Elderly people symbolize the transmission of faith from age to age
By Edoardo Giribaldi
Sunday, 23 July, marks the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. The theme chosen for this year is 鈥淗is mercy is from age to age,鈥� recalling a passage from Luke鈥檚 Gospel.
Sunday's Mass
Ahead of the celebration, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has released a statement reminding the faithful that Holy Mass that will be presided over by 杏MAP导航 Francis at 10 a.m. local time inside St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica, and it will see the participation of over 6,000 people, including 鈥渕any elderly people from all over Italy.鈥�
Specifically, 鈥済randparents accompanied by their grandchildren and families, elderly residents living in retirement and residential nursing homes, as well as many elderly people who are active in parish, diocesan and associational life.鈥�
From age to age
The statement highlighted how at the end of the celebration, five elderly people - one representative from each continent - 鈥渨ill symbolically hand over the World Youth Day Pilgrim's Cross to five young people leaving for Lisbon.鈥�
The gesture symbolizes the 鈥渢ransmission of faith from age to age鈥� but also 鈥渢he commitment that the elderly and grandparents have accepted, at the invitation of the Holy Father, to pray for the departing youth and accompany them with their blessing.鈥�
All those who will attend the event at St. Peter鈥檚 will receive a specific prayer to offer for the Day, along with a copy of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 message to grandparents and the elderly.
Celebrations worldwide
In the statement, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life indicated two ways to celebrate the event in every diocese of the world: with a Mass dedicated to grandparents and the elderly or with a visit to those who are alone. 鈥淎 Plenary indulgence,鈥� according to the statement, 鈥渋s granted to those who perform these deeds.鈥�
The Dicastery also highlighted the initiatives of the Brazilian Bishops' Conference, 鈥渨hich will celebrate a Mass with the elderly at the Aparecida Shrine,鈥� and that of the Canadian Bishops' Conference, 鈥渨hich released a video inviting young people to visit the elderly in nursing homes.鈥�
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