Grace at Meals

during Christmastide

From the Evening Meal on Christmas Eve
until the Midday Meal on the Vigil of the Epiphany

Before
Midday Meal
After

Before
Evening Meal
After

ANTE PRANDIUM

BEFORE THE MIDDAY MEAL

STAND

Before the Midday Meal, the Foremost present or his deputy who is to bless the meal begins by saying :

V.  Benedícite.
R.  Benedícite.

V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,  *  et in sæcula sæculórum.  Amen.

V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end.  Amen.

V.  Kyrie, eléison.
R.  Christe, eléison.  Kyrie, eléison.

V.  Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Christ, have mercy upon us.  Lord have mercy upon us.

Pater noster secreto usque ad
V.  Et ne nos inducas in tentatiónem.
R.  Sed líbera nos a malo.

Our Father.  Which words are said aloud, and the rest secretly to
V.  And lead us not into temptation.
R.  But deliver us from evil.

Oremus.            Orátio
Bénedic, Dómine, nos, † et hæc tua dona, quæ de tua largitáte sumus sumptúri.  Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
R.  Amen.

Let us pray.            Collect
Bless us, O Lord, † and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty.  Through Christ our Lord.
R.  Amen.

The Lector then bows to the Foremost, and says :

Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

To which the Foremost makes answer:

Benedictio:
Mensæ cæléstis partícipes fáciat nos Rex ætérnæ glóriæ.
R.  Amen.

The Blessing:
May the King of eternal glory make us partakers of his heavenly table.
R.  Amen.

POST PRANDIUM

AFTER THE MIDDAY MEAL

V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,  *  et in sæcula sæculórum.  Amen.

V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end.  Amen.

Agimus tibi grátias, omnípotens Deus, pro univérsis benefíciis tuis : Qui vivis et regnas in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

We give thee thanks, Almighty God, for all thy benefits.  Who livest and reignest, world without end.
R.  Amen.

And then is said Psalm 97 Cantate Domino as follows :

Psalmus 97.  Cantate Domino

Cantáte Dómino cánticum novum: * quia mirabília fecit.
2  Salvávit sibi déxtera ejus: * et bráchium sanctum ejus.
3  Notum fecit Dóminus salutáre suum: * in conspéctu Géntium revelávit justítiam suam.
4  Recordátus est misericórdiæ suæ, * et veritátis suæ dómui Israël.
5  Vidérunt omnes términi terræ * salutáre Dei nostri.
6  Jubiláte Deo, omnis terra: * cantáte, et exsultáte, et psállite.
7  Psállite Dómino in cíthara, in cíthara et voce psalmi: * in tubis ductílibus, et voce tubæ córneæ.
8  Jubiláte in conspéctu regis Dómini: * moveátur mare, et plenitúdo ejus: orbis terrárum, et qui hábitant in eo.
9  Flúmina plaudent manu, simul montes exsultábunt a conspéctu Dómini: * quóniam venit judicáre terram.
10  Judicábit orbem terrárum in justítia, * et pópulos in æquitáte.

O sing unto the Lord a new song; * for he hath done marvellous things.
2  His right hand hath wrought for him salvation : * and his arm is holy.
3  The Lord hath made known his salvation; * his righteousness hath he revealed in the sight of the heathen.
4  He hath remembered his mercy, * and his truth toward the house of Israel.
5  All the ends of the world have seen * the salvation of our God.
6  Be ye joyful unto God, all the earth : * make melody, rejoice, and sing.
7  Sing praise unto the Lord upon the harp, yea, upon the harp and with the voice of a psalm : * with long trumpets, and with the sound of the shawm.
8  O shew yourselves joyful before the Lord, the King : * let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof: the round world, and they that dwell therein.
9  Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord; * for he is come to judge the earth.
10  With righteousness shall he judge the world, * and the peoples with equity.

V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,  *  et in sæcula sæculórum.  Amen.

V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end.  Amen.

V.  Kyrie, eléison.
R.  Christe, eléison.  Kyrie, eléison.

V.  Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Christ, have mercy upon us.  Lord have mercy upon us.

Pater noster secreto usque ad
V.  Et ne nos inducas in tentatiónem.
R.  Sed líbera nos a malo.

Our Father.  Which words are said aloud, and the rest secretly to
V.  And lead us not into temptation.
R.  But deliver us from evil.

V.  Dispérsit, dedit paupéribus.
R.  Justítia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.

V.  He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor.
R.  And his righteousness endureth for ever.

V.  Benedícam Dóminum in omni témpore.
R.  Semper laus ejus in ore meo.

V.  I will alway give thanks unto the Lord.
R.  And his praise shall ever be in my mouth.

V.  In Dómino laudábitur ánima mea.
R.  Audiant mansuéti, et læténtur.

V.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord.
R.  The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

V.  Magnificáte Dóminum mecum.
R.  Et exaltémus nomen ejus in idípsum.

V.  O magnify the Lord with me.
R.  And let us exalt his Name together.

V.  Sit nomen Dómini benedíctum.
R.  Ex hoc nunc et usque in sæculum.

V.  Blessed be the Name of the Lord.
R.  From this time forth for evermore.

Retribúere dignáre, Dómine, ómnibus, nobis bona faciéntibus propter nomen tuum, vitam ætérnam.
R.  Amen.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, for thy Name's sake, to reward all them that do us good with everlasting life.
R.  Amen.

V.  Fidélium ánimæ † per misericórdiam Dei requiéscant in pace.
R.  Amen.

V.  May the souls † of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R.  Amen.

ANTE CŒNAM

BEFORE THE EVENING MEAL

STAND

Before the Evening Meal, the Foremost present or his deputy who is to bless the meal begins by saying :

V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,  *  et in sæcula sæculórum.  Amen.

V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end.  Amen.

V.  Kyrie, eléison.
R.  Christe, eléison.  Kyrie, eléison.

V.  Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Christ, have mercy upon us.  Lord have mercy upon us.

Pater noster secreto usque ad
V.  Et ne nos inducas in tentatiónem.
R.  Sed líbera nos a malo.

Our Father.  Which words are said aloud, and the rest secretly to
V.  And lead us not into temptation.
R.  But deliver us from evil.

Oremus.            Oratio
Bénedic, Dómine, nos, † et hæc tua dona, quæ de tua largitáte sumus sumptúri.  Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
R.  Amen.

Let us pray.            Collect
Bless us, O Lord, † and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty.  Through Christ our Lord.
R.  Amen.

Benedictio:
Ad cœnam vitæ ætérnæ perdúcat nos Rex ætérnæ glóriæ.
R.  Amen.

The Blessing:
May the King of eternal glory bring us to the supper of eternal life.
R.  Amen.

POST CŒNAM

AFTER THE EVENING MEAL

STAND

V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,  *  et in sæcula sæculórum.  Amen.

V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end.  Amen.

Benedíctus Deus in donis suis, et sanctus in ómnibus opéribus suis : Qui vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

Blessed be the Lord in all his gifts, and holy in all his works.  Who liveth and reigneth, world without end.
R.  Amen.

And then is said Psalm 97 Cantate Domino as follows :

Psalmus 97.  Cantate Domino

Cantáte Dómino cánticum novum: * quia mirabília fecit.
2  Salvávit sibi déxtera ejus: * et bráchium sanctum ejus.
3  Notum fecit Dóminus salutáre suum: * in conspéctu Géntium revelávit justítiam suam.
4  Recordátus est misericórdiæ suæ, * et veritátis suæ dómui Israël.
5  Vidérunt omnes términi terræ * salutáre Dei nostri.
6  Jubiláte Deo, omnis terra: * cantáte, et exsultáte, et psállite.
7  Psállite Dómino in cíthara, in cíthara et voce psalmi: * in tubis ductílibus, et voce tubæ córneæ.
8  Jubiláte in conspéctu regis Dómini: * moveátur mare, et plenitúdo ejus: orbis terrárum, et qui hábitant in eo.
9  Flúmina plaudent manu, simul montes exsultábunt a conspéctu Dómini: * quóniam venit judicáre terram.
10  Judicábit orbem terrárum in justítia, * et pópulos in æquitáte.

O sing unto the Lord a new song; * for he hath done marvellous things.
2  His right hand hath wrought for him salvation : * and his arm is holy.
3  The Lord hath made known his salvation; * his righteousness hath he revealed in the sight of the heathen.
4  He hath remembered his mercy, * and his truth toward the house of Israel.
5  All the ends of the world have seen * the salvation of our God.
6  Be ye joyful unto God, all the earth : * make melody, rejoice, and sing.
7  Sing praise unto the Lord upon the harp, yea, upon the harp and with the voice of a psalm : * with long trumpets, and with the sound of the shawm.
8  O shew yourselves joyful before the Lord, the King : * let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof: the round world, and they that dwell therein.
9  Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord; * for he is come to judge the earth.
10  With righteousness shall he judge the world, * and the peoples with equity.

V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,  *  et in sæcula sæculórum.  Amen.

V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end.  Amen.

V.  Kyrie, eléison.
R.  Christe, eléison.  Kyrie, eléison.

V.  Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Christ, have mercy upon us.  Lord have mercy upon us.

Pater noster secreto usque ad
V.  Et ne nos inducas in tentatiónem.
R.  Sed líbera nos a malo.

Our Father.  Which words are said aloud, and the rest secretly to
V.  And lead us not into temptation.
R.  But deliver us from evil.

V.  Dispérsit, dedit paupéribus.
R.  Justítia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.

V.  He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor.
R.  And his righteousness endureth for ever.

V.  Benedícam Dóminum in omni témpore.
R.  Semper laus ejus in ore meo.

V.  I will alway give thanks unto the Lord.
R.  And his praise shall ever be in my mouth.

V.  In Dómino laudábitur ánima mea.
R.  Audiant mansuéti, et læténtur.

V.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord.
R.  The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

V.  O magnify the Lord with me.
R.  And let us exalt his Name together.

V.  Sit nomen Dómini benedíctum.
R.  Ex hoc nunc et usque in sæculum.

V.  Blessed be the Name of the Lord.
R.  From this time forth for evermore.

Retribúere dignáre, Dómine, ómnibus, nobis bona faciéntibus propter nomen tuum, vitam ætérnam.
R.  Amen.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, for thy Name's sake, to reward all them that do us good with everlasting life.
R.  Amen.

V.  Fidélium ánimæ † per misericórdiam Dei requiéscant in pace.
R.  Amen.

V.  May the souls † of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R.  Amen.