Stories from Grandparents

In 2021 Pope Francis established in the Catholic Church the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on the fourth Sunday of July. This Sunday was chosen because of its proximity to July 26, the Feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim, grandparents of Jesus. The purpose of this day is to honor the elderly and their role in families and communities.
 
What a wonderful endeavor, especially today, when the elderly are often seen as a burden on families and society! In fact, grandparents and the elderly among us are not a burden, but, rather, a tremendous blessing! They are a precious connection to the rich history of our past and a conduit of grace and love within the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church.
 
Our grandparents, other elderly members of our families, and elderly people in general possess wisdom and experience that comes from their length of years and the sorrows and joys they have lived through in those years. These amazing people can serve as guides and inspirations, who assist us in navigating our way through life.
 
Their stories are deposits of faith, hope, and love that offer life lessons and examples of a profound relationship with God. They show us what it means to be united with the communion of saints. They pass on to us a precious heritage of the treasury of the Catholic Faith.
 
As we approach the Feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim and the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, we should reach out to those wonderful people. If you have grandparents who are still living, sit down and have a conversation with them. If you no longer have grandparents who are living, reach out to other elderly relatives or people advanced in years and hear their stories of life and strong faith. Tell them that you care for and appreciate them. Do an act of kindness for them and say a prayer of thanksgiving for them.
 
I often think of the relationship that Jesus must have had with St. Anne, His grandmother, and St. Joachim, His grandfather, sitting at their knees and hearing stories of their faith and love. What an example for us!
 
Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh