"How I would like a Church that
challenges the disposable culture with the overflowing joy of a new embrace
between young people and the elderly"
In today’s catechesis we continue the
reflection on grandparents, considering the value and importance of their role
in the family. I do so, identifying myself with these persons, because I also
belong to this phase of age.
When I was in the Philippines, the
Filipino people greeted me, saying: “Lolo Kiko,” – that is, Grandfather Francis
– “Lolo Kiko,” they said! It is important to stress one thing first: it is true
that society tends to discard us, but certainly not the Lord. The Lord never
discards us. He calls us to follow Him in every age of life, and old age also
contains a grace and a mission, a true vocation of the Lord. Old age is a
vocation. It is not yet the moment “to rest on one’s oars.” Without a doubt,
this period of life is different from the preceding. We also must somehow
“invent it for ourselves” Because our societies are not ready, spiritually and
morally, to give its full value to this moment of life. Once, in fact, it was
not normal to have time at one’s disposal; today it is much more so. And
Christian spirituality has also been caught somewhat by surprise, and an
attempt is being made to delineate a spirituality of elderly persons. However,
thanks be to God there is no lack of testimonies of elderly men and women
Saints!
I was very moved by the “Day for the
Elderly,” which we held here in Saint Peter’s Square last year. The Square was
full. I heard stories of elderly people who spent themselves for others, and
also stories of married couples, who said: “We are celebrating our 50th wedding
anniversary; we are celebrating our 60th wedding anniversary.” It is important
to have young people see this, who get tired immediately. The testimony of
fidelity of the elderly is important. And there were so many of them in the
Square that day. It is a reflection to be continued, be it in the ecclesial as
well as in the civil realm. The Gospel comes to meet us with a very beautiful,
moving and encouraging image. It is the image of Simeon and Anna, of which the
Gospel of Jesus’ infancy speaks to us, composed by Saint Luke. They certainly
were old, the “old man” Simeon and the “prophetess” Anna who was 84. This woman
did not hide her age. The Gospel says that they awaited the coming of God every
day, with great fidelity, for long years. In fact, they wanted to see him that
day, gather the signs, and intuit the beginning. Perhaps they were somewhat
resigned, by now, to die before: however, that long awaiting continued to
occupy their whole life, they had no other important commitments than this: to
await the Lord and pray. Well, when Mary and Joseph reached the Temple to
fulfil the dispositions of the Law, Simenon and Anna were suddenly moved,
animated by the Holy Spirit (Cf. Luke 2:27). The weight of their age and of
the awaiting disappeared in a moment. They recognized the Child, and discovered
new strength for a new task: to render thanks and render witness to this Signs
of God. Simeon improvised a very beautiful hymn of jubilation (Cf. Luke 2:29-32) – he was a poet at that moment – and Anna became the first
preacher of Jesus: she ”spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption
of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).
Dear grandparents, dear
elderly, let us put ourselves in the track of these extraordinary old people.
Let us also become somewhat poets of prayer: let us enjoy looking for our
words; let us re-appropriate for ourselves those that the Word of God teaches
us. The prayer of grandparents and the elderly is a great gift for the Church;
it is richness! It is a great injection of wisdom also for the whole of human
society, especially for that which is too busy, too seizing, too distracted.
Someone must sing also for them the signs of God, must proclaim the signs of
God, must pray for them! We look at Benedict XVI, who has chosen to spend the
last stage of his life in prayer and in listening to God! This is beautiful!
Olivier Clement, a great believer of the last century, of Orthodox tradition,
said: “A civilization where there is no longer prayer is a civilization where
old age no longer makes sense. And this is terrifying. We are in need first of
all of elderly people that pray, because old age is given to us for this.” We
are in need of elderly people that pray because old age is given to us
precisely for this. The prayer of the elderly is a beautiful thing.
We can thank the Lord for the
benefits received and fill the void of ingratitude that surrounds him. We can
intercede for the expectations of the new generations and give dignity to the
memory and the sacrifices of the past ones. We can remind ambitious young
people that a life without love is an arid life. We can say to fearful young
people that anguish over the future can be overcome. We can teach young people
too enamoured of themselves that there is more joy in giving than in receiving.
Grandfathers and grandmothers make up the permanent “chorale” of a great
spiritual shrine, where the prayer of supplication and the singing of praise
sustain the community that works and struggles in the field of life.
Finally, prayer purifies the heart
incessantly. Praise and supplication to God prevent the hardening of the heart
in resentment and egoism. How awful is the cynicism of an old man who has lost
the meaning of his testimony, scorns young people and does not communicate the
wisdom of life! Instead, how good is the encouragement that elderly man is able
to give the youth in search of faith and the meaning of life! It is truly the
mission of grandparents, the vocation of the elderly. Grandparents’ words have
something special for young people. And they know it. I still carry with me
always in my Breviary the words my grandmother consigned to me in writing the
day of my priestly Ordination, and I read them often and it does me good.
How I would like a Church that
challenges the disposable culture with the overflowing joy of a new embrace
between young people and the elderly! And this is what I ask the Lord today,
this embrace!
