THE GRACE AND MISSION OF GRANDPARENTS – Pope Francis
Old age has “a grace and a mission,” and one of the testimonies that can come to young people from this period
of life is “fidelity.” Pope Francis said. Society may discard the elderly, but God never discards anyone and calls us
to follow him in all stages of life. The elderly may have more free time which can be devoted more to a
spirituality for this stage. “Thank God there is the witness of the aged saints!”

July 6.   Sunday 14C.  At the beginning of the month for grandparents and the elderly Fr Patrick first called up those couples who had been married for 40 years and more and asked some of them to share how being faithful in good times and in bad had deepened their relationship with one another and with God.  Mike and Margaret had been married 52 years and were well known as, unlike many couples who worked separately, they had worked together for years in marriage and family ministry. They shared how praying together also for their grandchildren had sustained their relationships. Fr thanked them and promised the congregation that he would call on other grandparents during the month, even those who lost a partner or had never had a husband or wife.  

Scripture:   At that time the Lord appointed 72 others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. He said to them, “the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few.”  Luke 10:1-20. Pope Francis: Although the body ages, it still expresses that personal identity that first won our heart.    Even if others can no longer see the beauty of that identity, a spouse continues to see it with the eyes of love. The marriage bond finds new forms of expression and constantly seeks new ways to grow in strength. AL 164  JUBILEE. All of us, however, need to recover the joy of living, since men and women, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26), cannot rest content with getting along one day at a time, settling for the here and now and seeking fulfilment in material realities alone. This leads to a narrow individualism and the loss of hope; it gives rise to a sadness that lodges in the heart and brings forth fruits of discontent and intolerance.  SNC 9. Act and pray. For the needs of families, especially grandparents who are or have been married and the elderly.