Blessed are Those Who Have Not Lost Hope
Pope Francis had designated the fourth Sunday of July, closest to the celebration of the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus, as World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. This year, it will fall on Sunday, July 27, the day immediately after the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne on July 26. During his pontificate, Pope Francis spoke frequently and supportively of the special role, which the elderly and grandparents should hold in our society, especially when their unique gifts, virtues and human insights are often overlooked as we overemphasize the qualities of youth.
Pope Leo XIV has continued the emphasis which Pope Francis placed upon our senior citizens, stressing that, “Embracing the elderly helps us to understand that life is more than just the present moment, and should not be wasted in superficial encounters and fleeting relationships. Instead, life is constantly pointing us towards the future.” Pope Leo has, in his short pontificate, spoken frequently to the elderly and about their state in life. He has released a message for the fifth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly to take place on July 27. The title of the message is “Blessed are those who have not lost hope (cf. Sir 14:2).” This message is much in keeping with the theme of hope as essential to the Jubilee Year of Hope, taking place at this time.
Pope Leo reflects in his message that God repeatedly demonstrates the value of the elderly as he frequently turns to them to carry out a particular test during their later years. This is true with Abraham, Sarah, Sirach, Elizabeth, Moses and many others. God does this because the elderly are the first witnesses of hope which, in the eyes of God, makes old age a time of grace and blessing. Referring to his patron, St. Augustine, Pope Leo states, “Augustine asks, ‘What do we mean by old age?’ He tells us that God Himself answers the question: ‘Let your strength fail, so that my strength may abide within you, and you can say with the Apostles, ‘When I am weak, then I am strong.’”
On the morning of Monday, July 21, Pope Leo paid a private visit to the Santa Marta home for the elderly in Castel Gandolfo. He spoke with each of the 20 elderly women living there, all between the ages of 80 and 101. Reflecting on the subject of Sunday’s Gospel regarding Martha and Mary, the pope expressed how the elderly truly are great signs of hope for us. He stated, “In each of us, there is a part of Martha and a part of Mary. This stage of life is a precious time to embrace the ‘Mary’ within us — to sit at the feet of Jesus, to listen to His word and to pray.” Pope Leo rightfully emphasized the importance of prayer in the lives of all of us, and how those in an elderly stage of life have that time to spend with Jesus in a more intense way. They also have more of the time to pray for others and spend their time in that way. We all know how precious time is, and that to give of our time to another is to give something we cannot get back. When we give our time to others in prayer, we are giving that same gift. The elderly remind us of this.
As we celebrate the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, we realize the importance that they represent for us as the parents of Mary and the wisdom they hand onto us because of their advanced state of age. Mary’s parents assist us in our relationship to her as well as to Christ. They help us to better understand the humanity of Mary and Christ in their family relationships. They also help us to understand the importance of family life in terms of handing on the values of faith. In this regard, they made a significant contribution to the lives of Mary and Jesus. Much of Mary’s knowledge of God was certainly derived from the teaching example of her parents. It was derived from their wisdom. There is no question that she also derived from them her contemplative nature. Much like Mary, Saints Joachim and Anne are hidden in the background. However, they stand on the most important truths for life.
As we celebrate the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, we give thanks for the hope which the elderly give to us in our lives, especially in our families. We also realize that they remind us that growing older is part of life and brings grace with it that we will only experience when we get there. Our elderly and our grandparents are great gifts and blessings to us, and we should take the time to listen to them as they speak to us as no one else can. Pope Leo has said on several occasions that he is concerned about the new issues which artificial intelligence can bring and wants to address them during his pontificate. Artificial intelligence, in all the good that it may accomplish, cannot give to us with the wisdom, love and human nature of the elderly for our lives. Our dialogue with them and our listening to them are much more important than what we can get from any computer. We give thanks to our grandparents and the elderly for all they give us in life.
Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us!
Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito
