Eucharistic adoration is not just for adults anymore

Published: 2004-04-01

PHILADELPHIA (CNS) -- Ask parents why they don't take their children to eucharistic adoration and most will tell you the same thing: Kids don't understand it. But Father Antoine Thomas, a member of the Congregation of St. John, thinks that they can. "Do we adults understand the mystery of the Eucharist? We believe in it, but do we understand it?" he said. "We think we understand it better than children, but my experience after 10 years of leading children's holy hours is that children understand it much more than adults in many, many respects." Father Thomas began leading Children of Hope holy hours for youngsters in his native France in 1994, and continued the practice after he came to the United States to found a new priory in Peoria, Ill. Since then, he has given many youth retreats throughout the United States, has made numerous appearances on the Eternal Word Television Network, and has spoken at dozens of parishes across the country on the topic of a holy hour for children.

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