Spiritual adoption is the act, at salvation, whereby God places the believer in his family. It is a transformative experience that redefines our identity and relationship with the Divine.
Part of what makes adoption such a wonderful thing Is remembering what you were and your family heritage before your conversion.
Spiritual Adoption Prayers And Crafts
Biblical Basis for Spiritual Adoption
The concept of spiritual adoption is deeply rooted in Scripture.
Ephesians 2:1-3 - And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
According to this passage, we were part of the sons of disobedience, the children of wrath, living according to the will of the devil. In Paul's life and our own, we did not need to be compelled to sin. We were already willing. Sin was our nature.
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Romans 8:14-17 - For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
Don't you just love that? The term "abba" was a term of endearment, maybe closer to daddy. It designates the closeness of the relationship.
Galatians 4:1-7 - But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
John 10:27-30 - “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
You are part of the Lord's family because he set his affections on you.
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1 John 3:1-3 - See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
We are told that the Lord is conforming us to the image of his son. Isn’t spiritual adoption awesome?!?! The first truth Is that we receive a new family.
According to Wayne Grudem, in his systematic theology, “Although adoption is a privilege that comes to us at the time we become Christians (John 1:12; Gal 3:26; 1 John 3:1-2), nevertheless, it is a privilege that is distinct from justification and distinct from regeneration. In regeneration we are made spiritually alive, able to relate to God in prayer and worship and able to hear his Word with receptive hearts. But it is possible that God could have creatures who are spiritually alive and yet are not members of his family and do not share the special privileges of family members - angels, for example, apparently fall into that category. Therefore, it would have been possible for God to decide to give us regeneration without the great privileges of adoption into his family. Moreover, God could have given us justification without the privileges of adoption into his family, for he could have forgiven our sins and given us right legal standing before him without making us his children. Regeneration has to do with our spiritual life within. Justification has to do with our standing before God’s law. But adoption has to do with our relationship with God as our Father, and in adoption we are given many of the greatest blessings that we will know for all eternity.
Isn't that just amazing that God would delight In his purpose to crush his son so that he can bring many sons to glory?
I have used the glory of human adoption In this message, but even It falls short of the glory of spiritual adoption. “Human parents can adopt children and come to love them every bit as much as they love their natural children. They can give an adopted child complete equality in the family life, resources, and inheritance. But no human parent can impart his own distinct nature to an adopted child. Yet that is what God miraculously does to every person whom He has elected and who has trusted in Christ. He makes them sons just like His divine Son.
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This week the author of I don't have enough Faith to be an atheist came to Purdue to demonstrate that faith Is not something only Christians exercise. The atheist exercises his religious convictions (that there Is no God) on the basis of faith. I appeal to you, It Is Impossible to live without faith.
He says we were born as sons of disobedience doing the will and works of our father the devil. Our sin separates us from a holy God, but God being rich and mercy, loving us with great love sent him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might be the righteousness of God In him.
Also because of God's purpose. God delights In his plans. Your adoption and my adoption and the adoptions that we hope to see this year are a direct result of God's kindness.
We have already realized that we have a new family, a loving father who allows us to call him father rather than one who hates us and wants to destroy us, and a loving father who Is continually conforming us Into the Image of God.
If you’re in Christ, nothing you can think/say/do or fail to think/say/do will change your status. Once a person is "in Christ" there is no removing that person.
Spiritual adoption was not paid for In cash. Our spiritual adoption was not paid for In cash. What price had to be paid for you and I to adopted and made sons and daughters of God? There was no other way.
Galatians 3 - Well, It Is true that all those who place their faith In Jesus are sons of Abraham. It does not mean however, that everyone born Is a son of Abraham. In fact, even biological descendants are not "children of Abraham" In a spiritual sense automatically.
The text says through Jesus Christ to himself. Only a few words, but full of meaning.
The Lord was not regretting his decision to put this plan In motion. No part of this adoption process was forced or coerced.
Spiritual Adoption Prayer
Spiritual Adoption is an age-appropriate family-friendly program based on an idea by Archbishop Fulton Sheen which is accomplished through intercessory prayer. The Spiritual Adoption Program saves the lives of unborn children at risk of abortion. Participants simply pledge to pray for nine months for an unborn baby, learn about the development of the preborn, and in the end sponsor a ‘baby shower’ for a local pregnancy resource center. There is no cost to participate and best of all…the program can be enjoyed by all, from pre-school to adult.
After the US Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen wrote a prayer to let the faithful know that we are not powerless against anti-life forces.
The idea of spiritual adoption came from a suggestion by the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, and his prayer is still widely used today:
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of [baby’s name] the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.”
Prayer will save lives! Many women, who discover they are 6 weeks pregnant, do not realize that the baby’s heart is beating. The baby can flex his fingers and toes and suck its thumb. Your prayers can make a difference as to whether this baby will be born or be aborted. You can save a baby from being aborted by spiritually adopting an unborn baby who is in danger of being aborted.
Participants in the Spiritual Adoption Program pledge to pray for nine months for an unborn baby. Since the child is adopted “spiritually”, it is not necessary to identify an actual unborn child. This can be done in a parish or school setting, with age appropriate materials. At the end of the nine months of prayer, a baby shower is held to gather items for a local pregnancy resource center or other organization that provides support for mothers and babies.
Below is a table outlining the typical gestational development milestones featured in spiritual adoption programs:
| Gestation (Weeks) | Developmental Milestone | Program Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Baby has a steady heartbeat, all organs functioning | Publish blurb in bulletin about baby’s growth |
| Ongoing | Regular development updates | Post pictures of the baby’s development |
| 9 Months | End of gestation | Hold a baby shower to collect donations |
Each month, to keep parishioners abreast of the development of the baby they had adopted, the ministry published a blurb in the bulletin about how the baby had grown. The blurb at 8-week’s gestation, for example, would explain that the baby has a steady heartbeat and that all of her organs are functioning. It would explain that she is about the size of a raspberry, weighs about .04 ounces, and has fingers and toes that are slightly webbed. Below the fetal development information, the committee included phone numbers for crisis pregnancy centers and post-abortion help.
“We wanted the people to see how their babies were growing because a picture’s worth a thousand words. At the end of each nine-month adoption session, the committee holds a baby shower in the vestibule of the church. They set up a table after Mass and collect items and financial donations for the babies they have adopted. They then donate these items to a local crisis pregnancy center. According to Caffrey, “The people are wonderful. Because of those pictures on St.
Mary Caffrey and Mary McIntyre hope that more parishes will want to spiritually adopt the preborn because this program helps people see the humanity and the beauty of the preborn baby. By using St. Raymond’s as an example, or by starting your own tradition, you can easily continue the legacy that Venerable Sheen began nearly 50 years ago when he taught us to pray for preborn babies.
Additional Idea - Plant a barren tree branch with several small limbs in a terra cotta planter. Bring the barren tree to life with the names of those who are praying for an unborn child and the name they have chosen for the child. Use a symbol (heart, baby feet, etc.) to hang on the tree. Each person places their name and the name of their unborn child on the symbol and places it back on the tree. Spiritual Adoptions can also be prayed for the homeless, the incarcerated, people with disabilities, etc.
The Spiritual Adoption program can be used by schools, religious education programs, or the entire parish. Prayer will save lives!
Additional Posters and Pins: The posters and precious feet pins (or precious hand pins) can also be ordered through the Heritage House Catalog.
You will not know who this baby may be; however, God knows his identity. You can name the baby whatever you like. You then commit to pray daily for this baby for the next 9 months. You will be the "Spiritual Parent" of this unborn baby and you will meet him/her in heaven one day. Your prayers will be heard and this baby will be carried to term and experience the fullness of Life!
Ask your Parish Priest or school leaders how you can incorporate a Spiritual Adoption Program in your community.
While it is not always possible to see the particular effects of prayer, we know through Scripture that God wants us to pray, and we know by faith that He answers all prayers. The educational aspect of the program is beneficial to people of all ages, including children. Churches and schools are encouraged to display the very gentle and appealing full color posters that both depict and describe in words the baby’s development each month.
Here are some Helpful Hints for Spiritual Adoptions:
- You can start a Spiritual Adoption at any time.
- Have someone from the committee speak at all the Masses explaining the program. You can use the explanation above.
- After the masses hand out the cards for them to fill out with their babies name.
- Each month put the Spiritual Adoption Update of the baby in the bulletin, or on social media so they can follow along and you can put a poster on display in the back of church each month.
- At the end of the 9 months you can hold a "baby shower" and have everyone bring in baby items.
- The items can be donated to a local pregnancy center. You can ask the pregnancy center if there is anything in particular they need.
Here are some steps to get started with a Spiritual Adoption Program:
- 2 Weeks Before Spiritual Adoption Begins - Place bulletin insert in parish bulletin (should run in the bulletin the Sunday before the program).
- 1 Week Before Program Begins - Have the celebrant or lector mention that the Spiritual Adoption program begins next weekend and that the details of the program can be found in the bulletin.
- Weekend the Program Begins - Place pledge cards in each pew along with some pencils.
- Two Weeks After Beginning Spiritual Adoption Program - Place a thank you note in the bulletin for those that signed up for the program letting the parishioners know how many individuals and families are participating.
- Every Month After Beginning Spiritual Adoption Program - Place announcement in bulletin with a reminder to continue to pray for their spiritually adopted baby along with information on the development of the unborn child.
- 9 Months After Beginning Spiritual Adoption Program - Plan a baby shower and ask parishioners to bring a new item to Mass for a local Crisis Pregnancy Center to celebrate the "birth" of their spiritually adopted baby.
By participating in spiritual adoption, individuals and communities can tangibly express their commitment to the sanctity of life and offer hope and support to those facing difficult decisions.
In closing, spiritual adoption is a profound and transformative experience that redefines our identity and relationship with God. It is a journey of faith, love, and service that enriches our lives and blesses the world around us.