HOLY HOUR EMPHASIZES PRAYERS OF LITTLE ONES

04-09-2008

WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPT. 3, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is counting on the prayers of children, as he knows they have an important mission in the Church, says the general secretary of the Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood Association.

Father Patrick Byrne, who will lead the 6th Annual Worldwide Children's Eucharistic Holy Hour, said this in a video message inviting Catholic school children to participate in the event, which will take place in dioceses worldwide Oct. 3. The theme for this year's holy hour is "Jesus, the Children of the World Wish to Console You."

An initiative of the World Apostolate of Fatima's division in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the holy hour first began in 2003 as a way to mark the Year of the Rosary, proclaimed by Pope John Paul II. Some 3,300 Catholic school children gathered before the Eucharist to pray the rosary that year in St. Paul, Minnesota.

From there it has grown internationally through the World Apostolate of Fatima and the Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood Association.

Now in its sixth year, the event takes place on the first Friday of October. Since 2006, the "Eucharistic epicenter" of the event has been the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

Dana Scallon, the Irish singer who sang for Benedict XVI during his trip to the United States in April, and at World Youth Day in Australia, will host the event next month. The event will be broadcast by EWTN to more than 40 nations.

In his video message, Father Byrne explained, "We will have a lovely procession, crown a lovely statue of Our Lady of Fatima, and pray before the Blessed Sacrament and join in the World Mission Rosary."

Father Byrne encouraged parishes and schools to gather children to participate in the holy hour "to pray for peace in our families and in our world."

"The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI counts on the prayers of the children," the priest added. "He knows that you are part of the mission of the Church, so please join in."

Blessed Francisco

Father Byrne also noted that this year also marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Francisco: "He was one of the three children from Fatima, of the little shepherds, who always wanted to pray before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament."

Connie Schneider, the international chairwoman of the event, explained to ZENIT that it was Blessed Francisco "who spent endless hours before the Blessed Sacrament, praying the prayers the 'Angel of Peace' [Our Lady] taught them."

Schneider said she was recently inspired by the words of Benedict XVI who said, when asked about the pastoral challenge of administering sacraments to children who don't attend Church regularly, that "the proper meaning of catechesis, in fact, must be this: to bring the flame of Jesus' love, even if it is a small one, to the hearts of children, and through the children to their parents, thus reopening the places of faith of our times."

Schneider said the Pope "explained our movement to a tee."

"It gathers the Catholic school children of the world before our Eucharistic Lord, as they make reparation and pray for their families, because the parents cannot, they are so busy and tired," she said. "Then Jesus does what no one else can do; he fans the flame of faith in the hearts of the children, the gift of faith which was given to them at baptism, this is the door that will initiate the new times in the families of the world."

Miracle

Schneider said the success of the event is "absolutely a miracle." She received word this week that dioceses in Nigeria and Tanzania will also be joining in this year.

Although the event will be broadcast live, it's not necessary to tune in to be able to participate, noted Schneider.

The essential element for participation, she explained, is that the "children of the world gather before the Eucharistic Lord and, following the program, pray for peace in our families and in the world."

The program, which is available on the event's Web site, includes two essential elements: gathering children before the Blessed Sacrament, and prayer.

The main prayers include those which were taught to the children of Fatima by Our Lady -- who they referred to as the Angel of Peace -- the entrustment prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the World Mission Rosary for all the families of the world.

"We hope next year there will be live participation," added Schneider. "Our goal is to have a satellite hookup so the children of the world can see one another and follow up later on."

When asked what she hopes the yearly holy hour would bring, she responded, "The beginning of a new springtime beginning with the children of the world."

http://www.zenit.org/article-23540?l=english