Pope: the elderly’s "vocation" is to transmit the meaning of life and faith to young people
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The "vocation"
of the elderly is to convey encouragement to the young in search of the meaning
of faith and life: it is to offer "a big injection of wisdom for all of
human society: especially one that is too busy, too occupied, too distracted";
it is "to sing" of the signs of God, like "Benedict XVI, who has
chosen to spend the last part of his life in prayer and in listening to God".
Today's catechesis was dedicated to "our elders" as Pope Francis continues
to focus his reflections for the general audience on the family.
To 20 thousand people in St. Peter's Square, among whom as usual he toured at
length in his white jeep, the Pope spoke of "grandfathers", their
"value" and "the importance of their role in the family. I do so
while identifying with these people, because I belong to this age group. When I
was in the Philippines - he added - the Filipinos greeted me calling Lolo Kiko,
that is grandfather Francis".
"The first thing that is important to point out: it is true that society tends
to discard us, but certainly not the Lord", who "never discards anyone". "He calls us to follow him in all stages
of life, and old age also contains a grace and a mission, a true vocation of
the Lord." "It is not yet time to 'pull in the oars'. This period of
life is different from the previous ones, there is no doubt; we also need to
somewhat 'invent it', because our societies are not ready, spiritually and
morally, to give it its full value. Once, in fact, it was not normal to have
spare time; today it is much more so. Christian spirituality was also caught a
little by surprise, and needs to outline a spirituality of older people. But
thank God there is the witness of the elderly saints!".
The Pope then recalled the World Day for the Elderly last year: "We heard
stories of elderly people who spend themselves for others, and stories of married
couples who came to say 'we are celebrating 50 years of marriage', 'today we mark 60 years
of marriage ', and I say: 'Show this to the young people who grow tired so
quickly, this is a witness of fidelity, it is a reflection to continue in both
ecclesial and civil contexts, is an encouraging example. The Gospel comes to us
with a very beautiful, touching and encouraging message. It is the image of
Simeon and Anna, of whom the gospel of Jesus' infancy composed by Saint Luke speaks.
They were certainly older, ' old 'Simeon' and the prophetess' Anna who was 84
years old. This woman did not hide her age. The Gospel says that she waited for
the coming of God every day, with great fidelity, for many years. They wanted
to see him that day, see the signs, intuit the beginning . Perhaps they were
also a bit 'resigned to the idea that they would die first: they waited for a
long time but it continued to occupy their lives, they had no more important occupation
than that. "
"So, when Mary and Joseph came to the temple to fulfill the provisions of
the Law, Simeon and Anna were moved by a momentum, animated by the Holy Spirit.
The weight of their age and expectation disappeared in a moment. They
recognized the Child, and discovered a new strength, a new task: to give thanks
and to bear witness to this sign of God. Simeon improvised a beautiful hymn of
joy and Anna became the first preacher of Jesus, she "spoke about the
child to all who looked for redemption in Jerusalem '" .
"Dear grandparents, elderly loved ones, let us walk in the wake of these
extraordinary elders! We too should become 'poets of prayer: we should take
pleasure in our search for words, we should open ourselves once again to those taught
to us in the Word of God. The prayer of the grandparents and the elderly is a
great gift for the Church". And ''
a great injection of wisdom for all of human society: especially one that is
too busy, too occupied, too distracted. Someone has to sing, even for them, of the
signs of God, let us look to Benedict XVI, who has chosen the last part of his
life to spend in prayer and in listening to God. "
"We can thank the Lord for the benefits received, and fill the void of
ingratitude that surrounds it. We can intercede for the expectations of the
younger generation and give dignity to the memory and sacrifices of the past.
We, the elderly, can remind ambitious young people that a life without love is
arid. We can say to fearful young people that the anguish of the future can be defeated.
We can teach young people too in love with themselves that there is more joy in
giving than in receiving. Grandfathers and grandmothers form the permanent 'choir'
of a great spiritual sanctuary, where their prayer of supplication and praise support
the community that works and battles on in the field of life. Prayer, then,
incessantly purifies the heart. Praise and supplication of God prevent the heart
hardening in resentment and selfishness. How ugly is the cynicism of an old man
who has lost the sense of his witness, despises the young and does not
communicate his life's wisdom! Instead how beautiful the encouragement that an
old man manages to convey to the young man in search of the meaning of faith
and life is! This really is the mission of grandparents, the vocation of the
elderly. The words of grandparents contain something special for the young. And
they know it. The words that my grandmother gave me in writing on the day of my
priestly ordination, I still carry with me, always in my breviary. I would like
a church that challenges the culture of waste with the overflowing joy of a new
embrace between the young and the old! "
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25/05/2022 14:15
18/05/2022 16:26
