Prayer while in restaurant

[Scott]

I usually bow my head and pray a short prayer. Sometimes I cross myself.

 

[Church_Militant]

I could pretty well care less what anyone else thinks and most Christians will bless their food before eating. I just simply carry it out as part of the meal. It’s not for show, it’s for my soul and that’s all that matters. I have never had anyone say they objected and if they did it wouldn’t matter anyway.
They can’t kill us…and they sure can’t eat us.
Pax vobiscum,

 

[DaveBj]

DaveBj:

SU and I cross ourselves, and I pray out loud (but not ostentatiously), and then we cross ourselves again.

DaveBj

I forgot to mention that here in the South it’s very common to see people praying over their food in restaurants. And it’s not a commentary on the cooking, either

DaveBj

 

[rkberlin]

Thanks all for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I agree with most of what you all said, that’s why I’m so torn. I usually bow my head and say a quiet prayer, but the other day, I had my LDS friend with me, we’re in a Mexican restaurant and next thing I know, she looks at me and goes" what?" I asked “what " back, I guess she was waiting for me to say a prayer. it was awkward. I asked if she was wating for me to bless the food, but she adamently shook her head, like " oh good grief, NO!”. Anyway…I just said it quietly, even though I should’ve crossed myself I guess. But you also have to understand the cultural background: I’m German, we don’t grow up being outspoken about faith or religion, you just DO it, but more in private, not like Americans do it. I love the way Americans talk about their faith, completely unheard of in Germany. You wouldn’t find someone in front of a hospital with a crucifix or rosary, praying for a stranger. I’m not trying to make excuses, I was just raised differently when it comes to dealing with religion. It’s the deeds you do as a Catholic that matter, not you professing your faith to everybody, that’s how my mom raised me, and she’s an active Catholic. Ok, I’m now rambling, don’t know how the restaurant discussion turned into that, but anyway… Thanks for everybody’s (name removed by moderator)ut and suggestions

 

[Church_Militant]

DaveBj:

I forgot to mention that here in the South it’s very common to see people praying over their food in restaurants. **And it’s not a commentary on the cooking, either **

DaveBj

Most of the time anyway…right?

 

[Church_Militant]

rkberlin:

Thanks all for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I agree with most of what you all said, that’s why I’m so torn. I usually bow my head and say a quiet prayer, but the other day, I had my LDS friend with me, we’re in a Mexican restaurant and next thing I know, she looks at me and goes" what?" I asked “what " back, I guess she was waiting for me to say a prayer. it was awkward. I asked if she was wating for me to bless the food, but she adamently shook her head, like " oh good grief, NO!”. Anyway…I just said it quietly, even though I should’ve crossed myself I guess. But you also have to understand the cultural background: I’m German, we don’t grow up being outspoken about faith or religion, you just DO it, but more in private, not like Americans do it. I love the way Americans talk about their faith, completely unheard of in Germany. You wouldn’t find someone in front of a hospital with a crucifix or rosary, praying for a stranger. I’m not trying to make excuses, I was just raised differently when it comes to dealing with religion. It’s the deeds you do as a Catholic that matter, not you professing your faith to everybody, that’s how my mom raised me, and she’s an active Catholic. Ok, I’m now rambling, don’t know how the restaurant discussion turned into that, but anyway… Thanks for everybody’s (name removed by moderator)ut and suggestions

Y’know…this is one of the greatest aspects of being a Catholic. The fact that wherever you go in the world, the catholics in that place are likely to have culturalized the faith in small and most times very precious ways. It’s not weaker…just a little different… Contrast our German brethren with my own Irish cultural Catholics. WOW! :irish1:
Glory Be To God

 

[Jennifer123]

serendipity:

Why would you think this?

I honestly believe that we are in endtimes, and there’s a great possibility that “overt” expressions of one’s religious piety will be either outlawed or used against us. This is probably a subject for another thread if there’s any disagreement or discussion wanted.

God Bless!!!

 

[jimmytoes]

rkberlin:

It’s the deeds you do as a Catholic that matter, not you professing your faith to everybody, that’s how my mom raised me, and she’s an active Catholic. Ok, I’m now rambling, don’t know how the restaurant discussion turned into that, but anyway… Thanks for everybody’s (name removed by moderator)ut and suggestions

Yep, both ways work: The Dominicans (Order of Preachers) were formed to go out and preach. The Franciscians were formed to go out and evangelize. In both cases, sometimes they used words, and always actions.

 

[jimmytoes]

Jennifer123:

I honestly believe that we are in endtimes, and there’s a great possibility that “overt” expressions of one’s religious piety will be either outlawed or used against us. This is probably a subject for another thread if there’s any disagreement or discussion wanted.

God Bless!!!

There was a recent Thread, but it didn’t get very far. There are some “Catholic” end times sites…
The Three days of Darkness
Also…
The End Days
Interesting, but don’t get caught up in it… Pray, Hope and Don’t Worry!

 

[Fitz]

DaveBj:

I forgot to mention that here in the South it’s very common to see people praying over their food in restaurants. And it’s not a commentary on the cooking, either
DaveBj

I think that is one of the best aspects of the South, for they are usually unafraid to profess their faith. They are truely good examples. We in the North get too upthight over these things and I don’t know why.

 

[BlestOne]

I promise to you this is a true story…
Every Friday we trek the kids to our local McDonalds for dinner. We always put kids at one table and adults at another. When my fiance and I deliver the food, we set it out and then my fiance and I stand at the kids table and say prayers with the kids. After we are done the “Bless us oh Lord” the kids(ages 18, 15, 13 and 9) all say “thank you Jesus for our food” and then cross themselves. We usually are ignored by other patrons, sometimes people watch or giggle but we don’t care. After prayer one day, a man came over to our table and thanked us for reminding him and his family that prayers are important even in public. We were stunned needless to say, but the very next day we were in a hurry to go do something so we took the kids to Arby’s for lunch before heading out to do all our errands. After we said prayers and began to eat, we started quizzing the kids about the different mysteries…What are the Glorious mysteries? etc… The man at the next table got a funny look on his face then went out to his van and came back with teeshirts for us all, He didn’t speak English well but in his broken English he said, “Please take these shirts we offer to express our graditude” When I looked at them, I noticed that they were in Spanish and they said something about a celebration (fiesta) of life and included the date of a festival in Mexico. We do not pray to get things or attention. We have always insisted on praying before meals no matter where we are, but inadvertantly we have provided a good example for other christians to follow and we are happy God has chosen to use us this way.

 

[CanonAlberic]

No problem at all with saying Grace before a meal at a restaurant, I normally do this. However, families screaming/singing prayers @ the top of their lungs, followed by loud condemnations of the waiter (earrings) or waitress (skirt too short) , followed by sending the kids around the restaurant armed with pamphlets and vacant-eyed “God bless-you’s” :whacky: (I refused the pamphlet and told the kid to ask his parents about Anton LaVay!) is a little bit much! Yes, I’ve witnessed antics like this on more than one occasion.

Peace.
The Canon (Who once had to console a waitress girlfriend, because after 3 hours of serving the most obnoxious party of 15 imaginable, all they left her were Chick tracts for a tip.)

 

[Marialis_Cultus]

rkberlin:

I was always wondering: how do you say your prayer before your meal while you’re in a restaurant with co-workers who don’t share your faith? Here’s my dilemma: I try and bow my head a little and say a quick prayer, but I don’t feel like I’m really doing a good job, it’s like I’m almost embarrassed that they might notice I say a prayer. One of the girls I went with the other day even made the sign of the cross before she ate, but I don’t dare. Is it stupid to feel that way? I feel guilty like I’m ashamed of my belief in our Saviour, which I SHOULDN’T be or have to be. Any suggestions?
Thanks

I find it is easier to pray aloud in a restaurant if I am with other Catholics but if I’m the only Catholic I bow my head and do a quick sign of the cross. I don’t really feel like I’m ashamed it’s more like I don’t want others to think “Oh there’s Miss Holier than thou praying”. I know I shouldn’t care what others think. This is something I must get over.

 

[VWcrazy]

I remember when I was growing up, we were told it wasn’t necessary to to make the Sign of the Cross in restuarants because it was a public setting.

But a few years ago, I was reading the local diocesan newspaper and there was a quote from an African cardinal concerning saying the Grace before Meals and making the Sign of the Cross. He said, “We shouldn’t flaunt our religion, but we shouldn’t hide it either.” From that moment on, I have always made the Sign of the Cross and said Grace before Meals.

I honestly believe when about 95% of non-Catholics who see us say these prayers respect us for our devotion and are given a moment to pause and reflect on their own Faith.

 

[Augustine]

VWcrazy:

I honestly believe when about 95% of non-Catholics who see us say these prayers respect us for our devotion and are given a moment to pause and reflect on their own Faith.

This reminds me of St. Francis, who would “preach” in the town square by walking about in his habit. He said that his habit was a reminder to others about Jesus.

We should never hide our faith, for we may be missing opportunities to preach the Gospel in a Franciscan way.

But I confess that I too don’t cross myself and propably disguise my saying of Grace so well that not even those sitting beside me notice.

May God give us the grace of being His witnesses.

 

[LynnieLew]

Our family will always say a blessing before meals, whether we are in public or not. Regardless of where we are we like to thank God for the food. Praying in public, especially with the Sign of the Cross allows us to evangelize.

One time, after my husband and I prayed while out to eat, a woman came up to us and said how wonderful it was to see Catholics pray at meal time.

When we pray humbly we don’t do it to bring attention to ourselves-we do it to bring attention to God.

Veritas!

 

[Jennifer123]

LynnieLew:

When we pray humbly we don’t do it to bring attention to ourselves-we do it to bring attention to God.

Veritas!

AMEN!!!

 

[lindamar]

My husband and I always pray before meals and make the sign of the cross, whether we are in a restuarant or in the home of friends who do not happen to be Catholic. We had Thanksgiving dinner with the family of a friend of my husband’s. His friend’s father is a pastor of a non-denominational church. His father said the blessing and my husband and I bowed our heads and at the end of the blessing we both did the sign of the cross. If anyone else in the room noticed, they did not acknowledge the fact. We are always proud of our faith and are not ashamed to show it.

I believe it is what is in your heart that counts. If you feel comfortable making the sign of the cross, do so. If not, then don’t. The Lord knows what is in your heart and making or not making the sign of the cross does not change what is in your heart.

 

[slinky1882]

I do the Sign of the Cross and bow my head slighty with eyes closed. I have found that if done respectfully the prayer may open doors to discuss the Faith and do not annoy others. Thanks and God bless.

 

[NotWorthy]

I heard the most wonderful story the other day. Some kids from our local Catholic High School went out to eat at a restaurant before their Jr./Sr. prom. While at the restaurant, they all said a prayer before their meal. Another patron of the restaurant was so moved by the kids show of faith, that he paid for all their meals!