Let's begin with Grace

"We don't say a prayer before we eat at my house," the child confessed. "We're Catholic."

Although that sentiment may be a popular one with some Catholic families, Mr. Hamma believes it's never too late to start saying Grace. He is the author of "Let's Say Grace: Mealtime Prayers for Family Occasions Throughout the Year."

Setting the tone

For many families, he said, the evening meal is the only time an entire family sits down together. "The time is a gift, and each one of us is a gift to each other," he noted.

The author called meals "sacramental experiences." We are children of God, he explained, and God is among and within us whenever we gather at tables. "We gather together, share our stories, break bread and go forth renewed," he wrote. "This simple rhythm can help us recognize that there is a sacred dimension to our meals."

Starting with Jesus

"He ate not only with His disciples and friends, but also with the rich and powerful as well as with other people of bad reputation -- outcasts like tax collectors and Pharisees," said Mr. Hamma. "One of the derisive charges brought against Him by the Pharisees was: `This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them' (Lk. 15:2)."

Jesus also offered a blessing before meals, as was traditional for Jews. By saying Grace ourselves, Mr. Hamma told The Evangelist, Catholics are following in His footsteps.

Becoming comfortable

"Sometimes, we make too much of it," Mr. Hamma said of family prayers. "To pray when we're going off on a trip or going off to school is not as difficult as it sounds."

Instead of trying to spontaneously create a formal prayer, the author advised, a family member can simply say, "Let's pause and ask the Lord to bless us."

For those who aren't used to praying before meals, the author recommends Thanksgiving as a good time to begin. "That's a natural time," he stated. "Pick a day like that to start -- and don't stop!"

Keep it simple

He also recalled the traditional form of Grace: "Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are about to receive from your bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen."

Mr. Hamma's book, "Let's Say Grace," contains mealtime prayers for different days of the week, holidays and seasons of the liturgical calendar, and even for special family celebrations. He told The Evangelist that the book could serve as a resource for those uncomfortable with creating their own prayers.

"If a family is comfortable praying spontaneously, that's great," he remarked. "If they're comfortable with a more formal prayer, use that. But once we establish a pattern, you need to have several different resources for prayers, because it becomes rote."

Grace before meals, Mr. Hamma said, can be a wonderful beginning to a family's prayer life. "Meals are not the only times a family should pray, but practically, it's the easiest time to pray," he said. "If you're not praying as family, it's a good place to start."

("Let's Say Grace: Mealtime Prayers for Family Occasions Throughout the Year" costs $7.95 and is available at William B. O'Connor Church Goods in Latham, or from Ave Maria Press by calling 219-287-2831.)

The author posed several "don'ts" for Grace before meals:

* Don't make mealtime prayers too long. "Sometimes, that's the danger of spontaneous prayers: We don't know how to end it; we just keep going!"

* Don't have the same person lead the prayer every day. "Don't always assign it to one person," the author advised. "Let it be shared." (KB)

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