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 Pontificate of Pope Francis 2022 Showing Affection for the Elderly Scott 1792 Today, Sunday, July 26, marks the sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Pope Francis, who often spoke about the dignity of the elderly and the importance of grandparents in passing on the faith, established the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021. The stamp above, from the 2022 Pontificate of Pope Francis set, shows him with an elderly woman and is entitled "showing affection for the elderly". On February 10, Pope Leo issued a statement through the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life announcing the theme for this year's celebration: "I Will Not Forget You". Taken from the book of prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 49:15), the verse “is meant to emphasize how God’s love for every person never fails, not even in the frailty of old age.” This celebration is held on the fourth Sunday in July, and this year the holiday coincides with the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus's maternal grandparents (this feast was covered in yesterday's Daily Email). It should be noted that, starting this year in the United States, this celebration will be moved to the first weekend after Labor Day (this year falling on September 12 and 13) to coincide with National Grandparents (and the Elderly) Day in the United States, which is the weekend that many local communities, schools, and parishes have honored grandparents and the elderly for some time. For the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, the Vatican will offer a plenary indulgence. As defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, an indulgence is a: The usual conditions for a plenary indulgence require the individual to be in a state of grace, have complete detachment from sin, and pray for the pope's intentions. The person must also sacramentally confess their sins and receive Communion, up to about 20 days before or after the prayers for the indulgence. One may receive the plenary indulgence for Grandparents' Day by attending Mass on this day and/or by dedicating time to visiting with or calling (either by phone or video messaging) the elderly, particularly those who are sick, disabled, or abandoned. REFERENCES: |
