Surprised By (Saying) Grace

There are ways to proclaim oneself a Catholic in the public sphere that are subtle (wearing a crucifix or a holy medal), stealth (wearing a scapular no one can see) and bold (like wearing these T-shirts).

And then there’s saying Grace before meals, whether in a private home or in a restaurant (and that includes BBQs, fast food, food trucks and carts).

I just finished a couple of weeks at the TV Critics Association Press Tour, getting a look at all kinds of upcoming programs (more on that here as time goes on), but something happened on the last day that brought me up short.

A fellow TCA member, who’s also a Catholic, commented on having seen me say Grace before eating the previous day (I’d like to say I did it every time, but either out of shyness or forgetfulness, I didn’t). She was too far away to hear me, but she did see me make the Sign of the Cross before and after, and it made her happy.

I have two Catholic friends that I meet regularly for breakfast at a waterside cafe, and we always stop to say grace and make the Sign. I also host monthly gatherings in a swanky restaurant/lounge for orthodox-Catholic socializing, where we do the same. We don’t think much about what saying Grace means to anyone seeing, but perhaps we should.

It’s uncomfortable sometimes to do things like saying Grace in public. We don’t want to draw attention; we don’t want to offend. But what we forget is that we can also inspire.

Just about all Catholics know the standard Grace Prayer:

Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are about to receive from your bounty through Christ our Lord.

(these lines are often added)

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.

As someone who’s hosted multifaith or multidenominational gatherings, I came up with a Grace of my own, which has been approved by priests of my acquaintance. Obviously, it won’t work for atheists, but it’s pretty good in most other circumstances.

Dear Lord,

Please bless this food and the souls that surround it, and may You hold us in the palm of Your Hand, until we abide with You forever in Paradise.

Amen.

Whatever one you use, please do this. I promise that I’ll try to be better about remembering in public (especially if I’m not in an all-Catholic gathering), if you will.

Let’s make disciples of all nations, one meal at a time.

Amen, and pass the plate …