Even if they cry or get distracted, taking children to Mass is never a waste of time. Father Fernando López-Rivera Muñoz reminds us that the essence of the Eucharist is not what we do, but what God works in our souls. Let us not deny this great grace to the little ones!
In a recent episode of the Faith Talks podcast, the priest of Colegio Fomento Sansueña in Spain encouraged parents not to give up when taking their young children to Mass feels like an impossible mission.
“I truly, strongly recommend that parents take their children to Mass, even if they are very young, even if they don't understand, even if they make a fuss,” he said.
Father Fernando emphasized that what matters most at Mass is not what we can do, but what God works in the souls of those present.
“Even if you are at Mass and completely distracted, just by being there, God is acting in your soul,” he added.
The priest also emphasized that Christian parents have a duty to ensure their children receive the grace offered at Mass. Even if the child does not understand what is happening, simply being present before the Lord is already a transformative encounter — a Mass that is “worth its weight in gold.”
“Even a mother who is there watching over her child, who is running around and making noise — that Mass is worth its weight in gold to that mother. And I imagine the Virgin Mary contemplating that mother, that father, with that small child, and thanking the parents, saying: ‘Thank you for bringing me this needy child of mine.’”
For Father Fernando, simply being present at Mass opens the soul to divine action. If a child is not brought, it may not cause problems in the moment, but it deprives them of that special space where God wants to touch their heart.
“Being there helps a lot — a whole lot — because God acts in that soul. If you don't bring him, he won't bother you, but God won't act in that child's soul because he isn't there. That's why what’s important about Mass is what God does.”
The message, which has already garnered more than 100,000 likes on Instagram, has touched the hearts of many families striving to raise their children in the faith. Many users left messages in support of the priest’s words.
“I always take my children to Mass. One of them has autism 😢. You can imagine how difficult it is for him to stay still or quiet. But I still take him to God every Sunday, and during the week we listen to Mass on YouTube at home. And I continue with faith 🙏 asking God that he continues to improve 100%. Amen.”
“‘Let the children come to me’ ❤️❤️ (Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16).”
“What a relief and beautiful thing to hear this.”