There is no doubt that most Catholic adults can understand
and appreciate how beneficial time spent in adoration is for
their souls. What they may not have considered is how much it
can mean to children. In 1996 Pope John Paul II said, "I urge
priests, religious and lay people to continue and redouble
their efforts to teach the younger generations the meaning
and value of eucharistic adoration and devotion. How will
young people be able to know the Lord if they are not
introduced to the mystery of His presence?"
Children are actually more inclined than adults to approach
the Blessed Sacrament with full faith and trust in the
mystery before them. In their innocence and purity, they
accept that Jesus is really present somehow in the monstrance
and that they are exceptionally blessed to be able to kneel
before the King of Kings. But they need someone to get them
there.
With all the things we do and all the places we go each week,
making time for adoration with children may seem utterly
impossible. It's enough to make sure that everyone has clean
clothes and matching shoes to get out the door every Sunday.
How in the world can we add one more thing? Adoration is
prayer and the same holds true for it as for all other
prayer: The more you pray, the more time you have to pray.
Eucharistic adoration with children is worth the effort.
Father Antoine Thomas, whose ministry, "Children of Hope,"
has brought children's Holy Hours to parishes worldwide,
writes:
"After many years of leading Holy Hours for children, I can
tell you the benefits are numerous for both children and
their families:
1. Children who previously had only the weekly experience of
Mass discover that the host is actually the person of Jesus,
mysteriously hidden.
2. They develop a greater interest in the mysteries of our
faith and the liturgy of the Mass.
3. They understand - more than other children of their age
who have not experienced eucharistic adoration - the
relationship between the gift of the eucharistic presence of
Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross out of love for mankind.
4. They become much more aware of the various degrees of sin
and seem very eager to receive the sacrament of confession
often.
5. Families accompanying their children witness a growing
desire for peace and forgiveness within the family."
Those are pretty substantial returns on your investment of an
hour (or even less than a half hour for very young children).
Ideally, parishes will offer opportunities for children to
adore. Father Antoine's apostolate, childrenofhope.org,
offers very concrete guidance in establishing a parish
program. In the absence of a parish program, however, don't
avoid the adoration chapel.
Certainly, older children can be guided through a half hour
of prayer in a chapel. Print a "cheat sheet" for them to keep
whispering to a minimum. Encourage your children to be
attentive to God's voice - this isn't study hall; reading
should prompt prayer. They can follow the classic ACTS format
for prayer.
A: Adore. Tell God you adore Him, but even more, sit and be
awed. Take Him in just as you would a work of art.
C: Contrition. Briefly examine your conscience, express
sorrow and beg forgiveness of your sins.
T: Thanksgiving. Count your blessings. Thank God for every
single one.
S: Supplication. Tell God what your heart desires. Beg for
His mercy and goodness.
Then sit still and open your soul to what God is telling you.
Prayer isn't always talking to God.
Listening to God is truly fruitful prayer and children need
encouragement to cultivate that habit of prayer. Most
school-aged children can manage a half hour structured this
way without being at all intrusive to other people who might
be in the chapel.
Toddlers and preschoolers are another story. This is where a
program like the Children of Hope program is very helpful.
Without such a program, though, ask the person who organizes
adoration to suggest times when the chapel is usually not too
full. That person can even check with a perpetual adorer who
is scheduled in advance of your visit.
Start very small. Before you go, teach your children how to
double genuflect in front of the monstrance and become "very
small before Jesus." Then they can pray a Hail Mary, an Our
Father, a Glory Be and end with the divine praises. If your
children will be quiet for a few moments, kneel in silent
prayer. If not, leave the chapel knowing that you've acquired
abundant graces in that short ten minute visit. What a great
gift for a child to receive regularly at such a tender age
and how pleased our Lord must be when we let the little
children come!
Foss is a freelance writer from Northern Virginia. Her Web
site is elizabethfoss.com.