Saying grace in public?

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I’m ashamed to say I don’t say grace in public, and rarely at home. It’s not something we did growing up and and I guess I never got in the habit.

About saying grace in public, I occasionally have lunch with a friend (Christian, non-Catholic) who always says grace privately before eating. He simply says a quiet “excuse me a moment” because we’re usually talking when the food arrives. The first time that happened I thought he had indigestion or something. It took me a minute to realize what he was doing! 😛
 
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seagal:
I’m ashamed to say I don’t say grace in public, and rarely at home. It’s not something we did growing up and and I guess I never got in the habit.
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Yes, this is me too. :o But I’m REALLY trying to change this.
I think its fun though when you are sitting with a table full of non-christians and as they are diving in to their food your hands are still in your lap, you bow your head, pray silently and then make a big huge cross, pick up your head and say…“Yeah! Lets eat!”
The looks on peoples faces is fun. Religion can be fun 😃
 
We always make the sign of the cross and give thanks outloud. God is your judge, not the people around that sometimes stare. God bless,
maggiec
 
I’d say 3/4th of the time when I’m saying grace, I’m usually alone with my food…so saying it in public really is no different.
 
why not? it’s an expression of our faith… though I admit at times may seem awkward… For 1 thing… we are witnessing and I believe Jesus want us to let Him be known to others too… rite??
 
I always say grace and cross myself before a meal be it in public with a group or by myself.
 
Although I don’t always say grace in public there have been times when I have - usually with groups of Christains who are not catholics 😃 . I eat out often and I can honestly say I have only ever seen people saying grace in public a couple of times and they were the groups I was with.
I think in Scotland people are very reserved about public displays of anything emotional or religious. We are a very reserved nation. :hmmm:
 
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Elzee:
What’s a smaller cross?
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In the old days people just made a cross on their forehead (like you would do on Ash Wed, except without the ashes). When the early Christians were in jail with their hands tied up, they made the sign of the cross by crossing their fingers. These days, though, a smaller cross generally just means not reaching all the way to your shoulders.
 
I must say that I’m not consistant about this. It depends on the situation. If we are eating out with people who we know do not say grace, my husband and I pray silently before we eat. If they are praying Christians, we offer grace. If we’re alone we are pretty good now about making the sign of the cross and saying grace. We always say grace at home no matter who is eating over, it’s our home after all! But when we are at other people’s home, if they don’t pray, we offer a silent grace. How do you handle that situation? I have a brother-in-law that will stop everyone and say grace no matter what the occasion. I’m not always comfortable with that.:o
 
Actually, this is one of the goals I have for this Lenten season- to say grace before every meal that I eat. And while I do say grace, even in public, it depends on the situation whether or not I will say it out loud and whether I will cross myself. At school I normally say grace silently, and depending on who I’m sitting with, cross myself afterwords. If I’m eating out with my best friend, we’ll both usually verbally say grace as well as crossing ourselves. At home, I say grace silently w/o crossing myself, as to not offend my family.
 
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Vittorio23:
Actually, this is one of the goals I have for this Lenten season- to say grace before every meal that I eat. And while I do say grace, even in public, it depends on the situation whether or not I will say it out loud and whether I will cross myself. At school I normally say grace silently, and depending on who I’m sitting with, cross myself afterwords. If I’m eating out with my best friend, we’ll both usually verbally say grace as well as crossing ourselves. At home, I say grace silently w/o crossing myself, as to not offend my family.
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Why would praying to your Savior offend your family?
 
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maggiec:
Why would praying to your Savior offend your family?
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It’s a tough situation at home- my parents are not Catholic (well, neither am I for that matter, but on may to becoming Catholic) and it’s just best, for the sake of family peace, that I not “flaunt” my beliefs, as they would have it.
 
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Vittorio23:
It’s a tough situation at home- my parents are not Catholic (well, neither am I for that matter, but on may to becoming Catholic) and it’s just best, for the sake of family peace, that I not “flaunt” my beliefs, as they would have it.
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I understand your feelings. I will add you to my daily prayers that you will find, with God’s grace, your way home.
God bless you on your journey.
maggiec
 
We say grace in public, but my wife still struggles with it.

Unlike at home, we then don’t give the hands, but we do cross ourselves and speak softly.

We started just about a year ago, but I’m being a bit maverick leading grace in public, for the rest of my family would just drop it. 😦

However, when I’m by myself eating in public, I don’t cross myself, just silently say grace with the head bowed. I’m a chicken! :eek:

:blessyou:
 
when in public I usally make the small cross (tracing it on my forehead) and silently saying grace.😉
If I’m with a group of Catholic friends, we say it outloud:D
 
I still feel awkward in some occasions that i do it but i’m always reminded and feared this verse" Mark 8:38." For he that shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

In His time, we will spiritually grow out of this “awkwardness” or is it really pride?
 
I am burdened with an anxiety disorder which is really sad since the anxiety can at times relate to things that are good to do. Meaning, I am so afraid that someone will notice it if I pray or make the sign of the cross that it takes a lot of effort for me to do so. It took the longest time before I felt comfortble going to mass but thankfully, that fear is minimized now and I feel comfortable going.

That being said, I also wish I siad grace more. Unfortuntely I rarely say grace even while not in public. In fact, I only say grace when I am eating with other Catholics when we get together. It is really sad by my family never ate together or said grace the few times any of us did so it never was taught to me. Therefore it is a habit that was never formed. I think I will try to make an effort to remember for now on.
 
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kage_ar:
Perhaps this will help get past that pride. We were eating with friends in a very busy restaurant. We prayed (all making the Sign of the Cross). During the meal, a person who was working clearing tables came up to my friend. In very broken English, the worker said “Catholic” while making the Sign of the Cross.

Turns out this woman had been in the country a couple of months, and did not know how to find the Catholic Church, and did not know anyone to ask. When she saw us pray, she knew we were Catholic. We were able to get her in touch with our Parish, and tell her what time there was a Mass in her language!

This is was a very big, very busy restaurant. She had worked there for a few weeks - how many other Catholics could have helped her out? I will never ever again be ashamed to cross myself in a restaurant.
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That is so awesome.
Like OriontheHunter I have avoided making the cross, not out of embarassment, because I talk about these things freely, but to avoid putting on a big show. Hmm, I have to think about this s’more…
 
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