杏MAP导航

By Sr. Francine-Marie Cooper, ISSM

鈥淒o not cast me off in my old age鈥� (cf. Ps 71:9): This sincere plea, taken from Psalm 71, is the theme of the Fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will take place on 28 July 2024.

杏MAP导航 Francis chose the Theme for the Day, which is organised by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

In his , 杏MAP导航 Francis reassured the addressees that 鈥淕od never abandons His children, never.鈥�

He referred to the elderly as 鈥渢he firm foundation" on which 鈥渘ew鈥� stones can rest, in order to join in erecting a spiritual edifice (cf. 1 Peter 2:5).鈥�

Fear of loneliness

Both the 鈥渃ertainty of God鈥檚 closeness at every stage of life and the fear of abandonment, particularly in old age and in times of pain,鈥� can be found in the Bible, 杏MAP导航 Francis writes. And these words 鈥渞eflect an utterly evident reality.鈥�

鈥淎ll too often, loneliness is the bleak companion of our lives as elderly persons and grandparents,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis acknowledges.

鈥淭here are many reasons for this loneliness,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 continues, 鈥渋n many places, above all in the poorer countries, the elderly find themselves alone because their children are forced to emigrate.鈥�

He describes the situation of the elderly left in their war-torn countries as 鈥渢he only signs of life in areas where abandonment and death seem to reign supreme.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 also decries the beliefs of some local cultures where the elderly 鈥渁re suspected of using witchcraft to sap the vital energies of the young鈥� and thus are blamed for blows of fate affecting the young.

He goes on to say that 鈥渢his accusation that the elderly 鈥榬ob the young of their future鈥� is nowadays present everywhere.  It appears under other guises even in the most advanced and modern societies.鈥�

A conspiracy surrounding the life of the elderly

"The Psalm cited above,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 writes, 鈥渟peaks to a conspiracy surrounding the life of the elderly.鈥�

And he explains, that the 鈥渁bandonment of the elderly is not by chance or inevitable, but the fruit of decisions 鈥� political, economic, social and personal decisions 鈥� that fail to acknowledge the infinite dignity of each person, 鈥榖eyond every circumstance, state or situation the person may ever encounter鈥�.鈥� 

The Holy Father laments that 鈥渘owadays many women and men seek personal fulfilment in a life as independent as possible and detached from other people.鈥� 鈥淭he passage from 鈥榰s鈥� to 鈥榤e鈥� is one of the most evident signs of our times,鈥� he writes.

鈥淪olitude and abandonment have become recurrent elements in today鈥檚 social landscape,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 admits. 

Following in Ruth鈥檚 footsteps

The Holy Father cites the story of Naomi from the Book of Ruth.

Naomi, who had grown old, urged her two daughters to leave her and return to their native towns and their homes. Naomi sees herself as a burden and considers it better to step aside.

One of her daughters does as the mother suggests. The other, Ruth, 鈥渄oes not leave Naomi鈥檚 side and, to her surprise, tells her: 鈥楧o not press me to leave you鈥� (Ruth 1:16),鈥� the Holy Father writes. 鈥淩uth is not afraid to challenge customs and inbred patterns of thought.鈥�

The Holy Father鈥檚 Message concludes with an appeal: 鈥淚n place of the self-centred attitude that leads to loneliness and abandonment, let us instead show the open heart and the joyful face of men and women who have the courage to say 'I will not abandon you', and to set out on a different path.鈥�

And he conveys his blessing and prayers, 鈥渢o all of you, dear grandparents and elderly persons, and to all those who are close to you.鈥�