Grace After Meals (Extended Form)
Updated: 8 hours ago
Most Catholics know grace before meals, but the tradition also includes a thanksgiving after eating. This extended form thanks God for all His benefits and then adds a brief prayer for the faithful departed, a beautiful custom that remembers the dead every time the family rises from the table.
Grace after meals is a natural way to close a family dinner, especially on Sundays, feast days, and holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. It helps children learn gratitude and keeps the Holy Souls in mind. Some households take turns leading it or add a personal intention for someone who is sick, traveling, or has recently died.
The Prayer
We give Thee thanks, Almighty God, for all Thy benefits, Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Sources: Traditional extended grace after meals; classic manuals. Distinct from short form post.
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