World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly” Do not cast me off in my old age”

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SOUTHERN AFRICAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE

DEPARTMENT FOR FORMATION, LIFE AND APOSTOLATE OF THE LAITY

“Do not cast me off in my old age.”

The 28th of July this year will mark the Fourth World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. In order to mark this special day, Pope Francis wrote a letter in which he highlighted the meaning of growing old, the plight that many grandparents and the elderly face today and how we can respond by becoming a caring society, after the example of the biblical figure Ruth.

The Pope’s letter begins by assuring the elderly that God never abandons anyone: “In the Bible, then, we find both the certainty of God’s presence at every stage of life…”. The title of the letter comes from Psalm 71:9 where the psalmist was addressing the natural feeling that any elderly person might feel. The inconveniences that come with mature age, should never be perceived as signs of being abandoned by God. Pope Francis affirms in the letter that God is close to all people, regardless their state and age in life.

The Pope goes on to highlight some challenges that grandparents and the elderly face today.

Loneliness is ranked first in the letter. The Pope is making us aware of the various causes of this challenge: migratory labour, political instability, viewing the elderly as a burden, etc. This reminds us what Mother Teresa once said: “The greatest poverty today is the poverty of loneliness”.

Another challenge which grandparents and the elderly face in Africa is witchcraft. This accusation is normally levelled against elderly women who seem to have a longer life span than their male counterparts. Longevity comes with its challenges like dementia. This has been the root cause of accusing elderly women for witchcraft in many African communities. The Holy Father decries this accusation and appeals that it must stop because it sows divisions and hatred among families: “This mentality must be combatted and eliminated. It is one of those groundless prejudices from which the Christian faith has set us free, yet which continues to fuel generational conflict between the young and the elderly”.

We are fortunate in Southern Africa to have Blessed Benedict Daswa, an apostle for life, to help us overcome this scourge. During the celebrations of the Grandparents and the elderly, parishes can also highlight the efforts of Blessed Benedict Daswa in fighting witchcraft and its consequences, as the Pope noted. In the Global North, grandparents and the elderly tend to be seen as robbing the young of their resources, hence the discarding culture that is creeping in.

Pope Francis pleads that the elderly should never be ill-treated because they enjoy an infinite dignity (Dignitas Infinita 1). The Pope goes on to invite every person to care for the elderly. He does this by citing a female biblical figure, Ruth who cared for her widowed and elderly mother in-law, Naomi. Naomi told her two daughters-in-law not to feel pressuring to take care of her, but “to return to their native towns and their home”. Orpah reluctantly took Naomi’s advice. Ruth, on the other hand, said to Naomi “do not press me to leave you” (Ruth 1:16).

Pope Francis presents Ruth as an epitome of a care giver: “Ruth’s freedom and courage invite us to take a new path. Let us follow in her footsteps”. To be a modern-day Ruth means that we must be able to identify, criticize and address instances where the elderly are not respected and accorded the dignity they deserve. God blessed Ruth with a marriage, family and a good home for taking care of Naomi. We see this in the New Testament as well, when Mary, the Mother of our Lord rushes with haste to take care of Elizabeth. Old age is a sign of being blessed.

Therefore, taking care of the elderly becomes an invitation of God’s blessings upon an individual

(Lev 19:32; Ps 103:17-18). Let us then assume Ruth’s words and make them our own: “I will not abandon you”.

The Department for the Laity wishes to make the following suggestions towards the fruitful celebration of the 4th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. For the prayers of the faithful, some elderly parishioners may be asked to lead some and some young people.

Family celebration of the Grandparents and Elderly day.

1. We encourage families that do not reside in the same home/compound with their grandparents to visit them. Few things that can be done during the visits:

1.1. Ask them to share with you the family history, who their parents were, how was their home and family life like.

1.2. Ask them to share with you their faith journey and what role faith played in their own lives.

1.3. Ask them to share with you some of the lessons they learnt in life over the years

(Job 12:12).

1.4. Bring them gifts.

1.5. Share with them your own faith journey, their responses will nourish your own journey.

1.6. At the end ask for them to pray for you and to bless you (Luke 2:36-38).

Parish celebration of the Grandparents and Elderly day.

1. A catechetical homily based on the points that Pope Francis speaks about in his letter “Do not cast me off in my old age”.
2. Meet with the Parish Pastoral Council to work on how you will celebrate this day.
3. It is customary in some dioceses to visit the elderly to take Holy Communion to them on monthly basis. This custom is encouraged so that they can get a chance to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation.
4. Find a dedicated day in the month of July to invite the elderly to have Holy Mass in the parish Church and have tea with them.
5. Grandparent/elderly and a young person to do readings respectively at Mass. Some prayers of the Faithful can be given to some elderly as well. These suggestions should consider their physical abilities.
6. A special blessing for the grandparents and the elderly after Holy Communion.
7. Mobilize parish youth to identify an old age home to visit or any elderly persons within the parish precincts.
8. Parish talk on Benedict Daswa to focus on how he used his faith to fight “witchcraft” and present Christ as victor (John 16:33).

(For more information on the Pope’s Catechetical Instructions on Grandparents and the Elderly, please visit: www.laityfamilylife.va or if you want to share what your parish did use the following hashtag for social media: #elderlygrandparents.)

Suggestions for the Prayers of the Faithful

• For Pope Francis, that the Lord may bless and protect his ministry, and for the Church led by him, that it may be a more welcoming home for grandparents and the elderly. Lord hear us.
• For all of us elderly people, that we may continue to look towards the future and, with our experience and our prayers, that we may continue striving to build a more fraternal world. Lord hear us.
• For young people, that they may offer the bread of their vitality to the Lord, rather than keeping it for themselves, so that He may multiply it; and that the world may rejoice in the overflowing joy of a new embrace between young and old. Lord hear us.
• For all of us grandfathers and grandmothers, that we may be a source of wisdom for our families, and that we may learn to pass on the treasure of faith to our grandchildren and to the newer generations. Lord hear us.
• We pray for those who care for our grandparents and the elderly that the Lord will grant them patience, love and kindness. Lord hear us.
• Led by the Spirit of God, Blessed Benedict Daswa remained faithful to the Gospel of truth and goodness in the face of violent opposition and hatred. We pray for the end of violence which is directed to grandparents and the elderly. Lord hear us.
• For an end to every war in every part of the world. We beseech the Lord to grant consolation to those who have lost loved ones, healing to the wounded, a return home to prisoners, and that ways of dialogue and peace be found everywhere. Lord hear us.
• For the elderly who face loneliness that they may know the care of Christ through us and our loving concern for them. Lord hear us.

Blessing of Grandparents and the Elderly

God of mercy, who has given these, Your children, the gift of a long life, grant them your abundant blessings, on this special day as we celebrate them as a community of love. Let them feel the sweetness and strength of your presence: Looking back on the past, Rejoicing in Your mercy; And looking to the future, Persevering with undying hope. To you, glory and praise for evermore.