Prayer at mealtime

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Hi, my husband told me today that he thinks we should not only say a prayer of thanksgiving before our meals at home but also when we are out in a restaurant.

I’m just curious if others do this, what reactions they’ve received, and if you are with others (non-Catholic) do you include them or possibly make them feel uncomfortable by doing this?

My husband says I’m just embarrassed and I should get over it. I’m not sure that’s exactly it, but I’m not one to wear my faith on my sleeve to be sure. I’d love to hear others’ practices and experiences. thanks!
 
I personally do not say a prayer before mealtime but I know that I really should start doing so. When I eat alone, I usually will think a prayer in my mind but sometimes that slips :). When we eat dinner with family, we usually are good about starting out with prayer but sometimes we forget.

I think that it is a good think to get in the habit of doing and that either at home or at a restaurant you should always give thanks for the gifts God has given you. 🙂

God bless!
 
I always say a silent prayer before any meal. If I am dining out, depending on who I am with, we may pray together.

I never really thought about what other’s may think. 🤷
 
Oneofthewomen said:
I always say a silent prayer before any meal. If I am dining out, depending on who I am with, we may pray together.

I never really thought about what other’s may think. 🤷
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That is a good idea to just say a silent prayer before any meal. It’s really not for others to hear or see you doing, only a communication with God and a way to remember to see God in everything in life.
 
After having gotten in the habit of saying grace at home, it seemed odd not to do it at a restaurant. I will admit it was awkward at first, but in order to get over that you have to do it for the first time. Now each time we go out it seems less and less awkard, like our faith is really settling in and we don’t have to care who is watching or is offended. (Except the Lord!) I get offended at other religions who mock Christ or do other strange things, let those who don’t believe be on the offended side for once. Maybe it will start some other Christian family who doesn’t say grace to start. Just try it…its not like your on the street corner shouting at people, you are praying privately amoungst your table. That’s my take on it anyway, best wishes to you
 
Praying before and after meals in public is a very commendable thing to do and a nice way for lay Christians to practice the canonical obligation of witnessing their faith (CIC Cann. 225 §2). The better is to say grace while standing, and all gazes from the audience should be overlooked as we are here to please God after all. For perspective Tertullian (c. 160-225) relates that the early Christians used to make the Sign of the Cross at every occasion: “At every motion and every step, entering in or going out, when dressing, bathing, going to meals, lighting the lamps, sleeping or sitting, whatever we do, or whithersoever we go, we mark our foreheads with the Sign of the Cross.” (De Coron. milit., C.III.)
 
We all close our eyes and do a prayer in the restaurant, nobody notice, lol…

We like to give thanks to God.

Blessings and love
 
I always make the Sign of the Cross and say Grace before meals when out in restaurants. When with friends of similar faith, we generally all hold hands and one of us leads the prayer. When not with folks who are comfortable with praying together I pray quietly and end with the Sign of the Cross. I also do this at family gatherings although my family no longer practices the Faith.

As for what others at the table or at other tables think, I really couldn’t care less about what they think of me and hope that maybe they might think about their own relationships with God. I don’t do this to show off, I do this because this is how I pray.
 
Most of my friends are local Catholics, and we always hold hands and say a prayer before our meals. I don’t know that anyone, other than a waitress or two, have ever noticed. I have seen our waitress stop and wait for us to finish before she approaches the table. 🙂
And honestly, I don’t care if others like it or not, as long as we aren’t shouting or being loud about it, it shouldn’t matter. 🙂
 
We do it at resturants; we have never been a hand-holding family.

We just let the kids choose one like at home:

“Bless Us O Lord…”

or

“Come Lord Jesus be our guest, let this food to us be blessed”

or

“God our Father/We love you” song

If it’s a nice restaurant, DH or I will choose the non-singing prayer 😛

If anyone has ever taken notice, I’ve not noticed- certainly no one has ever made a comment.
 
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