Saying Grace

A grace is a short prayer or thankful phrase said before or after eating. The term most commonly refers to Christian traditions. Some traditions hold that grace and thanksgiving impart a blessing which sanctifies the meal. In 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”. Theologically, the act of saying grace is derived from the Bible, where Jesus and Saint Paul pray before meals (Luke 24:30, Acts 27:35). The practice reflects the belief …

Want to read the whole story? To access this content, you need a Digital Subscription. If you already subscribe, please log in here.