Today, the church honors grandparents with the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Established by Pope Francis in 2021, the day is celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of July near the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. It is meant to serve as a joyful and renewed encounter between young and old. The theme for this year’s celebration, selected by the Holy Father, is Blessed are those who have not lost hope” (cf. Sir 14:2).
You can join us with this prayer:
Lord, faithful God, you who created us in your image, you who never leaves us alone and who accompanies us through every season of life, do not abandon us, take care of us, and grant us, once again, the ability to discover ourselves and recognize that we are Your children.
Renew our hearts with your Word and do not allow anyone to be cast aside. May your Spirit of love fill us with your tenderness and teach us to say: “I will not abandon you!” to those we meet on our journey.
With the help of your beloved Son, may we not lose the taste for fraternity and may we not conform to the sadness of loneliness. Help us to look to the future with renewed hope, and make the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly a day without loneliness, and a day abundant with the first fruits of your peace. Amen.
