Introduction
You need to say a few words to God before the meal, by the tree or on the phone with a loved one, and the words will not come. These fifteen prayers speak to God simply and fit in a few lines. Choose the one that suits the moment and read it aloud, or pray it silently if you are alone. You can also use them as inspiration to write your own.
Prayer for the Christmas Eve Meal
A prayer at the table should stay short, or the food gets cold and attention drifts. Read it slowly, looking at the faces around you.
"Lord, here we are gathered around this table. Thank you for this meal, for the hands that prepared it and for the joy of being together tonight. May your presence be the first guest at this feast."
"Father, your Son was born in humility and laid in a manger, and here we are in the comfort of a warm home. Teach us gratitude. Bless this meal and every person who shares it."
"Lord Jesus, you sat at the table of the poor as well as the rich. Come and sit at ours tonight. May our conversations be gentle, our laughter sincere and our silences peaceful."
"God of all goodness, before we taste these dishes, we want to taste your grace. Thank you for this year we have lived through, for what was joyful as well as for what was heavy. Stay with us tonight."
Christmas Morning Prayer
Before the gifts are opened and the day gets busy, take two minutes of quiet. This prayer can be said alone or with the family, still in pajamas.
"Lord, a new Christmas Day is dawning. Before anything else, I want to look at you. You came among us, and it is the greatest news I know. Thank you for being here from this very morning."
"Father, may this day not be reduced to packages and schedules. Keep my heart awake to what you did by sending Jesus. May I live it with wonder, like a child."
"Jesus, you were born for us and for every generation. I thank you for crossing the distance between heaven and earth. Guide my actions today, so that I may know how to love simply."
"Faithful God, you have kept your word through the centuries. This morning, I ask for nothing more than to know you better. Fill this house with a peace that only you can give."
Christmas Prayer for the Family Gathered Together
Christmas reunions mix joy with old tensions. A shared prayer helps lay down our weapons for a few hours and remember what brings us together.
"Lord, you know each person in this room, with their tiredness and their expectations. Gather us truly, beyond polite words. May your love be greater than our disagreements."
"Father, thank you for the children running everywhere, for the elders who still tell their memories, and for those in between who carry the household on their shoulders. Keep this family in your hand, today and tomorrow."
"God of peace, some of our bonds are damaged. You who came to reconcile heaven and earth, open the door of forgiveness within us. Give us the patience to listen before we answer."
"Lord Jesus, you grew up in an ordinary family. Come into ours, with all its imperfections. May this day leave a tender memory in the hearts of the youngest and the oldest."
Christmas Prayer for Those Who Are Alone or Grieving, and for a Suffering World
Christmas hurts those who have lost someone or who have no one at their side. These prayers can be said for them, or for you if you recognize yourself here.
"Lord, tonight, a chair is empty at our table. You know the place it held in our hearts. Stay close to those who weep and be their comfort, even when words fail."
"Father, think of all the people who spend Christmas without a visit or a message. Send someone to them, a phone call, a door that opens. And tell them, in your own way, that they are not forgotten."
"God of the nations, the night of Christmas echoes in countries at war and in homes without a roof. Put an end to violence, protect the children and bring forth peace where no one dares hope for it anymore."
Verses to Go With Your Christmas Prayer
A verse read before or after the prayer gives it an anchor. Here are a few passages from the Nativity that read well aloud.
Luke 2:11
"For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
The heart of the announcement made to the shepherds. Ideal for opening the Christmas Eve prayer, before thanking God for the coming of Jesus. Read all of Luke 2.
Isaiah 9:6
"For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
A prophetic text that names the one who was to come. It suits Christmas morning, when you want to contemplate who Jesus is. Read all of Isaiah 9.
Luke 2:14
"Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men."
The song of the angels, short and easy to read with others. It fits well at the end of a prayer for the world. Read all of Luke 2.
Matthew 1:23
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;” which is, being interpreted, “God with us."
A precious verse for people who are alone or grieving, since it reminds us that God is with us. Read all of Matthew 1.
How to Make Your Own Christmas Prayer
Start with a concrete sentence of gratitude: a face, a meal, a year you have come through. Saying thank you for something specific makes the prayer more genuine than a general formula.
Speak to God as to someone close. You can say "Father" or "Lord Jesus" and talk as you would to a friend, without looking for solemn vocabulary.
Think about length: if you pray at the table, thirty seconds is enough. If children are present, one or two sentences they can repeat involve them far better than a long speech.
End with a clear "amen." This little word lets everyone know it is over and join in, even those who are not comfortable with prayer.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What prayer should I say before the Christmas meal?
A Christmas table prayer comes in three parts: give thanks for the meal and for those who prepared it, remember why we celebrate Christmas, then ask for peace for the evening. Thirty seconds is enough, speaking to God simply.
How do I pray at Christmas when I am alone?
Speak to God out loud, as to someone in the room. Tell him what you feel, without forcing yourself to be joyful. You can read a passage from the Nativity, then contact someone by message or phone.
At Christmas, can we pray for someone who has died?
You can entrust your grief to God and thank him for what that person was to you. Prayer is a way to lay your pain before him and to ask for his comfort for those who remain.
How do I get children to pray at Christmas?
Offer a very simple sentence for them to repeat, or invite each child to say one thank you. Let them use their own words, even clumsy ones. A short prayer, said with seriousness and gentleness, often stays in memory.
to take notes and ask questions.