Christmas Dinner Prayer: Catholic Grace for the Christmas Table

A Christmas dinner prayer turns the family meal into a celebration of the birth of Jesus: before eating, someone leads a grace that thanks God for the food, for the family gathered around the table, and above all for the gift of his Son, “born to us this day.” Below are short and longer Catholic graces for Christmas dinner, the traditional grace before and after meals, prayers for loved ones who are absent or have died, a blessing for children, ideas from Christmas Eve traditions such as the Polish Wigilia, and Scripture to read at the table.

A short Christmas grace, written for this page:

Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, on this holy night (day) when your Son was born for us.
May the joy of Christmas fill our home, and may we share our blessings with those in need.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A short Christmas dinner prayer

Written for this page.

Lord Jesus, you came to us as a little child in Bethlehem.
Thank you for this food, for our family, and for your love.
Be our guest at this table, today and always. Amen.

A longer Christmas blessing for the table

Heavenly Father, on this Christmas day we gather around this table with grateful hearts.
Thank you for sending your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary, to share our life and to save us.
Bless this food and those who prepared it. Bless every person at this table,
and those who could not be with us. Fill our home with the peace the angels sang of,
and help us to make room for Jesus in our hearts, as Mary and Joseph made room for him in the stable. Amen.

The traditional grace before and after meals

The Church’s traditional grace before meals:

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

And after the meal:

We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O Almighty God, who livest and reignest for ever; and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Scripture to read at the Christmas table

The angel’s message to the shepherds (Luke 2:10–11, Douay-Rheims):

And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people:
For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.

The family table (Psalm 127:1–3, Douay-Rheims; Psalm 128 in other numberings):

Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table.

For loved ones who are absent or have died

Lord, at this Christmas table we remember those who are far away, and those who have died this year, especially (names).
Keep the absent safe, and give our dead a place at the eternal banquet of heaven.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. Amen.

A blessing for the children

Lord Jesus, you were once a child.
Bless our children (grandchildren) at this table. Keep them safe, help them to grow in faith,
and let them always know that they are loved. Amen.

Parents can trace a small cross on their children’s foreheads as they say it.

Christmas Eve traditions at the table

The Polish Wigilia: before the Christmas Eve supper the family shares the opłatek, a thin wafer stamped with a Nativity scene, exchanging wishes and forgiveness. An extra place is often set at the table for the unexpected guest, in memory of the Holy Family who found no room at the inn.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian-American Christmas Eve custom, comes from the old practice of abstaining from meat on the vigil of Christmas.
Lighting the Christ candle: many families light a candle at the center of the table, or the white candle of the Advent wreath, as a sign that Christ, the Light of the world, has come.

Frequently asked questions

Who should lead the Christmas dinner prayer?

Usually the head of the family, but it is a lovely tradition to ask a child, a grandparent or a guest to lead it.

Can I say a Christmas prayer if my guests are not religious?

Yes. A short, warm prayer of thanks for the food, the family and the gift of Christmas is welcomed by most guests.

What is a good Catholic Christmas blessing?

“May the peace and joy of the newborn Christ be with you and your family.” See more Catholic Christmas prayers.

More Christmas prayers

Texts and sources

Grace before and after meals, Baltimore Catechism No. 3 (Kinkead, 1891), public domain (Project Gutenberg #14553).
Luke 2:10–11 and Psalm 127:1–3 (Douay-Rheims).