Children’s Adoration Handout

Introducing Eucharistic Adoration to children is very important in their spiritual formation, and most beneficial when
practised from a very young age.
Eucharistic Adoration brings the children into direct contact and relationship with Jesus. (The One they are learning
about at school or Catechism class.) 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.

There are many ways to introduce children’s adoration, and I will describe a few examples:

In a school:

  1. Start with a short Catechesis and time of adoration for the staff.
  2. Have 5 minutes of silent adoration after each class Mass, or a school Mass.
  3. At a school with a chapel, see if a priest is available or a teacher who is an Acolyte or Extraordinary Minister, can
    expose Jesus on the altar each morning, for the children to spend 5/10 minutes with Jesus before going to class.
  4. Ask a Priest to take the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance from classroom to classroom and Jesus Himself
    blesses the children.
  5. Encourage the Priest to expose the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a short teaching about the Eucharist before
    scheduled class Reconciliation sessions, so they experience exposition while waiting their turn in the confessional.

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

In a Parish:

  1. Young mothers can meet for a short period of adoration with their babies and young children…then go for coffee!
  2. Encourage parents to take their children with them to they own Holy Hour.
  3. Encourage parents to visit the Chapel /Church on their way to or from planned outings
  4. Organise opportunities for Catechists to visit the Chapel/Church to pray briefly before commencing their
    Sacramental classes
  5. Ask your Parish priest to direct their homilies towards the children and share stories and simple teachings centred
    around the Holy Mass and Eucharistic Adoration.

STORY ABOUT GOD’S GREAT LOVE

I have put some ideas together as to what you would say to the children just before the Blessed Sacrament is
exposed, or sometimes after. You would only use SOME of these and adapt them according to the age of the
children…. use your own language, not necessarily mine!
Also, it is very helpful to look at the Mass readings for the day. Often, they will point to the Eucharist or to adoration.
Most importantly, call on the Holy Spirit to help and inspire you.
These are three key things to teach the children:

  1. The Real Presence – Tabernacle and exposition
  • When Father is bringing Jesus out of the Tabernacle onto the altar it is very special.
  • We know this is really Jesus because when Father CONSECRATES the bread and wine at Mass, he uses the same
    words that Jesus used at the Last Supper ‘this is my body’ ‘this is my blood’. When these powerful words are spoken,
    the Holy Spirit comes down upon the altar and the bread and wine changes, to become the Body and Blood of Jesus.
    This is called TRANSUBSTANTIATION.
    We call the Consecrated Host (Holy Communion Host), which is the Body and Blood of Jesus, the Blessed
    Sacrament, or the Eucharist.
  • We are now in the presence of Jesus, who is God. How awesome!
  1. Jesus wants your Friendship – Jesus wants us to be close to him.
  • 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 loves you as if you were the only person who existed.
  • How do you make friends with Jesus or let him into your life? It’s very similar to how you make friends with anyone.
    You talk to your friends, spend time with them, that’s how you get to know them. So, spend time with Jesus!
    When you come into a church or chapel like this one and kneel before the Tabernacle where Jesus is always present,
    or when you come to adoration like this, Jesus is in the same room with you …. it’s a great way to make friends!
    *Of course you can pray with Him anywhere you go and that is a very good habit but being in His Real Presence is
    very sacred and special.
  • Today you can see Him on the altar not in His human form but in the Blessed Sacrament.
    He is hidden here in the Host, but He is very much present and with you.
  1. What to do in the Silence –
    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 that comes from being in the presence of God. It’s important to know
    that Jesus, though He appears to be so still and silent, He’s actually doing a lot.
    He’s smiling at you.
    He’s wrapping you in His Love, in His peace, and in His goodness.
    He is blessing you with His Grace. This means He is giving you special spiritual gifts. You may feel the warmth of His
    heart, which is like a fire burning with love for you!
    He’s changing your heart to be more like His, so you can love yourself and others better.
    You will feel the Peace, that is another of His greatest gifts.

OLDER CHILDREN: We know about our 5 senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell …. well when we spend
regular time with God, we develop another sense which is the spiritual one and it’s most important. We develop our spiritual awareness, that is, in this silent time of adoration we receive the ability to recognise God’s tremendous love
for us. We can see how God is answering our prayers. We recognise Him being active in every part of our lives. We
see Him reflected in the flowers, trees, wind, animals, sunshine, ocean and especially in our family and friends.

Tell the story of God sending the Angel of Fatima – or similar

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 chalice (gold cup) and a Communion Host, which he suspended in the air in front of them and bowed low to the ground (You can demonstrate this if you feel comfortable doing so!) and showed them how to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He taught them a prayer of adoration and praying 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 then gave them Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Christ. God only sends Angels to Earth for very
important messages. Here He was teaching the children the supreme importance of Holy Communion and adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. After this event the Virgin Mary appeared to them and gave them other messages for the world, asking the people to return to loving God.

Please look at:
https://www.childrenofhope.nz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZKpETyYqyk
You will find other helpful information on the Internet under ‘Children’s Adoration’ or ‘Children’s Eucharistic Holy Hours.’