Praying in Public before Meal?! matthew 6,6

[Iobi]

HI!
I am catholic since a child,
but have a new raised interest and faith since a few years.

I ask myself often if I shall pray also in public or at work before
I eat something.
Sometimes people looking kind of strange when I do the sign of the cross.

Also in Matthew 6,6 jesus says:
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.

So isnt it “a little too much praying at work/public everytime before meal?”

Is it enough to pray some thankful words for himself witout the sign of the cross?

 

[SandraAnn]

I find myself in the exact same position! Sometimes I do make the sign of the cross & other times, I just chicken our!

Let’s pray for one another, that we gain the courage to publicly profess our faith. You never know, we could influence some other Catholics out there without even knowing it!

 

[JohnMPhilomena]

I think the verse that you quoted was aimed at those who WANTED to be seen praying in public so they could appear pious.

In your case, you are praying because you truly want to give thanks for your food.

I think it’s ok either way - to pray with or without making the sign of the cross when in public.

 

[ahs]

^^ Yes, that. Jesus is telling us not to be like those who stand on the corners praying aloud trying to make themselves look holy and important. Put Matt 6:6 in its proper context:

“Beware of practicing your piety before others **in order to be seen **by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So whenever you give alms, **do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do **in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Mt 6:1-6, emphasis mine)

Praying at a restaurant or at work to bless your meal can be a great way to witness to the Faith. The fact that you might feel as though you may appear strange to others is a good sign that you aren’t doing it for the attention, as the hypocrites do…but rather out of humility, which is a virtue.

 

[Elisabeth51]

^^ Yes, that. Jesus is telling us not to be like those who stand on the corners praying aloud trying to make themselves look holy and important. Put Matt 6:6 in its proper context:

“Beware of practicing your piety before others **in order to be seen **by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So whenever you give alms, **do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do **in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Mt 6:1-6, emphasis mine)

Praying at a restaurant or at work to bless your meal can be a great way to witness to the Faith. The fact that you might feel as though you may appear strange to others is a good sign that you aren’t doing it for the attention, as the hypocrites do…but rather out of humility, which is a virtue.

That…and quoting my primary school English teacher: “Context, ladies, context”

 

[DaveBj]

There is a difference between quietly bowing the head, making the sign of the cross, and blessing one’s food, on one hand, and standing up at the table and making a big deal out of it, on the other hand. It’s all wrapped up in whether one simply want’s to bless one’s food or call public attention to the fact that, “Hey, I’m about to pray here!”

On the other hand, I have heard stories of people who loudly blessed their food in restaurants, to beneficial effects for the others in their hearing.