28 Catholic Grace Prayers Before and After Meals

Grace is referred to as a short prayer or show of gratitude that is said before and after meals. In many traditions, the custom of saying grace before a meal is said to sanctify the meal.

Although the practice of saying grace prayer before a meal is prevalent in many religions, however, it is most commonly associated with Christianity.

According to Christian theology, the act of saying grace is derived from the Bible, especially in Luke 24:30, which clearly indicates that Jesus used to pray before every meal. Luke 24:30, “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.”

The purpose of saying a short grace before every meal is to acknowledge our dependence on God and pay our gratitude towards Him for providing us with food, drink, and shelter. In Christianity, the term ‘grace’ refers to approval, kindness, or something that is given freely to us by God.

By saying grace before our meals we are acknowledging that we are undeserving of God’s blessings. In this article, we will share 21 easy-to-say grace examples that you can incorporate into your meals.

Grace Before and After Meals

Here is an exhaustive list of prayers that will help you express your gratitude. Many times we have to ask God to bless the food, our family and friends or acknowledge God’s power in providing our sustenance.

1) Grace in Remembrance of the Last Supper

Father, As we sit here today preparing to eat this food, we remember Your Son. How He came here as a human being, and ate with His family and friends just like we do. Thank You for the gift of Jesus, and that we can look to Him knowing He understands our hunger. Bless us, Lord Jesus, and stir our hearts to remember You in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

2) God is Great

God is great and God is good,
Let us thank Him for our food;
By His blessings, we are fed,
Give us Lord, our daily bread.
Amen.

3) Prayer of thanks for Food and Family

Thank You, Lord God, for this food we are about to eat. Thank You for the hands that have prepared it, for those sitting around the table who are here to share it, and for the ability to be here together under one roof, and enjoy these blessings at Your hand. We realize that everything we have comes from You and for that, we are eternally grateful. We also thank You for what we don’t have this year, for we trust that You have withheld in Your goodness and out of Your protection for us. Thank You that Scripture says You are a Good Father who loves to give gifts to Your children. We sit here as evidence of Your goodness. Thank You for the gift of today and all who are here to share it with us. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

4) A prayer for Dinner Fellowship

Father, Praise You for friendship and family! Thank You for bringing us together today to share a meal. The people in our lives bring us such joy, and we are grateful for the time spent in fellowship together. Help us use this time to bond closer as a group, and learn to love each other more. Bless our appetites, both physical and spiritual, to honor You in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Read more: Morning Prayers

5) A dinner time invocation

Loving God, bless all those gathered here today
as we come together in friendship and fellowship.
Thank you for the blessings of our individual
and collective God-given gifts.
Place in our hearts the desire to make a difference
to our families, to our community, to our country,
and to the many cultures and peoples worldwide.
Give us balance in times of distraction and uncertainty.
Help us move towards our goals with determination
and always with an abundant sense of humor.
Thank you for food in a world where many know only hunger;
For our faith in a world where many know fear;
For friends in a world where many know only loneliness.
Please bless this food we are about to share, those who prepared it, those who serve it,
and those who have worked to make today the special occasion that it is.
For all of this we give you thanks.

6) Bless this food

Blessed are you, Lord our God,
maker of heaven and earth
and Father of all your people:
we give you glory for your goodness
and for your loving care for us.
Bless this food [this bread]
and grant that all who eat it
may be strong in body
and grow in your love.
Blessed are you, Lord our God,
for ever and ever.

7) Dinner prayer hymn

Lord, bless this food and grant that we
May thankful for thy mercies be;
Teach us to know by whom we’re fed;
Bless us with Christ, the living bread.
Lord, make us thankful for our food,
Bless us with faith in Jesus’ blood;
With bread of life our souls supply,
That we may live with Christ on high.
Amen.

8) Thanksgiving Prayer

Heavenly Father, so many people are spending their days and nights hungry, but we have a constant supply of food in this home, and I want to say thank you. Thank you for the meal that is before us today. As we eat, may we do it with thanksgiving in our hearts. Forgive us for complaining and not being appreciative of your providence. May the meal fuel our bodies that we may have the energy to accomplish our purposes in this world. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

9) Prayer in the remembrance of the poor and hungry

Father, You are mighty and strong to sustain our bodies. Thank You for the meal we are about to enjoy. Forgive us for forgetting how many pray for food to relieve their starvation. Bless and relieve the starvation of those who hunger, Lord, and inspire our hearts to seek out ways that we can help from our abundance. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

10) Prayer for a family meal

Father, We have gathered to share a meal in Your honor. Thank You for putting us together as a family, and thank You for this food. Bless it to our bodies, Lord. We thank you for all of the gifts you’ve given to those around this table. Help each member of our family use these gifts to your glory. Guide our mealtime conversations and steer our hearts to Your purpose for our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

11) May we eat well

Blessed are you, Lord God, king of the universe:
you raised your beloved son from the dead,
and made him Lord of all.
We turn to you in prayer
and ask you to bless us
and this food you have given us.
Help us to be generous toward others,
and to work with them so that they too may eat well.

Loving Father,
may we all celebrate together
around your table in heaven.
We praise you and give you glory
through Christ our Lord.

12) Bless Us, O Lord

Bless us, O Lord,
And these Thy gifts
Which we are about to receive,
Through Thy bounty
Through Christ our Lord we pray.
Amen.

Read more: The Lord’s Prayer Meaning

13) Bonding time prayer

Father God, may mealtimes in this place be times of bonding with each other.
If there is anything that we have been holding against each other,
God, use this time to help us set our differences aside so that we can come closer as a family.

May this food give us strength and bless our bodies that we may be able to endure whatever challenges lie ahead of us.

In Jesus’ name, we believe and pray, Amen.

14) Food scarcity prayer

Dear God, thank you so much for this meal. I didn’t know that I could have something to eat today. Food is so scarce this season, and having three meals a day in this house is a miracle. But I trust you, Lord, for you supply my needs according to your glorious riches. May your name be glorified forever. In Jesus’ name, I believe and pray, Amen.

15) Nourishment Prayer

O God, thank you for enabling us to gather in this place so that we can share this great meal that is before us. Forgive us for taking such moments for granted. As we eat, may it bring nourishment to our bodies. Lord, just the way you provided for the children of Israel in the wilderness, please provide for those that don’t have anything to eat today. In Jesus’ name, I believe and pray, Amen.

16) A prayer of Confession

Father, this meal is the work of Your hands. You have provided for me, again, and I am grateful. I confess my tendency to forget to ask Your blessing upon my life, through the comforts that You have given me to enjoy. So many people lack these daily comforts and it is selfish of me to forget about them in their need. Show me how to make the most of Your blessing in my life, for everything I have is a gift from You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

17) Dinner blessings for humble hearts

In a world where so many are hungry,
May we eat this food with humble hearts;
In a world where so many are lonely,
May we share this friendship with joyful hearts.
Amen.

18) Praise be to you

Loving Father,
we thank you for bringing us together for this meal:
may we continue to live in your friendship
and in harmony with one another.
Bless this food,
a sign of your loving care for us,
and bless us in our daily lives.
Bless your church throughout the world,
and all those who seek to do your will today.
Father of mercy,
all praise be to you
through Jesus Christ our savior,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

19) Food as a symbol

Earth maker and Lord of all creation,
we are mindful that this food before us
has already been blessed by the sun, earth and rain.
We pause to be grateful
for the hidden gifts of life in this food.
Bless our eyes and taste
so that we may eat this food
in a holy and mindful manner.
We lift up this bread;
may it be food and symbol
for all of us who shall eat it.

20) Food that endures prayer

King of glory, I consecrate this food by your word and prayer. As we sit down to enjoy this meal, may we remember to always work for food that endures to eternal life which our Lord Jesus gives us. May we enjoy this small serving with love. In Jesus’ name, I believe and pray, Amen.

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21) Prayer thanking people who cooked the meal

Heavenly Father, thank you for this food. May it sustain and gladden our hearts. Thank you for the person that prepared it. Bless them in all their endeavours. May their cups run over, and may goodness and mercy follow them all the days of their lives. We love and honour you, for you’re the one that gives us food. In Jesus’ name, I believe and pray, Amen.

22) Grace Before Meal

O God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry. When I have work, help me to remember the jobless. When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all. When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer. And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency, bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help, by word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted. Amen

23) Prayer to Bless the food

Lord, bless this food and grant that we may thankful for thy mercies be; teach us to know by whom we’re fed; bless us with Christ, the living bread. Lord, make us thankful for our food, bless us with faith in Jesus’ blood; with bread of life our souls’ supply, that we may live with Christ on high. Amen.

24) Prayer to Bless us and the food

Blessed are you, Lord God, king of the universe: you raised your beloved son from the dead and made him Lord of all. We turn to you in prayer and ask you to bless us and this food you have given us. Help us to be generous toward others, and to work with them so that they too may eat well. Loving Father, may we all celebrate together around your table in heaven. We praise you and give you glory through Christ our Lord. 

25) Be present at our table, Lord, be here and everywhere adored. Thy people bless, and grant that we may feast in paradise with thee. Amen. – John Wesley, A Grace Before Meals

26) Prayer After Meal

We give Thee thanks, almighty God, for all Thy benefits, who livest and reignest forever and ever.
Amen.

27) Dinner Prayer

God is great and God is good,
Let us thank Him for our food;
By His blessings, we are fed,
Give us Lord, our daily bread.
Amen.

28) Grace Prayer

God, we thank you for this food.
For rest and home and all things good.
For wind and rain and sun above.
But most of all for those we love. Amen!

Read more: Effective Prayer for Healing