Prayer Before Meals: Grace for Your Family Table
The traditional Catholic grace and a fuller prayer for shared meals
Morning Prayer editorial team · Updated: November 2026
Blessing a meal takes fifteen seconds and changes the whole table. Here is the traditional grace Catholics have prayed for centuries, followed by a longer prayer for family dinners, holidays, and guests.
Let us pray
Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Generous God, we gather around this table and we remember that everything on it comes from You. The grain that grew in a field we have never seen, the hands that harvested and packed and carried it, the work that paid for it, the hands that cooked it: all of this is Your gift, passed to us through many people.
Bless this food, that it may give us strength. Bless the ones who prepared it, that they may know they are appreciated. Bless the conversation around this table, that it may be kind, honest, and full of laughter.
We remember those who have no meal tonight. Teach us to share. We remember those who eat alone. Make us the kind of people who invite them in. We remember the loved ones who once sat in these chairs and are now with You. Keep them close to Your heart, as we keep them close to ours.
Lord Jesus, You broke bread with sinners and saints, and You gave Yourself to us as the Bread of Life. Be our guest at this table, as You were at Emmaus, and let us recognize You in the breaking of the bread. Amen.
Blessing
May this meal strengthen your body, and may the One who provides it fill your home with peace.
How to pray this prayer
- Find a quiet moment and breathe slowly.
- Read the prayer aloud or in your heart.
- Add your own intention before the Amen.
Frequently asked questions
What is the traditional Catholic grace before meals?
It begins: Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Many families also make the sign of the cross before and after.
Is it okay to pray before meals in a restaurant?
Yes. A quiet grace, even silently with a small sign of the cross, is a simple witness of gratitude. There is no need to be showy or embarrassed.
Is there also a prayer after meals?
Yes. The traditional one is: We give Thee thanks, Almighty God, for all Thy benefits, who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen. Some add a prayer for the faithful departed.
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