From Aleteia.org
The word “thanks” in modern English has a rich history, one that is ultimately derived from a Latin word. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “The word grace, which, as applied to prayer over food, always in pre-Elizabethan English took the plural form graces, means nothing but thanksgiving. (Cf. the Latin gratiarum actio and the Italian grazie, ‘thanks.’)”
While the word “grace” is most often tied to the definition of “unmerited divine assistance given to humans,” it is historically connected to “giving thanks” to God before or after a meal. In a certain sense, this is not surprising as the food we eat is often given to us through no effort of our own. Food is a great gift that sustains us and keeps us alive and God is the ultimate creator of it all, providing everything that we eat.
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The word “thanks” in modern English has a rich history, one that is ultimately derived from a Latin word. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “The word grace, which, as applied to prayer over food, always in pre-Elizabethan English took the plural form graces, means nothing but thanksgiving. (Cf. the Latin gratiarum actio and the Italian grazie, ‘thanks.’)”
While the word “grace” is most often tied to the definition of “unmerited divine assistance given to humans,” it is historically connected to “giving thanks” to God before or after a meal. In a certain sense, this is not surprising as the food we eat is often given to us through no effort of our own. Food is a great gift that sustains us and keeps us alive and God is the ultimate creator of it all, providing everything that we eat.
Read More...
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