Adrian Butash, who studied history and culture of the world at Fordham University, has gathered 160 prayers that are used as graces around the world. Some are from various religions and others are by individuals, ancient and modern. As he notes in the introduction:
"Food blessings provide a window to the profound spirituality that we all share and that connects us to all humankind, nature, and the infinite. The thanks-giving food blessing is the prayer said most often in the home. This is its essential beauty. Saying a blessing before a meal can bring us closer to our brothers and sisters, parents and friends. Asking a friend to choose and recite a food blessing is a wonderful way to welcome that person into your family setting. The occasional gathering for prayer, no matter how brief, keeps the heart and mind in touch with the most fundamental of joys: belonging."
These graces enable us to practice gratitude and to ponder our deep connections with the Earth and those around the table. Here is a sample prayer by Father John Giuliani (b.1932):
"Bless our hearts
to hear in the
breaking of the bread
the song of the universe."
