Praying before meal (Catholic)

[victasoft]

hi i’m new in this forum and i am not sure whether u have to pray before meal. I asked my mum, who is not religious and she said i don’t need to. I have yet to ask my father. However, all my family have no practices so far of praying before meal.

And recently i had a dream that told me to pray before meal - In it i said sorry and i will pray and a bit later i then woke up. (i am not sure if that is really a message from God to me and i am kinda frustrated lately) Can anyone please lend i help. I’m Catholic, by the way.

thanks, everyone

 

[uxordepp]

Scripture tells us to ‘pray constantly’ so yes we are to pray before meals, and during meals and after meals…

There are actually ‘graces’ (fixed prayers) that one may use before meals. A popular one is “Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen”

There are also special prayers to say after meals, although I can’t say I’ve ever heard one done.

Specific to meals though…we need to be reminded of God’s goodness to provide for us, as well as the work of those who provided and prepared the meal. When you are out of the home, it may be even more important to pray as you are completely trusting whomever prepared the meal.

 

[A1600]

Don’t you wish to thank God for your food. I say grace before I drink water because I know there are people who are less fortunate. I want to thank God for all I have and as a Catholic you should too. If it were not for God that food would not be there. God Bless You!

 

[Faira21]

hi i’m new in this forum and i am not sure whether u have to pray before meal. I asked my mum, who is not religious and she said i don’t need to. I have yet to ask my father. However, all my family have no practices so far of praying before meal.

And recently i had a dream that told me to pray before meal - In it i said sorry and i will pray and a bit later i then woke up. (i am not sure if that is really a message from God to me and i am kinda frustrated lately) Can anyone please lend i help. I’m Catholic, by the way.

thanks, everyone

I think it is very good to pray before meals

I am guilty of not always doing so, but even a sign of the cross and some form of thanks is great.

I think it is possible that the dream could be a sign. Not that we are to take dreams so seriously that we start looking for answers to things in them, but on something so simple and in line with the faith I think it could possibly be a message to get prayin’

I once read that Padre Pio told this man to always make the sign of the cross before he started any kind of work, because he felt that was important. If that is the case, it is probably the same with food - important to give some sign of thanks and blessing

 

[victasoft]

I think it is very good to pray before meals

I am guilty of not always doing so, but even a sign of the cross and some form of thanks is great.

I think it is possible that the dream could be a sign. Not that we are to take dreams so seriously that we start looking for answers to things in them, but on something so simple and in line with the faith I think it could possibly be a message to get prayin’

I once read that Padre Pio told this man to always make the sign of the cross before he started any kind of work, because he felt that was important. If that is the case, it is probably the same with food - important to give some sign of thanks and blessing

First of all, thank you for your answer; and also for the other answers, too – I really appreciate them. However, when u say that the dream’s may be a “message to get praying”, can i do that at night, cause that’s what i sometimes do (although i frequently forgot to)? Do you think i can do that instead, cause the dream seems to tell me to pray precisely before meal and i am worried that i would be commiting sins if i don’t exactly follow the dream. Also, do you think i am also commiting sins for feeling kind of “scared” to pray before meal cause i would often get told off by my mum and brother (both are not catholic)for kind of being too religious. I know they don’t want to be very rude to me but i’m just thinking about praying at nights instead. Do you think i’m commiting sins for getting this feeling?

thank you :l

 

[Faira21]

First of all, thank you for your answer; and also for the other answers, too – I really appreciate them. However, when u say that the dream’s may be a “message to get praying”, can i do that at night, cause that’s what i sometimes do (although i frequently forgot to)? Do you think i can do that instead, cause the dream seems to tell me to pray precisely before meal and i am worried that i would be commiting sins if i don’t exactly follow the dream. Also, do you think i am also commiting sins for feeling kind of “scared” to pray before meal cause i would often get told off by my mum and brother (both are not catholic)for kind of being too religious. I know they don’t want to be very rude to me but i’m just thinking about praying at nights instead. Do you think i’m commiting sins for getting this feeling?

thank you :l

You are welcome

I do not think it is a sin for having those feelings or not following the dream. I am not a priest, but in my lay opinion I do not think so. I mean, dreams are dreams and we are not obligated to follow them as far as I know. And we have to be careful not to see them as oracles dishing out suggestions that we need to follow. But I think it was a nice suggestion nevertheless - even if it was in a dream.

Praying at night is great. Everyone should pray at night. I pray at night just laying bed.

You could always pray silently to yourself before your meals. You can mentally make the sign of the cross before eating and say a silent prayer of thanks to God. That way no one knows but you. Your family does not have to know at all. You do not even have to “silently pause” - you can say thanks before going to eat, or while you are being handed your food, or even while you are putting your napkin on your lap or picking up your utensils…no one has to know

Try it that way - so no one knows

I hope that helps.

 

[TeenageConvert]

hi i’m new in this forum and i am not sure whether u have to pray before meal. I asked my mum, who is not religious and she said i don’t need to. I have yet to ask my father. However, all my family have no practices so far of praying before meal.

And recently i had a dream that told me to pray before meal - In it i said sorry and i will pray and a bit later i then woke up. (i am not sure if that is really a message from God to me and i am kinda frustrated lately) Can anyone please lend i help. I’m Catholic, by the way.

thanks, everyone

well, in my family we were/are always taught to “say the blessing” before we ate.(my family is protestant though, Methodist&Baptist), the prayer is “Lord bless this food for the nurishment of our bodies and our bodies to your service and grant that we may feast in paradise with you. In Jesus’ name amen.”.

When I eat by myself, or when we’re not eating at the table together I just say the Catholic “†bless us lord andd these thy gifts which we are about to receive through the bounty of christ our Lord. Amen.†”

 

[victasoft]

You are welcome

I do not think it is a sin for having those feelings or not following the dream. I am not a priest, but in my lay opinion I do not think so. I mean, dreams are dreams and we are not obligated to follow them as far as I know. And we have to be careful not to see them as oracles dishing out suggestions that we need to follow. But I think it was a nice suggestion nevertheless - even if it was in a dream.

Praying at night is great. Everyone should pray at night. I pray at night just laying bed.

You could always pray silently to yourself before your meals. You can mentally make the sign of the cross before eating and say a silent prayer of thanks to God. That way no one knows but you. Your family does not have to know at all. You do not even have to “silently pause” - you can say thanks before going to eat, or while you are being handed your food, or even while you are putting your napkin on your lap or picking up your utensils…no one has to know

Try it that way - so no one knows

I hope that helps.

Thanks again for everybody for everything. it’s nice to have at least somebody to talk to about my problem. As suggested by Faira 21, i have tried praying to myself at meals before. However, deep inside my heart, it seems like i’m like hiding my prayers from my family, which in a way is correct. Therefore, to me this means like i am kind of denying or betraying God, which is also sin. Do anybody of u thik it’s a sin?

Again, thanks for all people’s answers; i feel much better now after having a sleep just then. thanks

P>S> I LIKE CATHOLIC ANSWERS!!!

 

[marica_mandic]

hi i’m new in this forum and i am not sure whether u have to pray before meal. I asked my mum, who is not religious and she said i don’t need to. I have yet to ask my father. However, all my family have no practices so far of praying before meal.

And recently i had a dream that told me to pray before meal - In it i said sorry and i will pray and a bit later i then woke up. (i am not sure if that is really a message from God to me and i am kinda frustrated lately) Can anyone please lend i help. I’m Catholic, by the way.

thanks, everyone

I do not pray before meal, but you have dreamed beautiful dream, I wish I have dreamed that too. If I were you I will pray before meal, and I will pray before meal too from today.

 

[Christine85]

I absolutely love this thankful attitude!!!

Don’t you wish to thank God for your food. I say grace before I drink water because I know there are people who are less fortunate. I want to thank God for all I have and as a Catholic you should too. If it were not for God that food would not be there. God Bless You!

 

[Faira21]

Thanks again for everybody for everything. it’s nice to have at least somebody to talk to about my problem. As suggested by Faira 21, i have tried praying to myself at meals before. However, deep inside my heart, it seems like i’m like hiding my prayers from my family, which in a way is correct. Therefore, to me this means like i am kind of denying or betraying God, which is also sin. Do anybody of u thik it’s a sin?

Again, thanks for all people’s answers; i feel much better now after having a sleep just then. thanks

P>S> I LIKE CATHOLIC ANSWERS!!!

Hi!

I do not think it is a sin, but like I said, I am not a priest.

One person in a family can do a great deal of good for others by their example.

For example, my mother fell away from the faith but when I came back to it, I spent a lot of time sharing with her the faith. She started going back to Mass as a result. She is becoming more religious/spiritual too as the years pass, which I find wonderful.

I did everything - I sent her a Catechism when I was not at home, books on the faith, I talked to her about it. I had Masses said for her. I remember one time a priest told her something that was so wrong, and I spent the longest time with her that night trying to show her how wrong he was. (She can sometimes be one of those “if everyone is doing it, it must be ok” types so sometimes I really have to ger her to THINK.)

I have hashed and re-hashed with her so many things about the faith when she has doubts.

Pray about it. I think if you end up praying in front of your family at meals, it could possibly be a wonderful thing. It may be hard at first, but who knows? Maybe bit by bit and little by little your actions and devotions can lead them to faith.

If they see you praying, they may want to join you some day. Or question you why, which is a great chance to share with them and evangelize.

The first time I wore a mantilla in front of my mom at Church, she said to me afterwards that she thought it was silly because “no one else was doing it.” I remember she said “you can see that you are the only one - no one else is doing.” She thought it was silly.

But over time, she saw more people doing it. She even thought of getting one but backed out. But I think she at least does not see it as “silly” as she originally thought.

Pray about it

 

[victasoft]

Thanks for all the help offered, especially faira21 - i would start praying before meal now!

Just one more question, though, how much would a normal person pray each day? Lately, i ahve found myself praying alot - like i am praying in average maybe once every hour or something like that; then my mum and bro sometimes saw wat i did and would ask me what i was doing; in return, for a few times, i said “Oh, Nothing”. I know i am denying God in this way and i am trying to stop myself from doing so each time, praying to God to forgive me and tell him i would try my best not to commit this sin again. However, for a few times, i have done it once again. I hope God would forgive me again, and i think he would, cause i heard that he would forgive everyone if they’re really sorry for their sin, and i am, but always fail to stop doing it. Anyway, so do you think i am praying kinda too much for a cathoclic? thanks once again.:bowdown2::bowdown2:

 

[victasoft]

Hi!

I do not think it is a sin, but like I said, I am not a priest.

One person in a family can do a great deal of good for others by their example.

For example, my mother fell away from the faith but when I came back to it, I spent a lot of time sharing with her the faith. She started going back to Mass as a result. She is becoming more religious/spiritual too as the years pass, which I find wonderful.

I did everything - I sent her a Catechism when I was not at home, books on the faith, I talked to her about it. I had Masses said for her. I remember one time a priest told her something that was so wrong, and I spent the longest time with her that night trying to show her how wrong he was. (She can sometimes be one of those “if everyone is doing it, it must be ok” types so sometimes I really have to ger her to THINK.)

I have hashed and re-hashed with her so many things about the faith when she has doubts.

Pray about it. I think if you end up praying in front of your family at meals, it could possibly be a wonderful thing. It may be hard at first, but who knows? Maybe bit by bit and little by little your actions and devotions can lead them to faith.

If they see you praying, they may want to join you some day. Or question you why, which is a great chance to share with them and evangelize.

The first time I wore a mantilla in front of my mom at Church, she said to me afterwards that she thought it was silly because “no one else was doing it.” I remember she said “you can see that you are the only one - no one else is doing.” She thought it was silly.

But over time, she saw more people doing it. She even thought of getting one but backed out. But I think she at least does not see it as “silly” as she originally thought.

Pray about it

Hey, thanks for answering so much questions that i have. i would like to congratulate you for having so much faith in God and in yourself too, seeing that you would believe in yourself when you wear the mantilla. GOd bless you!

From now on, i will start praying IN FRONT of my famiily. Like what you have suggested, i hope that, through this, my mum and brother would find their faith to God, which is a thing that i have hoped for for a long, long time.

Oh yeah, but i’m just wondering, should i pray to myself instead. This time, i am not scared for the presence of my family, but rather worried that God would not like it. That’s because i heard that God likes his followers to pray humbily to God and do not need to purposely show other people that they’re praying. I know that i’m not showig other people the act of praying on purpose and so i reckon that praying in front of people is OK. What do you think?

Also, if you have time, can you read through my post above too if u have time, thank you so much!

thansk once again. My God bless u!

 

[Glennonite]

"

Oh yeah, but i’m just wondering, should i pray to myself instead. This time, i am not scared for the presence of my family, but rather worried that God would not like it. That’s because i heard that God likes his followers to pray humbily to God and do not need to purposely show other people that they’re praying. I know that i’m not showig other people the act of praying on purpose and so i reckon that praying in front of people is OK. What do you think?

"
Great question(s). I’ve enjoyed reading them and the responses. I generally give a simple bow of my head and the Sign of the Cross when in public or in a situation where some might have a problem with a prayer before a meal. (As when at a resturant). It doesn’t take but a moment to give God a little thanks for his bounty.

After all, I’m not trying to preach to anyone, nor do I want to make an issue that would put people off. On the other hand, no one should have a problem with someone taking a short private pause before a meal; the Sign of the Cross shouldn’t bother anyone either. I’ve seen more obnoxious behavior at the table.

Maybe someone will inquire about what I am doing, and that would be they who are bringing up the subject (hardly offensive or bothersome to respond to a conversational question).

It’s a free country.

Glennonite

 

[Mayita30]

Prayer before Meals:

Bless us O’ Lord
With these Thy gifts
Which we are about to receive
From Thy Bounty
Through Christ Our Lord
Amen.

 

[The_Old_Medic]

Is it absolutely require? No

It is strongly recommended however. One should always give thanks to God before eating.

The most common prayer before meals in the USA is: "Bless us Oh Lord, for these thy gifts, which we have received from they bounty, through Christ Our Lord. Amen

 

[cradlecatholic5]

yes, always taught to pray before meals and do. I’ve taught my children and taught them to pray in wherever they are … i.e., restaurant, park, alone, etc.

Thankfully, it comes second nature to us.

 

[Faira21]

Thanks for all the help offered, especially faira21 - i would start praying before meal now!

Just one more question, though, how much would a normal person pray each day? Lately, i ahve found myself praying alot - like i am praying in average maybe once every hour or something like that; then my mum and bro sometimes saw wat i did and would ask me what i was doing; in return, for a few times, i said “Oh, Nothing”. I know i am denying God in this way and i am trying to stop myself from doing so each time, praying to God to forgive me and tell him i would try my best not to commit this sin again. However, for a few times, i have done it once again. I hope God would forgive me again, and i think he would, cause i heard that he would forgive everyone if they’re really sorry for their sin, and i am, but always fail to stop doing it. Anyway, so do you think i am praying kinda too much for a cathoclic? thanks once again.:bowdown2::bowdown2:

Hi again,

I was out of town for a few days - I just saw your posts

I am not sure what would be the best answer, but I do know that Padre Pio prayed the rosary constantly. And in the Bible it says to pray always. So I do not think anyone can pray too much, but then again it probably depends on every situation.

For example, if you need to be working but instead you are in church praying, that could be a problem.

I hope I understood the question correctly.

It sounds as though you may have a great affinity for prayer. Are there any good cloistered contemplatives in your area? Maybe you could meet one on the parlor of their monastery to talk to them about prayer.

 

[Faira21]

Hey, thanks for answering so much questions that i have. i would like to congratulate you for having so much faith in God and in yourself too, seeing that you would believe in yourself when you wear the mantilla. GOd bless you!

From now on, i will start praying IN FRONT of my famiily. Like what you have suggested, i hope that, through this, my mum and brother would find their faith to God, which is a thing that i have hoped for for a long, long time.

Oh yeah, but i’m just wondering, should i pray to myself instead. This time, i am not scared for the presence of my family, but rather worried that God would not like it. That’s because i heard that God likes his followers to pray humbily to God and do not need to purposely show other people that they’re praying. I know that i’m not showig other people the act of praying on purpose and so i reckon that praying in front of people is OK. What do you think?

Also, if you have time, can you read through my post above too if u have time, thank you so much!

thansk once again. My God bless u!

You are welcome

Well, you could tell them that you want to pray before meals and that you would really like it if they joined you, that it would mean a lot to you to have them share that with you.

That way it would be clear that you want them to join you.

Just don’t be too scrupulous about it. If you find yourself going in circles about what is the best direction, don’t be afraid to speak with a good priest or religioius.

Hope everything is going well!

 

[jchoffman]

I think it is always good to pray, and as many of you have stated, we should pray before meals, my family always has prayed :
Bless us O’Lord for these thy gifts
which we are about to receive
from thy bounty
through Christ our Lord
Amen.

Then in my family, we either say the Our Father, or Hail Mary. then we ask for individual prayers for the day.