7 Beautiful Benefits of Catholic Mass for Kids
In a chaotic and busy world, Sunday Mass is the perfect place to rest and recharge. It allows us time and space to spend quietly with the Lord. We know that the Mass has an infinite number of spiritual benefits for all who assist lovingly and reverently, but there are so many practical and physical benefits too! Today, I will share 7 beautiful benefits of Catholic Mass for kids (plus one bonus benefit for us parents).
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1. Attending Sunday Mass helps form them in virtue and discipline
A huge benefit for kids when they attend Mass regularly is that they are growing in virtue! When they attend Mass, we encourage them to sit attentively and quietly for the Holy Sacrifice. Attending Mass helps our children grow in obedience, patience, and self control. Praying the familiar prayers, kneeling, making the Sign of the Cross, and assisting at Mass allows them to grow in piety.
The Mass helps children practice good discipline. It is difficult for children to sit patiently at Mass, but it will benefit them in other areas of their life. This weekly time of virtue training in obedience, self control, and patience will serve them well in schoolwork, waiting at the doctor, waiting at the grocery store, and waiting their turn for the slide. It is loving and necessary to help our children grow in virtue.
2. Children benefit from the routine and order
According to St. Thomas Aquinas, “virtue is a habit.” In the Summa Theologica, he writes:
Virtue denotes a certain perfection of a power. Now every power is perfected by an object, as appears from what has been said above … But the power is also perfected in regard to its operation by a habit, whereby it is inclined well to act. And in this respect, virtue is a habit (emphasis added)
Virtue is obtained by repeating the virtuous habit again and again. If you want to learn to play the piano, ride a bike, or knit, you practice diligently and carefully everyday. Mastery of the new habit or skill requires repetition and determination. Attending Sunday Mass every week is how you will establish the habits of piety, self control, and obedience. Going over and over again to allow children to practice these virtues will bear great fruit.
Even if you have to keep taking away the hymnal so the baby doesn’t rip it.
Even if you have to take the toddler to the bathroom 3 times.
Habits are being established and virtues are growing.
In addition, God created an ordered world. Thus, children and adults alike benefit from routine and order. It is comforting to know what will happen every Sunday. The order of the Mass is always the same, and this is another comfort. The prayers and readings are familiar week after week, year after year.
3. Mass allows children quiet and rest from the world
The world is so busy and loud. True peace and quiet is rare to find. The peace and quiet at Mass with no technology is a true gift. It’s one of the few places where people actually respect putting away technology, cell phones, and noise. Kids have lots of energy, of course, but they also need rest! They need stilness. They need a chance to sit and meditate and practice listening to God.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Even if they aren’t perfectly quiet they will still benefit from being present in the calm and stillness. They will benefit from the beautiful music glorifying God, from hearing the Word of God being read, and from praying side by side with you.
4. Routinely practicing religion improves mental health
American is in a mental health crisis, especially among children and teens. The effects of practicing religion on mental health have been studied. This study summarized the findings of 32 research articles published between 2000 and 2023. The study looked at the relationship of religion and spirituality on areas of “psychopathology, suicide, utilization of services, conceptualization of illness, trauma, identity, and coping.” Children who practiced religion had lower rates of substance use, lower rates of depression, less anxiety, and higher resilience after trauma.
When we attend Mass and authentically practice our Catholic faith, we feel the love and protection of our Heavenly Father. Following God helps us feel guided, supported, known, seen, and loved. As practicing Catholics, we are also connected to a community of believers who will support us and lift us up. This makes us less lonely, less depressed, and less anxious. We are given methods to cope to get us through difficult trials. We are fortified and strengthened by the Sacraments. When we are open to it, we are filled with His grace.
Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible."
5. Children are learning WHO to worship
When we assist at Mass, we should do so with reverence, attention, and devotion. People are naturally made for worship. If the proper outlet for this worship is not supplied, then we make false gods to worship (material goods, sports, education – things that are inherently good, but that become bad when we worship them). When we show our children WHO to worship, we are rightly ordering their desire to worship.
6. Spending time in Jesus’ presence allows children to form a strong relationship with Him
In order to get to know someone, we must spend time with him or her. The same is true of knowing God. Jesus is really and truly present in the Eucharist at every single Mass and in every tabernacle of the world. At Mass, we hear the Word of God in the readings. The bread and wine are transformed into Christ’s body and blood.
We not only witness a true and mysterious miracle during the Consecration, but we also are in the TRUE PRESENCE of God who is hidden in the form of that very bread and wine! If your children are of age, not only will they be in His presence, but they will be able to receive HIM – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. And, they will be changed from this experience.
I know deep in my soul that, during the years my mom dragged me to Mass, God was working on me! My heart was hardened at the time, so the grace couldn’t quite penetrate as well as it does now, but it was there and He was working.
7. Assisting in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass reminds children of their true identity
God wants to lavish you and your children with His love! It’s true! Particularly, He wants to children to be near to Him. In the Gospel of Matthew, “but Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19: 14 When you take your kids to Mass every Sunday, you are loving them by allowing God to love and nurture them. God wants a relationship with them.
According to Psalm 139: 18, God formed our inmost being and knit us in our mother’s womb! No one knows each of us more intimately than the Father. Our identity as daughters and sons of God must be reinforced, and the Mass is where this happens. We get distracted in a loud, busy world, and it’s easy to forget who we are and Who made us. Take your children to Mass to help strengthen their perfect, wonderfully made, God-given identity as children of the King! We are all children of God first. So, take your kids to visit The Father on Sunday!
8th Bonus Benefit of Mass - it's for you!
There’s an 8th bonus reason to take your children to Mass each and every Sunday. It’s forming you!
When you gently shush the child saying his ABCs too loud instead of losing your temper, your growing in patience and gentleness.
When your toddler throws himself into the aisle and has an epic tantrum, you are growing in humility.
When you hug your sleepy (heavy) baby and kneel during the Consecration, you are growing in fortitude, love, and piety.
We are here to guide our children to Heaven, and they are here to guide and form us too.