On this special day when we celebrate grandparents and the elderly, we pray for Mary, Mother of all the living, to keep grandparents constantly in her care.
The National Office for Vocation have released prayer cards for the third world day for Grandparents and the Elderly along with this we also have a prayer by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI that holds up grandparents and the elderly as a source of enrichment for families, for the Church and for all of society. As well as these prayers, here you will find prayers to Saints Joachim and Anne – the grandparents of Jesus.
Lord, faithful God,
You who created us in Your image,
You who never leaves us alone
and who accompanies us through every season of life,
Do not abandon us, take care of us,
and grant us, once again, the ability to discover ourselves and recognise that we are Your children.
Renew our hearts with your Word
and do not allow anyone to be cast aside.
May your Spirit of love fill us with Your tenderness
and teach us to say: “I will not abandon you!”
To those we meet on our journey.
With the help of your beloved Son,
may we not lose the taste for fraternity
and may we not conform to the sadness of loneliness.
Help us to look to the future with renewed hope,
and make the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
a day without loneliness, and a day abundant with the
first-fruits of Your peace.
Amen.
Jesus put another parable before the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a
man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed
darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the
darnel appeared as well. The owner’s servants went to him and said, “Sir, was it not good
seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?” “Some enemy
has done this” he answered. And the servants said, “Do you want us to go and weed it out?”
But he said, “No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it.
Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First
collect Jesus put another parable before the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be
compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy
came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and
ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner’s servants went to him and said, “Sir, was it
not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?” “Some
enemy has done this” he answered. And the servants said, “Do you want us to go and weed it
out?” But he said, “No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat
with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers:
First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn.”’
We pray for grandparents; keep them and make them courageous, wise and caring.
We pray for the elderly who feel isolated at this time, so that they know they are never alone, as you continue to be with them.
We pray for all who are ill, that they may experience your healing power and grace.
We pray for those who have died, that they are taken into your loving care and into their eternal resting home.
Let us say the prayer that Jesus taught us and what we heard in our Gospel: Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Lord Jesus,
you were born of the Virgin Mary.
the daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne.
Look with love on grandparents the world over.
Protect them! They are a source of enrichment for families,
for the Church and for all of society.
Support them as they grow older.
May they continue to be for their families
strong pillars of Gospel faith,
guardians of noble domestic ideals,
living treasuries of sound religious traditions.
Make them teachers of wisdom and courage,
that they may pass on to future generations
the fruits of their mature human and spiritual experience.
Lord Jesus, help families and society to value the presence
and role of grandparents.
May they never be ignored or excluded,
but always encounter respect and love.
Help them to live serenely and to feel welcomed
in all the years of life which you give them.
Mary, Mother of all the living,
keep grandparents constantly in your care,
accompany them on their earthly pilgrimage,
and by your prayers, grant that all families
may one day be reunited in our heavenly homeland,
where you await all humanity
for the great embrace of life without end.
Amen
Saints Anne and Joachim, the Grandparents of Jesus.
Pray for us.
Thank you to all our Grandparents and Elderly on this special day.
Pope Francis' message for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2024, Reminds us that God never abandons his children, never.
