How to Take Kids to Adoration (Free Printable)

Kids are just as welcome as grown-ups to encounter Jesus in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

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Can kids go to Adoration? Well, what did Jesus have to say about it? Here’s what He had to say (hint: yes!) and how to prep your kids for this awesome form of prayer.

What is Adoration?

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, or Eucharistic Adoration, is spending time adoring or worshipping the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

Is Adoration for Kids?

Yes! Adoration is great for kids. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.” Your children are just as welcome to come and worship their Savior as anybody else.

What did Jesus Say About Children?

When considering bringing little ones to Eucharistic Adoration, we must think: What would Jesus have us mothers do? Would He want us to scold them? Would He want us to leave them at home?

No! He would welcome them. He said:

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ²He called a child, whom he put among them, ³and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18:1-5 NRSV-CE

It sounds to me that the humbling incidents many parents have encountered at church with little ones (“ARE WE DONE YET?” during the consecration, anyone?) are just what Jesus prescribed and we should bring children to Him.

And in fact He also said:

¹³Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; ¹⁴but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” ¹⁵And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.
Matthew 19:13-15 NRSV-CE

How Do You Teach Children to Go to Adoration?

Explain the concept. Before bringing your kids to Adoration, go over the basics (I’ll list some below!).
Plan ahead. A little preparation goes a long way when it comes to keeping quiet. Pick a good time when they aren’t likely to be tired or hungry. Bring along a Children’s Bible, journal or Adoration printable for kids (yes, I made one for you!).
Start small. Depending on the age of your child, 5-15 minutes might be plenty for their first time.
Make it real. Jesus is real and He is truly present to us. He wants us to come and meet Him. Encourage your children to say hello and goodbye to Jesus as they enter and leave.
Repeat. In order to help Adoration become a part of their prayer lives, they need to go regularly. Making time to visit the Blessed Sacrament weekly or monthly such as on First Fridays is a wonderful way to give your child plenty of exposure to this devotion.
Step back. Jesus is alive and is truly present to us in the Blessed Sacrament. Trust that grace will flow. We don’t need to control our children’s experiences and in fact, if we listen to Matthew 18, we should be learning from them.

Preparing Children to Go to Adoration

Topical discussion questions for bringing children to adoration

Who is Jesus to them
What is the Eucharist
How, when and why to genuflect
Ideas of how to pray
How we can allow others to pray too by being quiet

Prayers and Hymns they may hear at Adoration

O Salutaris Hostia

O salutaris Hostia,
Quae caeli pandis ostium:
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria,
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patria.
Amen.

English Translation:

O saving Victim, opening wide,
The gate of heaven to man below!
Our foes press on from every side;
Thine aid supply, thy strength bestow.

To Thy great name by endless praise,
Immortal Godhead, one in Three;
Oh, grant us endless length of days,
In our true native land with Thee. Amen.

Tantum Ergo Sacramentum

Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui:
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.

Genitori, Genitoque
Laus et iubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio:
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio.

Amen.

Listen to this in Gregorian chant.

English Translation:

Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail,
Lo! oe’r ancient forms departing
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail.

To the everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Spirit proceeding
Forth from each eternally,
Be salvation, honor blessing,
Might and endless majesty.

Amen.

Listen to the Matt Maher version.

The Divine Praises

Blessed be God.
Blessed be his holy name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be his most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be his most Precious Blood.
Blessed by Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, virgin and mother.
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.
Amen.

O Sacrament Most Holy

O Sacrament most holy,
O Sacrament divine,
All praise and all thanksgiving
be every moment thine.

Holy God We Praise Thy Name

Holy God, we praise thy name!
Lord of all, we bow before thee,
All on earth thy scepter claim,
All in heaven above adore Thee;
Infinite thy vast domain,
Everlasting is thy reign.

Important Adoration Vocabulary and Concepts

You certainly don’t need to know all of these definitions to go to Adoration, but this list may be helpful if your children have questions.

Adoration: Worship directed to God.
Altar: The table where the sacrifice of the Mass is offered.
Benediction: A special blessing that often consists of the singing of hymns or litanies followed by the priest taking the monstrance into his hands and with it making the sign of the cross over the people.
Blessed Sacrament: The bread and wine that become the Body and Blood of Christ.
Candles: Special beeswax candles are used at Mass and at other liturgical functions.
Ciborium: A large gold-lined cup with a cover used for Holy Communion.
Consecration: An act by which a person or thing is dedicated to the service and worship of God by prayers, rites, and ceremonies.
Eucharist: Means “thanksgiving,” refers to the Blessed Sacrament.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: When the Holy Eucharist is taken from the tabernacle and exposed for worship.
Genuflect: To touch one knee to the floor in worship, often while blessing yourself in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Holy Hour: Spending one hour in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: “Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?” Matthew 26:40
Humeral Veil: A long silk shawl draped over the priest or deacon’s shoulders at certain liturgical times including Benediction, and used to indicate the sacredness of the Blessed Sacrament.
Incense: At Adoration, incense is burned at the Benediction.
Sacrament: A “sacred sign,” or visible manifestation of the invisible glory of God. We have seven major sacraments.
Transubstantiation: The changing of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ during Holy Mass.
Perpetual Adoration: Worshiping of God that continues all day, every day by sharing the devotion among many people.
Tabernacle: A special box where the unconsumed Holy Eucharist is kept.
Vestments: Special garments worn by the clergy when performing Church ceremonies.

If you want to read more on these topics, I recommend checking out catholic.com/encyclopedia.

FAQs

Are there different styles of monstrances?

Yes! Historically there were many styles of monstrances. The most popular style nowadays is the sunburst.

Is Jesus truly present in the Eucharist?

Yes! Jesus is truly alive and He loves you. He wants to be close to you in the Blessed Sacrament. If you are wondering if Jesus is truly there for you, don’t ask me, go ask Him! A trusted priest may also help you encounter Jesus in the Eucharist.

Free Printable Monstrance Adoration Colouring Page

Wait! Don’t go without checking out this colouring page I made for you. My kids have really benefited from using Catholic colouring pages to help them stay quiet for prayer times. I designed this monstrance colouring page with a great quote from the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

The greatest love story of all time
is contained in a tiny white host.
Venerable Fulton J Sheen

How to Use this Adoration Colouring Page

There are many ways you can use this Adoration colouring page printable:

Homeschool or Catechism lesson on Adoration
Quiet time
To help kids learn to be quiet at Adoration
To help children learn meditative prayer
However you want!

How To Access the Adoration Colouring Page

Drop your email in the box below.
Check your inbox and click through to the PDF.
Save it to your computer or phone.
Print it off at home or at your local printer.
For personal use only, thanks! Email me if you’d like added permissions.
Watermark free version available on my Etsy shop.

This colouring page is also available for a super low price on my Etsy shop without the small watermark at the bottom. Thanks for your support!

Check out my 6-page Eucharist Colouring Bundle on Etsy!

eucharist adoration theme coloring bundle for kids with saint quotes - on brown wood backdrop with coloured pencils in the foreground and teal banners

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