Easter Dinner Prayer: Catholic Grace for the Easter Table

An Easter dinner prayer gives thanks for the food and the family gathered at the table and, above all, for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead and made himself known to his disciples “in the breaking of bread.” After forty days of Lenten fasting, Easter dinner is a true feast. Below are short and longer Catholic graces for Easter dinner, the traditional grace before and after meals, the Gospel of Emmaus to read at the table, the custom of blessing Easter food, and prayers for loved ones who are absent or have died.

A short Easter grace, written for this page:

Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, on this day when your Son rose from the dead.
Alleluia! Fill our hearts with Easter joy, and help us to share it with others.
Through Christ our risen Lord. Amen.

A short Easter dinner prayer

Written for this page.

Risen Lord Jesus, you ate with your disciples after your Resurrection.
Sit at our table today. Thank you for this food, for our family and for the new life you give us.
Alleluia! Amen.

A longer Easter blessing for the table

Lord God, on this Easter day we rejoice in the Resurrection of your Son.
He has conquered sin and death, and opened for us the way to eternal life.
Bless this food, the hands that prepared it, and everyone gathered here.
Remember those who are hungry, lonely or grieving today, and those who have died in the hope of rising again.
Make us witnesses of the empty tomb, people of joy and hope. Alleluia! Amen.

The traditional grace before and after meals

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

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 for the Easter table

The disciples at Emmaus recognized the risen Jesus when he broke bread with them (Luke 24:30–31, Douay-Rheims):

And it came to pass, whilst he was at table with them, he took bread, and blessed, and brake, and gave to them.
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him: and he vanished out of their sight.

St. Paul (1 Corinthians 5:7–8, Douay-Rheims):

Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new paste, as you are unleavened. For Christ our pasch is sacrificed.
Therefore let us feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

The blessing of Easter food

In many Catholic families, especially of Polish, Slovak, Ukrainian and Italian origin, baskets of Easter food, eggs, bread, ham, salt, butter and cheese, are brought to church on Holy Saturday to be blessed by the priest (in Polish, święconka). The blessed food is eaten at Easter breakfast or dinner, often beginning with the sharing of a blessed egg and the exchange of Easter wishes. The eggs recall the new life of the Resurrection, the bread Christ the Bread of Life, and the lamb (often a butter or sugar lamb) the Lamb of God.

For loved ones who are absent or have died

Lord, at this Easter table we remember those who are far away, and those who have died, especially (names).
May the risen Christ welcome them into his kingdom, and may we meet again on the day of resurrection. Amen.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good short Easter prayer before dinner?

“Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts on this day of Resurrection. Alleluia!” followed by the traditional grace.

Why do Catholics say “Alleluia” at Easter?

“Alleluia,” “Praise the Lord,” is not said during Lent and returns with great joy at the Easter Vigil. It is repeated throughout the fifty days of Easter.

Is Easter dinner on Easter Sunday or Holy Saturday?

Most families celebrate on Easter Sunday; some have an Easter breakfast after the Vigil Mass or on Sunday morning with the blessed food.

More Easter prayers

Texts and sources

Grace before and after meals, Baltimore Catechism No. 3 (Kinkead, 1891), public domain (Project Gutenberg #14553).
Luke 24:30–31 and 1 Corinthians 5:7–8 (Douay-Rheims).