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Saturday, August 9, 2014

Table Prayers



What a joy it was recently to have our dinner host ask us to stand at table and hold hands, asking my husband to pray before our shared meal “as is our custom.” I woke with that scene shining in my mind in the wee hours of this morning. How profoundly simple prayers said in peace at meal time shape our lives.

Here is the prayer my husband prayed on that occasion, one he learned as a child and holds dear to use in our home. It is followed by a simple prayer our granddaughter loves to use. Following these are partner prayers for before and after meals...


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Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts


which we are about to receive

from thy bounty

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.



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God is great and God is good

and we thank Him for our food.

By His hands we all are fed.

Give us Lord our daily bread.

Amen.



~~~


Grace Before the Meal - I

Loving Father,

You bless us in every way,

especially with the love of your Son,

our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our souls magnify you,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We thank you for all good things

especially this meal,

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.



Grace After the Meal - I

Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior,

for he has filled the hungry with good things.

Bless those who have provided for us in any way

and fill all those who live in want.

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.



~~~


Grace Before the Meal - II

Loving Father,

bless this meal, all who prepared it,

and all who made it possible

through their service and sacrifice.

May our sharing of this meal

lead us to renew our thankfulness for the

“better portion” - your Son, Jesus Christ,

who is our Lord, now and for ever.

Amen.


Grace After the Meal - II

Lord,

thank you for your nourishment and unfailing care.

May we show our gratitude in fervent prayer 
and loving acts of service.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.



~~~


Grace Before the Meal - III

Blessed are you, almighty Father,

who gives us our daily bread.

Blessed is your only begotten Son,

who continually feeds us on the word of life.

Blessed is the Holy Spirit,

who brings us together at this table of love.

Blessed be God now and forever.

Amen.


Grace After the Meal - III

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation;

You bring forth bread from the earth 
to feed all creatures and people.

Blessed be God forever. Amen.


~~~

Grace Before the Meal - IV

Bless this meal, loving Father, 
with the graces of the Last Supper of your Son.

We thank you for this food

   And for those who prepared it.

But most of all, we thank you

For the sacrifice of Christ’s body and blood

Which unites us in holy communion

And reconciles us to you.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.


Grace After the Meal - IV

Lord Jesus,

As we depart from this table

may we never depart from you,

but live always in the awareness of

your loving presence through

the work of the Holy Spirit.

We ask this in your Holy Name.

Amen.



~~~


Grace Before the Meal - V

Loving Father,

We thank you for our countless blessings   
especially  for the gift of your Son,

for the church, for our faith, and now for this meal.

Bless this food and the love that unites us,

Keep us forever grateful

and generous in your service.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.



Grace After the Meal - V

Loving Father,

You have blessed us with this time

Of nourishment and communion.

Bless all those who prepared it

and made it possible.

Show your special care to those who go without 
and make us instruments of your compassion.

We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

Amen.



~~~


Grace Before the Meal – VI    (December)

Loving Father

You bless us in every way,

Especially with the love of your Son.

Following the example of the virgin Mary

who sang of your greatness,

Our souls magnify you.

We thank you for all good things,

Especially this meal, through Christ our Lord.

Amen.


Grace After the Meal – VI    (December)

Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior,

For he has filled the hungry with good things.

Bless those who have provided for us in any way 
and fill all those who live in want.

Through Christ our Lord,

Amen.



~~~ 


For what we are about to receive,

O Lord, make us truly thankful. Amen


~~~


This last short prayer is a handy one for hungry little boys to have on hand in case they are called on to lead the prayer. It's a step up from "Rub-a-dub-dub, thank you for the grub. Let's eat!"

*Prayers I through VI are based on Blessings for Mealtime from the devotional series "Magnificat." 

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SUNG PRAYER 




MILLET - El Ángelus



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