Children’s Adoration

(This talk, (with ADORATION) was presented to a group of Teachers, Catechists and Youth Leaders, with Primary School children and some parents present)

Good morning, everyone! How lovely to see so many children! Welcome to you all. I am hoping we have some Teachers, Catechists and Leaders who teach the faith to children with us today, that of course includes parents and grandparents.

To begin, I’d like to speak to the children. Would you like to come down to the front? Did you know that Jesus said to His disciples, who were His friends “truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven” Matt 18:3

This would have been a shock for them. What did Jesus mean, I wonder? I think God knows that little children have pure hearts that are open. They trust their parents and like to believe what is taught to them. He wants everyone to be like this.

STORY ABOUT GOD’S GREAT LOVE

More than 2000 years ago God sent His Son, Jesus down onto the earth to be with us, not only to teach us, but to do something very special that would help us all to get to heaven.

He chose to die on the cross so that we could live forever!

Before he went back to heaven, He didn’t want to leave us alone, so he left a very special gift for us.

At the Last Supper Jesus took bread and said “this is My body, which will be given up for you.”

Then He took wine and said “this is the cup of My blood which will be poured out for you.

Do this in memory of Me.” The true translation means ‘Do this to make Me present” (Here)

Every time we have Mass the Priest says the same words as Jesus, and a wonderful miracle happens on the altar – the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus, so when we receive Holy Communion, we are receiving God into ourselves.

After Mass the priest puts the Communion Hosts that are left into the Tabernacle which means Jesus is there in the Tabernacle.

Jesus is present here with us now in the Tabernacle (point to the Tabernacle.) It is so special that God is here and because he is here, really here, this is a very sacred place. Sacred means holy because God is holy.That’s why when we come into the church it’s so important to be aware that God is here and as we come up to our seat we genuflect to Jesus in the Tabernacle. That means we go down on one knee and bow our heads. Sometimes we do this without thinking … but I’m going to ask you to try and always remember to say something to Jesus in your heart when you genuflect. You could say ‘I love you Jesus’ or ‘my Lord and my God’ or ‘hello my friend,’ something lovely like that.

Jesus said something else that is very special, I wonder if you’ve heard it?

He said to His Disciples:

“Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to ones like these.”

So today we have come to Him

In a little while the Priest is going to bring Jesus out of the Tabernacle and onto the altar. This is what we call Eucharistic Adoration.

Adoration means we adore Jesus, which is to come to Him and to learn to love Him in a very deep way.

STORY ABOUT THE ANGEL OF PORTUGAL

In a town called Fatima, a long way across the world, over a hundred years ago, God sent an Angel to visit 3 little shepherd children, Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia.

The Angel held a beautiful gold chalice and a Communion Host, which he suspended in the air in front of them and bowed low to the ground, his forehead touching the ground and showed them how to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

He taught them a prayer of adoration and how to pray for other people to love God:

“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee! I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love Thee.”

He also gave them Holy Communion, the Body, and Blood of Christ.

One of the little shepherd children, Francisco who was 8, especially loved to spend time with Jesus in the tabernacle, asking for all the grace he needed. He called Him the Hidden Jesus. How true. Jesus is hidden in the little white host in the tabernacle. Jesus is really there!

When Francisco received Holy Communion he said, “I am so happy because I have the Hidden Jesus in my heart.”

Now I’m going to talk to the grown-ups, but I’d like you to listen too.

My first experience of children’s adoration comes from a Priest named Father Antoine Thomas who has a ministry called Children of Hope New Zealand. Fr Antoine visited WA some years ago to teach and encourage us. He has a website, Children of Hope New Zealand and I strongly encourage you to have a look at his resource. (Handouts)

Introducing Eucharistic Adoration to children is most important in their spiritual formation, and very beneficial when practised from a young age. Time spent in the presence of Jesus consolidates in them belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which is central to our Faith. Eucharistic Adoration brings the children into direct contact and relationship with Jesus, (the One they are learning about at school or in Catechism class.) There is a vast difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him personally. It’s the difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge. Once Jesus is encountered at the level of their spirit, they will never forget the experience or lose touch with Him. This will help them immensely in their lives – to live in peace and harmony with the world.

If you have a desire to bring children before the Lord in adoration, first it is wise to have a regular holy hour yourself. There are many ways to introduce children’s adoration and I will describe 4 examples:

At a school near me, Loreto Primary School we introduced 5 minutes of silent adoration after each class Mass, so the children have a chance to sit and enjoy the Peace of God’s presence. One Yr 5 boy said to his Mum: “I felt holy all day”. One of the teachers was told that there might not be time for adoration that day, she said… ‘oh no please let’s have adoration’
Another school with a chapel, Divine Mercy College, Perth WA which is a secondary school, has adoration every morning. The Principal who is an acolyte, exposes Jesus on the altar each morning and the children spend 10 minutes with Jesus before going to class.
There is a priest who takes the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance from classroom to classroom andJesus Himself blesses the children.
Mothers adoration group.

It is paramount to give simple Catechesis at or just before adoration, so they will know about Jesus being really present.

I have some handouts with some suggestions of how to begin.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (Hymn)

Address the children:

1. Father is going to bring Jesus out of the Tabernacle now and place Him on the altar for us.

Please kneel.

At this time we sing a simple hymn of praise:

O’ Sacrament most holy…..

*Jesus is on the altar now. This is very special. We are now in the presence of Jesus, who is God. How awesome!

*In this silent time, you can talk to Jesus, he’s very interested in listening to you.
*He wants to know all your needs, worries, fears … as well as your joys and dreams. You can tell Him anything or ask Him for anything.
*Or you can simply just relax and enjoy the peace, as he surrounds you in His love.

““ 5 mins““`

2. Jesus wants us to be close to him, as our best friend.

*Even though he created the whole universe and everything in it including you and your Mum and Dad and your family and your friends, he wants to be close to YOU!
* He wants a special friendship as if you were the only person in his life.
* Today you can see him on the altar not in his human form but in the Blessed Sacrament.
He is hidden here, but He is very much here, and with you. Enjoy His Peace….

““5 mins““

REPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Sacrament most holy…..

Closing Prayer (Or even Blessing the children with Jesus in the Monstrance by the Priest)

Thank you all for coming … we have handouts for adults and books for the children.