|
Why should we bring our children
to Eucharistic Adoration?
We are being called from the highest levels of our Catholic faith to bring our children to Eucharistic Adoration. Two former popes, Pope Benedict and St. Pope John Paul II, along with Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, are asking us to bring our children to the Lord.
Pope Benedict calls us to bring our children to Jesus through Eucharistic Adoration in his Apostolic Exhortation, The Sacrament of Charity. “I also recommend that, in their catechetical training, and especially in their preparation for First Holy Communion, children be taught the meaning and the beauty of spending time with Jesus, and helped to cultivate a sense of awe before his presence in the Eucharist.”
|
St. Pope John Paul II wrote from the Vatican on May 28, 1996, “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? Like the young Samuel, by learning the words of the prayer of the heart, they will be closer to the Lord, who will accompany them in their spiritual and human growth.”
|
Jesus too has called our children to Him in the Gospel of Matthew, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14)
What an awesome gift we can give to our youth, to spend time before the very Presence of Jesus!

Our children live in a busy, hectic world. We are running from school to activity to yet another activity. Adoration provides our youth a chance to slow down and quiet themselves before Jesus: a chance to nurture and grow their relationship with our Lord, a chance to deepen their prayer life, a chance to listen to Jesus. As in the above quote from St. Pope John Paul II, “Like the young Samuel, by learning the words of the prayer of the heart, they will be closer to the Lord, who will accompany them in their spiritual and human growth,” this time in Eucharistic Adoration builds a strong faith foundation.

In Eucharistic Adoration, our youth will develop a deep and personal relationship with Jesus who will guide them through their entire lives. This time with Jesus in Adoration flows forth into their daily lives and teaches them to turn to Jesus often. How wonderful to develop this relationship early in life which will hold them close to Jesus in their youth, college, and adult years.
I told a group of youth once, “There are many things we long for in life. We long to have friends. We long to fit in. We long to feel confident in ourselves. We long to know how to make good choices and to know what direction to head in life. But the deepest longing, one we sometimes can’t even name or don’t understand is a longing to be with Jesus. It is a place within us that only Jesus can fill. He can fill us with His guidance, His mercy, and His love when we spend time with Him. We are being offered something wonderful here – time with Jesus in Adoration, time to fill that longing within us. How wonderful for us to be able to be in the same room as our Lord, our greatest friend, – sitting and praying with Him, loving Him, and feeling Him love us!”
Copyright
All plans, activities, information, etc. on this site are free; however they are only to be used for an individual parish, classroom, and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or re-transmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.
Please do not link directly to any PDF activity or plan using its URL (the unique address for a file that is accessible on the Internet). You are always welcome to link to the specific web page.
Copyright © 2006 - 2024