Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is preparing to lead an annual effort to get kids praying. Called “One Million Children Praying the Rosary,” the event is expected to draw participants from over 130 countries. This year, ACN has already registered more than 500,000 children.
According to ACN, the annual tradition started in Caracas, Venezuela, in 2005. There, a small group of children had gathered to pray the Holy Rosary. It was in the midst of their prayer that several of the women keeping an eye on the tots “felt the presence of the Virgin Mary.”
This presence brought to mind a promise from St. Padre Pio: “When one million children pray the Rosary, then the world will change.” Thus began an annual world-wide campaign to promote faith in the power of children’s prayers. The event has been held each year since 2006 and every iteration has drawn more participants.
In 2021, “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” will take place on October 18, at 9 a.m. ACN explains that the date is significant as the feast day of St. Luke the Evangelist. St. Luke gave us one of the most vivid accounts of Jesus’ childhood, as well as keeping a close relationship with Mary. The date is further relevant as October is traditionally the month of the Rosary.
For those who sign up, ACN provides educational material to teach the correct way to pray the Rosary. Their “prayer kit” is available in 27 languages and is free to download. Other resources include Catholic-themed coloring pages and listed Rosary prayers to keep kids engaged from the sign of the cross to the Apostles' Creed.
Over the years, the campaign has seen hundreds of thousands of children participate. Last year, they registered more than 509,000 children before their internet server collapsed under the weight. This year, however, they have fixed their site to accept all who wish to register. They already have more than 510,000 signed up, and that’s six months before the event.
The 2021 campaign is promising to be their largest event to date. With half a year left to sign up, ACN may come closer than ever to reaching their goal of one million children. Click here to register your kids to pray today.
If your child is too excited to wait, then click here to download your prayer kit early and get started praying the Rosary today! This is also a good way to teach the prayers to children who may be unfamiliar with them. Practice makes perfect, as they say, so why wait?
