adult children and our grandchildren to celebrate the Christmas season. We had a wonderful time with them, especially the four grandchildren (ages 5 to 7). We cherish the memories made. Our hearts silently sung when we joined them in praying “grace” before meals and bedtime prayers. The inspiration of these moments made me reflect on why it is so important to express our gratitude to God in very simple ways – even in the asking for God’s blessing before meals. 

So why do we pray over our meals? We do so because we follow the tradition, the spiritual ritual, that our community of believers practiced a long time ago. The custom of praying over a meal is ancient in our faith tradition. Even before Jesus — who prayed over the gifts of the Last Supper and over the gifts at the multiplication of the loaves and fish — ancient Jews prayed over their meals. They did so in gratitude both for the food and for the land which the Lord had given them. 

In Deuteronomy 8:10, we see the ancient order given to prayer at meals attributed to Moses: “But when you have eaten and are satisfied, you must bless the Lord, your God, for the good land he has given you.” Likewise, our Church Fathers cited the need to pray before meals as part of the natural desire to worship God. For example, Tertullian, who lived in the early third century, wrote that “believers are not to take food before interposing a prayer; for the refreshments and nourishments of the spirit are to be held prior to those of the flesh, and things heavenly prior to things earthly.” We can also thank Pope Gelasius (5th Century) for our familiar meal prayer today “Bless us, O Lord” – which dates back to the Gelasian Sacramentary. 

Our simple meal prayer follows the pattern of our worship at Mass: Our Mass prayers give supplication, gratitude; and praise -- expressions of faithful dependence upon God; the desire to do better as we are strengthened by the sacred meal. Then, fed and nourished, we are sent out from the church to bring the good news of God into everyday life. We seek assistance from the divine (supplication): “Bless us, O Lord,"

We give gratitude to God: “and these, thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty,” We give praise: “through Christ, our Lord, Amen.” Offering prayer at daily meals shows gratitude and an eager response to God’s love as it is poured out on us and on all those with whom we share our meals — including pancakes and turkey dinners. Mealtime prayers are essential for connecting faith with daily life. Grace before meals expresses gratitude for God’s blessings. 

This prayer is rooted in biblical teachings and Catholic tradition and fosters family unity and spiritual growth. In our fast-paced society, this small spiritual discipline to pray before meals may seem obsolete or unnecessary. However, making a conscious effort and offering sincere thanks before meals remains just as relevant today as it was in the past. ‘Stay Prayed Up’ and give thanks to our God.

Author Bio:
 Deacon Dan Vaughn