Prayer before a meal? A question for Catholic and Non- Catholic

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I like to give thanks to our Father before a meal. Whether at home or out in public I will end the prayer with the Sign of the Cross. Now what do you non-catholics think when you see us do that? And Catholics, do you feel out of place when you do the Sign of the Cross? I think it would be funny to hear your responses. But please, be kind 🙂
 
I do it to show I’m Catholic to the world. To show I’m not abashed by it and to get others in the habit of praying like that. I’m a bit uncomfortable but it’s worth it.
 
I don’t do it to show anyone anything - my prayer is not for the observation of others, but it is to God. I don’t care where I am or who I’m with, I will always cross myself and pray before meals.

As for reactions - I’ve only had people say to us “oh, it’s so nice that you do that!”

~Liza
 
kimg901 said:
I like to give thanks to our Father before a meal. Whether at home or out in public I will end the prayer with the Sign of the Cross. Now what do you non-catholics think when you see us do that? And Catholics, do you feel out of place when you do the Sign of the Cross? I think it would be funny to hear your responses. But please, be kind 🙂
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We always pray before a meal. I often start a prayer with the doxology and the sign of the cross. I live in an area with lots of Baptists and Methodists, and since they are often rather devout, so when it is a public prayer, they have their eyes closed and don’t notice.

Jon
 
It makes no difference to me. I am a former Catholic, the product of twelve years of parochial school, and I choose not to make the sign of the cross. I have a number of friends at my church who are also former Catholics, who continue to make the sign of the cross at prayer time and when taking Communion. It is meaningful to them and I have heard of no one in our congregation who has a problem with it.
 
I once had a good priest friend say mass on top of a mountain, and then take the group out for pizza afterwards. Praying in the restaurant, he began with the sign of the cross, prayed a simple thanksgiving for the food and fellowship, did the usual “Bless us, O Lord…”, and ended with “…and God bless all those making fun of us!” before making the sign of the cross again. It kinda put everything in perspective for me…we don’t make the sign of the cross to show off anything, but we shouldn’t be afraid if this practice of our faith allows us to witness to others. In fact, we can use it as an opportunity to pray for those who are most in need of our prayers.
 
What are some of your thoughts which move you to pray before a meal? Do you feel the need to recognize God in connection with the food you have before you? How about the food and other things in the supermarkets and stores, available to you? How about the people who handle and organize the food to make it easily available to you in the stores and other places? Could you expand on what you think about which moves you to pray, and on what you think about during your prayer over food, in particular?
 
As a Catholic, I do feel out of place when I do not do the Sign of the Cross before a prayer, be it in private or in public (such as eating at a restaurant). I would feel like it isn’t complete. :o
 
For example, do you think about where the food comes from, in the first place? Who makes it grow, and who works at it to bring it to you, and whether you, personally, had anything to do with its production and its delivery and presentation to you? Are these some of the things which may run through your mind when you pray? I would appreciate reading anyone’s understandings on the matter for the need he or she feels to pray about having food to eat. Do you think some more basic talk about this issue would provide any needed clarification, for the beneift of believers and non believers? Thanks. All the best.
 
Josh_RP said:
For example, do you think about where the food comes from, in the first place? Who makes it grow, and who works at it to bring it to you, and whether you, personally, had anything to do with its production and its delivery and presentation to you? Are these some of the things which may run through your mind when you pray? I would appreciate reading anyone’s understandings on the matter for the need he or she feels to pray about having food to eat. Do you think some more basic talk about this issue would provide any needed clarification, for the beneift of believers and non believers? Thanks. All the best.
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Ive never thought about it. Yes there are alot of people involved but the praise will always be for our Lord. I guess we should be thanking God for all that help make it possible for us to eat and drink.
 
kimg901 said:
I like to give thanks to our Father before a meal. Whether at home or out in public I will end the prayer with the Sign of the Cross. Now what do you non-catholics think when you see us do that? And Catholics, do you feel out of place when you do the Sign of the Cross? I think it would be funny to hear your responses. But please, be kind 🙂
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I find it natural and always say grace along with he sign of the cross every time I eat either by myself or in company at work, with my family in any public place. I have never had any problems about it. I remember one time with a group of young Catholic and Assembly of God friends in a Wendy’s down South in Central Florida when a nice elderly lady came up to us and said how beautiful it was to see young people saying grace.

Nobody minds as long as we do not try to stiff the person waiting on us by giving them less than 10% becuase that is the recommeded tithe for God.👍

In Israel at a work Cafeteria a co-worker asked why did I pray before a meal since it was already blessed (Kosher). I said because I did it as an act of thanks rather than imparting a blessing to the food.

God Bless
 
Josh_RP said:
For example, do you think about where the food comes from, in the first place? Who makes it grow, and who works at it to bring it to you, and whether you, personally, had anything to do with its production and its delivery and presentation to you? Are these some of the things which may run through your mind when you pray? I would appreciate reading anyone’s understandings on the matter for the need he or she feels to pray about having food to eat. Do you think some more basic talk about this issue would provide any needed clarification, for the beneift of believers and non believers? Thanks. All the best.
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When I pray it is merely thanking God that the food in front of me is available for my consumption. A little confused about you question, I guess asking for blessings for those involved in the process of growing, cooking, etc is not a bad idea.

God Bless
 
Josh_RP said:
For example, do you think about where the food comes from, in the first place? Who makes it grow, and who works at it to bring it to you, and whether you, personally, had anything to do with its production and its delivery and presentation to you? Are these some of the things which may run through your mind when you pray? I would appreciate reading anyone’s understandings on the matter for the need he or she feels to pray about having food to eat. Do you think some more basic talk about this issue would provide any needed clarification, for the beneift of believers and non believers? Thanks. All the best.
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Actually, not really. In the Lord’s Prayer / Our Father, we petition our Heveanly Father to, “give us this day our daily bread…” Threfore, the food before me at a meal is, in a real sense, an answered prayer . For which I give thanks. “Bless, oh Lord, these gifts of thy bountiful kindness…”. etc

Jon
 
I’ve never thought about it. Yes there are alot of people involved but the praise will always be for our Lord. I guess we should be thanking God for all that help make it possible for us to eat and drink.

Thanks for your reply. You say you have never thought about it before. I think you would agree more basic talk among us would provide needed clarification. Your reply is very enlightening.
 
JonNC said:
Actually, not really. In the Lord’s Prayer / Our Father, we petition our Heveanly Father to, “give us this day our daily bread…” Threfore, the food before me at a meal is, in a real sense, an answered prayer . For which I give thanks. “Bless, oh Lord, these gifts of thy bountiful kindness…”. etc

Jon
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Yes, I hear you. Thanks. Nice to talk about these things.

Josh RP
 
Thanks for your reply. You say you have never thought about it before. I think you would agree more basic talk among us would provide needed clarification. Your reply is very enlightening.

Talk is always good. but I think that by giving God praise He in return blesses those that prepare our food for us. IMO.
 
maximus said:
When I pray it is merely thanking God that the food in front of me is available for my consumption. A little confused about you question, I guess asking for blessings for those involved in the process of growing, cooking, etc is not a bad idea.

God Bless
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I sense your understanding is that it is not so much what you actually say in your prayers but rather the degree of thinking which motivates your need to pray, in thanksgiving.

Josh RP
 
kimg901 said:
Thanks for your reply. You say you have never thought about it before. I think you would agree more basic talk among us would provide needed clarification. Your reply is very enlightening.

Talk is always good. but I think that by giving God praise He in return blesses those that prepare our food for us. IMO.
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Yes, I agree. God has certainly been keeping food production going, at least for those of us who have it in our part of the world.
Josh RP
 
Josh_RP said:
For example, do you think about where the food comes from, in the first place? Who makes it grow, and who works at it to bring it to you, and whether you, personally, had anything to do with its production and its delivery and presentation to you? Are these some of the things which may run through your mind when you pray?
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Personally I think of those in our world who do not have the benefit of enough food to eat, remember them in my prayer, and thank God that I am fortunate enough to have been given food to eat.
 
Nice thread!

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. I am very absent minded and sometimes I say in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and forget to cross myself :o. However, It is always said at the beginning and the end of the prayer.

As for being self-conscious about. I’ll admit sometimes I am, but I keep this in my heart:

[bibledrb]Luke 9:26[/bibledrb]

God Bless.

Jose
 
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