Dear Lord, thank you for this meal. Thank you for the food, the hands that prepared it, and the people who brought it to me. Thank you for how good it tastes and how much we need it. Help me to remember that not everyone has as much as I do today. Help me to remember that there are people in this world who don’t have enough to eat and who are hungry. We know that you care about us—that’s why we’re here today! We know that you care about them too—that’s why we’re praying for them! Let us be thankful for this meal and all the blessings in our lives, both big and small. Amen.
Bless us, O God. Bless our food and our drink. Since you redeemed us so dearly and delivered us from evil, as you gave us a share in this food, so may you give us a share in eternal life.
Simple Prayer Before Meal Catholic
- Heavenly Father, we thank you for the abundance of food and drink before us. May this nourishment strengthen us physically and spiritually, as we partake in your blessings. Amen.
Matthew 6:11 – “Give us today our daily bread.”
- Lord, we acknowledge your grace and mercy in providing us with this meal. May it remind us of your unending love for us, and may we always be grateful for your provisions. Amen.
- Gracious God, as we enjoy this food and drink, may we never take for granted the sacrifice you made for our salvation. Help us to live in a way that reflects your grace and love. Amen.
- Father, we ask for your blessings upon this meal, knowing that everything good comes from you. May this food nourish our bodies and our souls, and may we always remember your faithfulness. Amen.
- God of all creation, we thank you for the gift of this food and drink. May it remind us of your provision in our lives and may we always be mindful of those who are in need. Amen.
- Lord Jesus, as we gather around this table, we remember your sacrifice on the cross. May this meal be a symbol of your love for us, and may we be inspired to share that love with others. Amen.
- Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the fellowship we share around this meal. May it strengthen our bonds with one another and with you, as we seek to live in harmony and peace. Amen.
- God of all comfort, we thank you for the joy of this meal and the company we keep. May it be a source of encouragement and blessing to each of us, as we strive to live according to your will. Amen.
- Lord, we lift up this food and drink to you, asking for your blessings upon it. May it sustain us in body and spirit, and may we always remember to give thanks for your abundance in our lives. Amen.
Short Prayer for Meal
Living God, help us always to remember that you have called us to serve you in all things.
Dear Lord,
I know that it is your will that we should live in harmony with the earth. Help us to remember the blessing of food, and to be thankful for what you have provided.
Living God, help us always to remember that you have called us to serve you in all things. You gave your Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins so that we may live eternally with you.
Help our hearts be turned toward those who are hungry or in need of shelter or clothing or medicine or education — especially those who live far away from here — and let this meal become for me an opportunity for sharing what I have been given with others less fortunate than myself (or even just those around me). May this meal be a time when I can give thanks for what I have received from you: my life and health; my friends and family; my home; my job; everything else!
Help us to encourage our children to pay attention at the table, and guide them always in the path of graciousness and good manners.
- Teach your children to be respectful of others. The most important part of dining together is that all family members are in a space where they can feel comfortable and respected. When this happens, children will eat more slowly, taking the time to enjoy their food and enjoy being with their family members.
- Teach your children to be polite at the table. This means showing respect for others around you as well as yourself, since manners are ultimately about treating others with kindness and consideration so they feel confident sharing their own opinions without feeling judged or afraid of what other people might think if they disagree with them.*Teach your child how to express gratitude towards God during prayer time. *Teach your child how best to serve others who may not have as much food as herself or himself. *Help teach your child how to stay focused on God’s word without being distracted by other things going on around him or her. Encourage him/her not only when it comes time for prayer but also throughout every day so he/she will learn from example rather than just hearing it once in awhile!
May the food we eat sustain our body for the work you have prepared for us; may it nourish our soul so that we may never be lonely or afraid.
We thank you for the food we are about to eat. May it sustain our bodies for the work you have prepared for us; may it nourish our souls so that we may never be lonely or afraid.
We pray for those in need, especially those known to us and those unknown, who suffer from hunger and thirst. We also remember in prayer those who are not with us at this time—those who have died or gone on before, but whose memory still sustains us as a living part of our community and family history. We pray for our families and friends that they may find comfort in fellowship together through sharing meals around tables like this one. Finally, we pray for ourselves: that each one of us will be granted all the blessings which come from your hand—peaceful hearts, healthy bodies full of hope—and above all else, love: love enough not only to feed another’s body but also feed their soul by loving them unconditionally as yourself
Bless this food and drink, which we take in your name.
It is one of the most important things to do at a meal. When you pray, you are saying thank you to God for the food. You are also expressing gratitude to the person who made your meal and gave it to you. Prayer helps us connect with God and shows our love for him.
When we pray before eating, it reminds us that we eat not just for ourselves but for others too! We don’t just take in this food as people who live on earth; instead, we should think about those who have nothing to eat at all or even worse, those who starve to death because there isn’t enough food around them!
We should think about how lucky we are to be living here today with such a wide variety of healthy foods available all year long! We should be thankful that our mothers care so much about their family members’ health (and therefore cook nutritious meals). This is why I think it’s important that everyone knows how they can make sure they don’t waste anything while cooking or eating—by praying before meals!”
The food we eat is a gift from God, and should be enjoyed with gratitude.
The food we eat is a gift from God, and should be enjoyed with gratitude. When you sit down to dinner, take a moment to reflect on the bounty that has been provided for you. It’s easy to forget how much work goes into growing fruits and vegetables, raising livestock or making food ready to serve. Remember that these items were not grown in a factory; they took time and effort from many hands working together in harmony. Let’s not waste this gift by overindulging ourselves at the table, but instead share our portions with those who have less than us—both physically and spiritually—and treat each other with respect no matter what our station in life is.
As you take your first bite of this nourishing meal before you, pray for God’s guidance as you continue on your journey through life. May He bless every portion of this day for both yourself and those around you!