Grace (meals): Difference between revisions

[[File:Fritz von Uhde - Das Tischgebet - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|300px|''Grace before the Meal'', by [[Fritz von Uhde]], 1885.]]

A '''grace''' is a short [[prayer]] or thankful phrase said before or after eating.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/80373#eid2623050 | title=grace, n. | work=[[Oxford English Dictionary]] | date=2013 | access-date=29 September 2014 | quotation=11. [....] A short prayer or blessing offered in thanks before or after eating. | archive-date=8 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008204107/https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/80373#eid2623050 | url-status=live }}</ref> The term most commonly refers to [[Christianity|Christian]] traditions. Some traditions hold that grace and thanksgiving imparts a blessing which sanctifies the meal. In [[English language|English]], reciting such a prayer is sometimes referred to as "saying grace". The term comes from the [[Ecclesiastical Latin]] phrase ''gratiarum actio'', "act of thanks." [[Christian theology|Theologically]], the act of saying grace is derived from the [[Bible]], in which [[Jesus]] and [[Saint Paul]] pray before meals (cf. {{Bibleverse|Luke|24:30|KJV}}, {{Bibleverse|Acts|27:35|KJV}}).<ref name="Noble2016">{{cite web|url=http://www.interpretermagazine.org/departments/to-be-united-methodist-why-do-we-call-it-grace|title=To Be United Methodist: Why do we call it ‘grace'grace?'|last=Noble|first=Kathy|year=2016|publisher=Interpreter Magazine|language=en|access-date=30 September 2018|archive-date=30 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930115647/http://www.interpretermagazine.org/departments/to-be-united-methodist-why-do-we-call-it-grace|url-status=live}}</ref> The practice reflects the belief that humans should thank God who is believed to be the origin of everything.<ref name="Noble2016"/>

[[File:Thanksgiving grace 1942.jpg|thumb|Saying grace at a 1942 [[Thanksgiving (United States)|American Thanksgiving dinner]].]]

[[File:Saying Grace LACMA 31.21.112.jpg|thumb|''Saying Grace'' by Dutch painter [[Adriaen van Ostade]], 1653.]]

* '''Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox''' (after eating) – After the meal, all stand and sing: "We thank Thee, O Christ our God, that Thou hast satisfied us with Thine earthly gifts; deprive us not of Thy Heavenly Kingdom, but as Thou camest among Thy disciples, O Saviour, and gavest them peace, come unto us and save us."<ref>{{Citation |editor=Brother Lawrence |year=1996 |title=Prayer Book (Fourth Edition -– Revised) |page=38 |place=Jordanville, NY |publisher=Printshop of St. Job of Pochaev, Holy Trinity Monastery}}</ref> There are also seasonal hymns which are sung during the various [[Great Feasts]]. At Easter, it is customary to sing the [[Paschal troparion]].

* '''Lutheran ([[s:Luther's Small Catechism#HOW THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY Should Teach His Household to Ask a Blessing and Return Thanks.|Luther's Blessing and Thanks at Meals]])''' (before eating) "The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O Lord, and Thou givest them their meat in due season; Thou openest Thine hand and satisfied the desire of every living thing. Our Father... Lord God, Heavenly Father, bless us and these Thy gifts which we receive from Thy bountiful goodness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen." Or, alternatively, "The eyes of all look to you, O Lord, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. Our Father... Lord God, Heavenly Father, bless us and these Thy/Your gifts which we receive from Thy/Your bountiful goodness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

* '''Lutheran ([[s:Luther's Small Catechism#HOW THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY Should Teach His Household to Ask a Blessing and Return Thanks.|Luther's Blessing and Thanks at Meals]], though commonly just the first Psalm verse)''' (after eating) "O give thanks unto/to the Lord, for He is good,; for His mercy/love endureth/endures forever. (commonly ends here) He gives food to every creature; He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of a horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man. The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. [Our Father...] We thank TheeYou, Lord God, Heavenly Father, for all your benefits, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, forwho alllives Thyand benefits,reigns whowith livestyou and reignestthe Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen."

* '''Methodist/Wesleyan''' (Grace Before MeatMeal) "Be present at our table Lord. Be here and everywhere adored. These mercies bless and grant that we may feast in fellowship with Thee. Amen."<ref name="BOW1964">{{cite book|title=The Book of Worship for Church and Home: With Orders of Worship, Services for the Administration of the Sacraments and Other Aids to Worship According to the Usages of the Methodist Church|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ckw6vgAACAAJ|access-date=25 March 2017|year=1964|publisher=Methodist Publishing House|language=en |pages=229|archive-date=12 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612125930/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ckw6vgAACAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>

* '''Methodist/Wesleyan''' (Grace After MeatMeal) "We thank thee, Lord, for this our food, But more because of Jesus' blood. Let manna to our souls be given, The Bread of Life, sent down from heaven. Amen."<ref name="BOW1964"/>

* '''Presbyterian''' (Grace Before Meat) "Gracious God, we have sinned against Thee, and are unworthy of Thy mercy; pardon our sins, and bless these mercies for our use, and help us to eat and drink to TheyThy glory, for Christ’s sake. Amen."

* '''Latin''' "In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen. Benedic, Domine, nos et haec Tua dona, quae de Tua largitate sumus sumpturi. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Basics/Mensae.html|title=Benedictio Mensae|website=www.preces-latinae.org|access-date=2019-10-15|archive-date=2019-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022065253/http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Basics/Mensae.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

* '''Latin''' (At the end of the meal) -– "Agimus Tibi gratias, omnipotens Deus, pro universis beneficiis Tuis. Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum. Amen."

With the destruction of the [[Temple in Jerusalem]] in 70 AD, the offering of the prescribed sacrifices ceased in [[Judaism]]. Thereafter, the [[Rabbi]]s prescribed the substitution of other ritual actions to fill this void in Jewish obedience to the [[Torah]]. The ritual [[hand-washing|washing of hands]] and eating of salted bread is considered to be a substitute for the sacrificial offerings of the [[kohen|kohanim]] (Jewish priests).<ref>{{Citation |title=Jewish Dining Etiquette |publisher=About Dishes |url=http://www.aboutdishes.com/art_of_eating/western/jewish.html |access-date=2007-09-01 |archive-date=2007-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812072607/http://www.aboutdishes.com/art_of_eating/western/jewish.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Though there are separate blessings for fruit, vegetables, non-bread grain products, and meat, fish, and dairy products, a meal is not considered to be a meal in the formal sense unless bread is eaten. The duty of saying grace after the meal is derived from {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|8:10|HE}}: "And thou shalt eat and be satisfied and shalt bless the Lord thy God for the goodly land which he has given thee." Verse 8 of the same chapter says: "The land of wheat and barley, of the vine, the fig and the pomegranate, the land of the oil olive and of [date] syrup." Hence only bread made of wheat (which embraces spelt) or of barley (which for this purpose includes rye and oats) is deemed worthy of the blessing commanded in verse 10.<ref>{{Citation |author1=Schechter, Solomon |author2=Dembitz, Lewis N. |year=1901 |contribution=Grace at Meals |title=''[[The Jewish Encyclopedia]]|''The Jewish Encyclopedia'']] |page=61 |publisher=Funk and Wagnalls |contribution-url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=400&letter=G |access-date=2007-09-01 |archive-date=2007-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929134506/http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=400&letter=G |url-status=live }}</ref>

* Before eating:<ref name="eat">{{cite book | url=http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Waqf-e-Nau-Syllabus-S1-B2.pdf |publisher=Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, United Kingdom |title=Waqf-e-Nau-Syllabus | access-date=June 6, 2014 | archive-date=October 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006145924/http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Waqf-e-Nau-Syllabus-S1-B2.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref>

:* When a meal is ready: ''"Allahumma barik lana fima razaqtana waqina athaban-nar. "'' (Translation: ''O AllahGod! Bless the food You have provided us and save us from the punishment of the hellfire.'')

* On forgetting to say grace :<br /> Since each person says their grace individually, if someone forgets to say grace at the beginning, this supplication is made- ''"Bismillahi fee awalihi wa akhirihi." (In the name of AllahGod, in the beginning and the end.) ''

* After eating:<ref name="eat"/> ''"Alhamdulillah il-lathi at'amana wasaqana waja'alana Muslimeen. (Praise be to AllahGod Who has fed us and given us drink, and made us Muslims.)'' or simply ''"Alhamdulillah." (Praise be to AllahGod.) ''

== Baháʼí Faith ==

"He is God! How can we render Thee thanks, O Lord? Thy bounties are endless and our gratitude cannot equal them. How can the finite utter praise of the Infinite? Unable are we to voice our thanks for Thy favors and in utter powerlessness we turn wholly to Thy Kingdom beseeching the increase of Thy bestowals and bounties. Thou art the Giver, the Bestower, the Almighty."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mahmúd's Diary |url=https://bahai-library.com/zarqani_mahmuds_diary&chapter=all |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=bahai-library.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Hindus use the 24th verse of the 4th chapter of [[Bhagavad Gita]] as the traditional prayer or blessing before a meal. Once the food is blessed it becomes [[Prasad]], or sanctified as holy<ref>Butash, Adrian (1993) ''Bless This Food: Ancient and Contemporary Graces from Around the World'' p.14, Delacorte Press</ref>

''{{lang|sa-Latn|Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir''<br>

''Brahmaagnau Brahmanaa Hutam''<br>

''Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam''<br>

''Brahma Karma Samaadhinah''<br>''}}

''{{lang|sa-Latn|Aham Vaishvaanaro Bhutva''<br>

''Praaninaam Dehamaashritha''<br>

''Praanaapaana Samaa Yuktaha''<br>

''Pachaamyannam Chatur Vidam''<br>''

This translates as 'Becoming the life-fire in the bodies of living beings, mingling with the upward and downward breaths, I digest the four kinds of food.'<ref>Prayer before eating [http://www.sathyasai.org/devotion/prayers/brahmar.html International Sai Organisation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221095616/http://www.sathyasai.org/devotion/prayers/brahmar.html |date=2009-02-21 }}</ref>

{{lang|sa-Latn|vadani kaval gheta naam ghya shri-hariche l

In [[Buddhism]], different traditions have prayers that are said or chanted before meals.

In Japanese [[Zen]], a prayer on the "Five Reflections", [[Itadakimasu#Religion|Gokan-no-ge]], are done before and after meals. This includes putting one's hands together and say "[[Itadakimasu#Overview|Itadakimasu]]" {{nihongo||頂きます，いただきます}} ("I humbly receive") before eating a meal. Upon finishing a meal, the polite phrase {{nihongo3||ご馳走様でした，ごちそうさまでした|gochisōsama-deshita|lit. "that was (the condition of) an (honorable) feast"}}. In response, the preparer often says {{nihongo3||お粗末様でした，おそまつさまでした|osomatsusama-deshita|lit. "I think that meal was not feast"}}.

In the [[Nichiren]] School of Buddhism, a prayer is done to "repay the Four Favors", debts we owe to parents, sentient beings, leaders and The Buddha, Dharma and Sanga.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.learnreligions.com/giving-thanks-for-our-food-449751|title=Buddhist Verses to Chant Before Eating|website=Learn Religions|access-date=2020-02-26|archive-date=2020-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226174224/https://www.learnreligions.com/giving-thanks-for-our-food-449751|url-status=live}}</ref>