Okay, I visited a relative's church and they were discussing the proper way to say the blessing. One man said you thank God before you eat the food because you are thanking him for giving it to you. Another guy said you thank God after you eat the food because its only then that you have received it but then another guy said you do it both before and after the meal but then the others said that was redundant and wrong. I don't know who is right because the women aren't allowed to talk but if I could I wished I could have asked them about where all the Bible verses were so I would know the right way, you know?
2007-10-25 08:27:02 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The way that it's done is cultural. I think it makes no difference. The point is that they both realize that what they have comes from God and that His provision in their lives is appreciated. If you get too caught up on HOW, then it becomes nothing more than an empty ritual.
2007-10-25 08:33:34 · answer #1 · answered by lizardmama 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Catholic blessing BEFORE a meal is this:
Bless us, oh Lord, and these, Thy gifts which we are about to receive from Thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amem.
The Catholic prayer of thanksgiving AFTER a meal is this:
We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, Almighty God who lives and reigns forever. May the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
The first prayer is requesting that the food will bless us, a "Please." The second prayer is thanking God for the food, a "Thanks."
I have no Bible verses to back this up, as it is a cultural practice, but it's not at all strange to say "Please" before one has received something and then "Thank you" after having received it.
And I'm so sorry that women aren't allowed to talk at your relative's church. We Catholic women can talk at a meal, no problem.
2007-10-25 09:03:32 · answer #2 · answered by sparki777 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my experience, everyone does it differently. I don't think that there's just one proper prayer format for all Christians. I think things like the exact words and when it's said vary a lot among denominations and even families.
My fiance's family is Lutheran, and before every meal they say what they call "the table prayer." Everyone says it in unison, sometimes while holding hands. It goes "Come Lord Jesus be our guest and lets these gifts to us be blessed." Short and sweet :).
With my family (non-denominational Christians) it is a little more free-form. Before the meal, normally someone just volunteers and says something longish and mostly unscripted like, "Heavenly father, thank you for the food you have generously provided for us today. Bless it to our bodies and our bodies to your service. Amen."
2007-10-25 08:43:49 · answer #3 · answered by Gardenia 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the women weren't allowed to talk, than why worry? There are as many ways to say the blessings for food as there are people who say them. Figure this was another way for men to dominate you and do your own thing!
2007-10-25 09:01:32 · answer #4 · answered by Rev. Kaldea 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You couldn't ask because the women weren't allowed to talk?
Ok, your relative is in a cult, does s/he realise that? I hope you aren't in a cult like that too. That's really, really bad.
In order to solve this problem about the blessing, all you need to do is this:
If you want to say the blessing BEFORE eating, then say, "Thank you God for this food you've given us *which we are about to eat* so that it may nourish our bodies".
(and whatever else you say as part of the prayer)
If you want to say the blessing AFTER you eat, then say, "Thank you God for the food you've given us *which we have eaten* so that it may nourish our bodies."
(and whatever else you say as part of the prayer)
Leave it to a woman to come up with the solution, eh? Nice and simple, and gets the job done.
2007-10-25 08:38:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If I gave my child a gift, I wouldn't tell them how to thank me. They will show me with their thanks from their heart in their own way and I certainly wouldn't tell them they thanked me the wrong way. You are Gods child. Being so proper and thinking there is only one true way to thank God is stopping you from living in a relationship with Him that is truly from your heart. It's not HOW you say it, It's that you DO say it. He's not the super picky God that a lot of people think He is. I'm concerned about the women that aren't aloud to talk. What's up with that?
2007-10-25 09:01:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i could say purely permit her do her concern. you're by no skill going to agree on faith, if she does not settle on your blessing, then evaluate in case you are able to purely take a seat and consume devoid of your very own if she instructed you that she already blessed the nutrition beforehand to procure to the table. interior the tip it is not going to harm all of us, i do no longer think of you are able to desire to be overly deferential to her, she's your worker, so in case you pick to implement quiet so she will do her concern, it somewhat is positive, yet she shouldn't assume it. i do no longer think of she's insulting your loved ones or your faith from now on than you're insulting hers via giving your very own blessing, from the attitude of each and every faith, all others are incorrect in some way or different.
2016-12-30 05:30:16 · answer #7 · answered by liebro 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are written prayers for before and after you eat but it really doesn't matter when you thank God as long as you thank him.
2007-10-25 08:33:09 · answer #8 · answered by Ten Commandments 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do it however you want. God will honor it either way.
Watch Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby for some pointers on how to say a good grace. :)
RB
.
2007-10-25 08:43:04 · answer #9 · answered by bellesnail 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is most widely acceptable to say grace, prayer, or blessing on the food BEFORE the meal. Give thanks for the food and gracious blessings.
2007-10-25 08:33:36 · answer #10 · answered by crave knowledge 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋