Latin Table Blessings

Most Catholics pray a short ‘grace’ before meals, while some also pray when the meal is complete. This article will look at common Latin table blessings, explaining the origin of ‘grace’ and some versions of these prayers.

To go straight to the prayers, click here.

History of Table Blessings

Table blessings, both before and after a meal, have existed since Old Testament times, for example, grace after meals is mentioned in the book of Deuteronomy: That when thou hast eaten, and art full, thou mayst bless the Lord thy God for the excellent land which he hath given thee (Deut. 8:10).

Our Lord Himself blessed food before he ate, as in St. John’s account of the miracle of the loaves and fishes: And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. (John 6:11).

In the Book at Acts, St. Paul exhorts the Christians to eat after a long fast, suggesting that the bread mentioned here is not a reference to the Holy Eucharist: And when he had said these things, taking bread, he gave thanks to God in the sight of them all; and when he had broken it, he began to eat. (Acts 27:35)

Table blessings were practiced in the monasteries, and early Rules stated that each dish was to be blessed separately before it was consumed.

Table Blessing in the Middle Ages

Medieval histories tell us that in feudal Britain, one of the chief roles of a priest at court, second only to offering Mass, was to bless the food. The Bayeux Tapestry reveals that the Normans also prayed table blessings. A bishop is depicted at a feast next to the inscription: Et hic episcopus cibum et potum benedicit. (‘And this bishop blesses the food and drink.’

A document from around 1200 AD known as the Ancren Rule contains the earliest known reference to a table blessing as ‘grace.’ Included with the blessing was Psalm 1, the Miserere and a prayer for the holy souls was said after the meal.

Modern Table Blessings

The Roman Breviary contains the Church’s official prayers for grace, both before and after meals. Although there are slight variations for meals taken at different times of the day and for feast days, all the prayers begin with the word, benedicite. This is the imperative form of benedicere, to bless – we are asking God to bless our food.

The longer Breviary grace, and our shorter “Bless us, O Lord” version, are possibly derived from a prayer found in the 5th century Gelasian Sacramentary.

An Early Table Blessing

The 5th century poet, Prudentius, wrote hymns entitled, Ante Cibum and Post Cibum (‘before food’ and ‘after food’.) Here is one verse from the hymns:

Without Thy presence, nought, O Lord, is sweet,

No pleasure to our lips can aught supply.

Whether ’tis wine we drink or food we eat,

Till Grace divine and Faith shall sanctify.