post
Grace After Meals: A Catholic Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pray a traditional Catholic grace after meals, with the English text, Latin Post cibum, and a brief explanation of thanksgiving and prayer for the faithful departed.
Part of the Daily prayers prayer collection.
In brief
The Catholic prayer after meals is a brief act of thanksgiving for the food received and for God's care. One traditional English form begins, "We give you thanks, almighty God, for all your benefits." It may be prayed by one person or by a family, and it may be shortened when the table needs to be cleared.
Grace after meals
We give you thanks, almighty God,
for all your benefits,
who live and reign for ever and ever.
Amen.
Traditionally, the group may add:
May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
Amen.
Source and tradition: a traditional Catholic thanksgiving prayer after meals. Wording can vary by prayer book and local custom. It is presented here as a devotional text, not as a claim that every Catholic household must use one exact form.
Latin: Post cibum
Agimus tibi gratias, omnipotens Deus,
pro universis beneficiis tuis,
qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum.
Amen.
The Latin title Post cibum means "after food" or "after the meal." Use the language in which your household can pray with attention; the value is not in performing a language you do not understand.
Why pray after eating?
The prayer turns a finished meal into an occasion for gratitude. It remembers that food came through God's gifts and through the work of farmers, cooks, servers, families, and communities. The prayer for the faithful departed also keeps the memory of loved ones and the hope of mercy present in ordinary life.
Thanksgiving does not depend on having a perfect meal or a perfect mood. A single sincere sentence is enough when a longer prayer is not practical.
A family-friendly version
Thank you, God, for this food and for the people who shared it with us. Help us remember those who are hungry and use what we have with generosity. May the faithful departed rest in your peace. Amen.
This is an original short adaptation for families. It should be labeled as an adaptation rather than confused with the traditional form above.
Sources & Tradition
Frequently asked questions
What is the Catholic prayer after meals?
It is a brief prayer of thanksgiving, traditionally beginning, "We give you thanks, almighty God, for all your benefits." Some forms also pray for the faithful departed.
Is Grace After Meals obligatory?
No. It is a traditional devotional practice, not a universal obligation imposed in one required wording. Families and communities may use the form that helps them give thanks sincerely.
Should I pray for the dead after a meal?
Many Catholic traditions include a short prayer for the faithful departed after the thanksgiving. You may use that form, remember a particular person, or simply conclude with thanks.
Is Post cibum the same prayer in Latin?
Post cibum refers to a Latin after-meal prayer. Local prayer books may use different wording, so check your parish or approved prayer book if an exact liturgical or devotional form is needed.