Christ Church, Oxford

Grace

Before formal Hall each evening, the following Latin grace is recited by a scholar of the House:

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N?s miser? homin?s et eg?n?, pr? cib?s qu?s n?bis ad corporis subsidium benign? es larg?tus, tibi, Deus omnipot?ns, Pater cælestis, gr?ti?s reverenter agimus; simul obsecrant?s, ut i?s sobri?, modest? atque gr?t? ?t?mur.

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Per I?sum Christum Dominum nostrum.

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On special occasions the remaining words of the full grace replace Per I?sum Christum, etc.:

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?nsuper petimus, ut cibum angel?rum, v?rum panem cælestem, verbum De? æternem, Dominum nostrum I?sum Christum, n?bis imperti?ris; utque ill? m?ns nostra pasc?tur et per carnem et sanguinem eius fov??mur, al?mur, et corr?bor?mur.

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There is also a similarly long formal grace intended for use after meals, but this is rarely heard. Instead, when High Table rises, by which time the Hall is largely empty, the senior don simply says Benedict? bened?c?tur.

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