Become poets of prayer, Pope Francis tells the Elderly
Pope Francis has admonished the senior citizens to regard their advanced age as a blessing, not a condemnation. Recalling the Psalmist words that, “In old age they will still bear fruit” (Ps 92:15); the Holy Father tasked them to transform the world through prayer and tenderness, utilising their exceptional sensibilities. In his message in commemoration of the Second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly which fell on Sunday, July 24, this year, Pope Francis dissuaded the elderly against attitude of grim resignations exhibited by some of them. Rather, the Pope urged them to embrace their old age as a gift of long life, and not lament the diminishment of their strengths or sense of usefulness.
Throw-away culture
His Holiness message countered the throwaway culture spurring everyone, and the elderly themselves, to understand that, far from being something to be thrown away – they have a specific vocation within our communities. He said, “Many people are afraid of old age. They consider it a sort of disease with which any contact is best avoided. The elderly, they think, are none of their concern and should be set apart, perhaps in homes or places where they can be cared for, lest we have to deal with their problems. This is the mindset of the “throw-away culture”, which leads us to think that we are somehow different from the poor and vulnerable in our midst, untouched by their frailties and separated from “them” and their troubles.
Old age in the eyes of the Scriptures; ‘Blessed is the family that honours the elderly’
The Holy Father noted that old age is a time of life that is not understood even “by those of us who are already experiencing it.” He called on the society to help its citizenry plan for their old age.
His message read in part, “Even though it eventually comes with the passage of time, no one prepares us for old age, and at times it seems to take us by surprise. The more developed societies expend large sums on this stage of life without really helping people to understand and appreciate it; they offer health care plans to the elderly, but not plans for living this age to the fullest. “This makes it hard to look to the future and discern what direction to take. On one hand, we are tempted to ward off old age by hiding our wrinkles and pretending to be forever young, while on the other, we imagine that the only thing we can do is bid our time, thinking glumly that we cannot “still bring forth fruit”.
Thoughts of uselessness at old age
The Holy Father further said, “Retirement and grown children make many of the things that used to occupy our time and energy no longer so pressing. “The recognition that our strength is ebbing or the onset of sickness can undermine our certainties. The fast pace of the world – with which we struggle to keep up – seems to leave us no alternative, but to implicitly accept the idea that we are useless.”
Growing old, more than just a natural decline of the body
He encouraged the elders including himself, “We can resonate with the heartfelt prayer of the Psalmist: “Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent”. “Yet that same psalm – which meditates on how the Lord has been present at every stage of our lives – urges us to persevere in hope. Along with old age and white hairs, God continues to give us the gift of life and to keep us from being overcome by evil. If we trust in him, we will find the strength to praise him still (cf. vv. 14-20). “We will come to see that growing old is more than the natural decline of the body or the inevitable passage of time, but the gift of a long life.
Aging is not a condemnation, but a blessing!” Recipe for active later years Pope Francis prescribed a course of action to the senior citizens to enable them enjoy active and healthy advanced age. He recommended, “We ought to take care of ourselves and remain active in our later years. This is also true from a spiritual standpoint: we ought to cultivate our interior life through the assiduous reading of the word of God, daily prayer, reception of the sacraments and participation in the liturgy. “In addition to our relationship with God, we should also cultivate our relationships with others: first of all by showing affectionate concern for our families, our children and grandchildren, but also for the poor and those who suffer, by drawing near to them with practical assistance and our prayers. “These things will help us not to feel like mere bystanders, sitting on our porches or looking out from our windows, as life goes on all around us.”
Artisans of the revolution of tenderness
He invited grandparents and the elderly to join a “spiritual and non-violent revolution.” The Pope urged the seniors not to despair at their frailty, but to embrace “a new mission” of caring for others in a world torn apart by conflict. In his words, “Old age is no time to give up and lower the sails, but a season of enduring fruitfulness: a new mission awaits us and bids us look to the future. “The special sensibility that those of us who are elderly have for the concerns, thoughts and the affections that make us human should once again become the vocation of many. It would be a sign of our love for the younger generations. “This would be our own contribution to the revolution of tenderness, a spiritual and non-violent revolution in which I encourage you, dear grandparents and elderly persons, to take an active role.”
Grandparents and their teaching roles of promoting love
The Pope urged grandparents to play their roles of teaching love and care “for a profound change, a conversion that disarms hearts and leads us to see others as our brothers or sisters.” He continued, “We grandparents and elderly people have a great responsibility: to teach the women and men of our time to regard others with the same understanding and loving gaze with which we regard our own grandchildren. “We ourselves have grown in humanity by caring for others, and now we can be teachers of a way of life that is peaceful and attentive to those in greatest need. This attitude may be mistaken for weakness or resignation, yet it will be the meek, not the aggressive and the abusive, who will inherit the earth (cf. Mt 5:5).”
The elderly can transform the world with prayers
“We have a responsibility to protect the world,” the Pope tasked the elderly. He went on, “One fruit that we are called to bring forth is protecting the world. “Our grandparents held us in their arms and carried us on their knees. “Now is the time for us to carry on our own knees – with practical assistance or with prayer alone – not only our own grandchildren but also the many frightened grandchildren whom we have not yet met and who may be fleeing from war or suffering its effects. “Let us hold in our hearts – like Saint Joseph, who was a loving and attentive father – the little ones of Ukraine, of Afghanistan, of South Sudan.” The Holy Father once more charged grandparents and the elderly persons, to be artisans of the revolution of tenderness in the world, through “More frequent and better use of the most valuable instrument at our disposal and, indeed, the one best suited to our age: prayer.” He implored them including himself, “Let us too become, as it were, poets of prayer: let us develop a taste for finding our own words, let us once again take up those taught by the word of God”. Our trustful prayer can do a great deal: it can accompany the cry of pain of those who suffer, and it can help change hearts. Pope Francis invited them to join him in being “the enduring ‘chorus’ of a great spiritual sanctuary, where prayers of supplication and songs of praise sustain the community that toils and struggles in the field of life.”
Final notes
On a final note, Pope Francis prayed for the Grandparents and the Elderly, “Let us ask Our Lady, Mother of Tender Love, to make all of us artisans of the ‘revolution of tenderness,’ so that together we can set the world free from the spectre of loneliness and the demon of war.” The Church observes the World Day for Grandparents and Elderly annually on the fourth Sunday in July, close to the liturgical memorials (feast day) of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. Pope Francis instituted this World Day in 2021 since grandparents are often forgotten.
