Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 7/23

 

 

This the third consecutive year that Pope Francis has chosen the Sunday closest to July 26 as the International Day of Prayer for Grandparents.  The significance of July 26 is that it's the feast of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and thus grandparents for Jesus.  The icon above, Whole Holy Family, is by Bro. Michael McGrath depicting Anne and Joachim, Mary and Joseph, the Christ Child, the Holy Spirit and a couple of pets from the Holy Household!  The scriptures tell us nothing of Anne and Joachim, tradition has assigned them the names found in the apocryphal Gospel of James.

Over at Work of the People, Diana Macalintal has a wonderful prayer for children to pray for their grandparents.  

And here's my own prayer for the International Day of Prayer for Grandparents.  (We can also pray this for great-grandparents and for all those who serve as adopted grandparents!)

O God,

    you love your sons and daughters in so many ways  

and today we offer you our thanks and praise 

    that our grandparents love their children's children 

        - as you love all of us...

 

As you delight in our very being  

    so grandparents thrill at the birth 

        of their grandchildren...

 

As you made us in your image and likeness 

    so grandparents look for family features 

        on a new generation's faces...

 

As you adopt us as your own in Christ, 

    so grandparents welcome the adopted kids 

        their children bring to the family...

 

As all blessings come from you, O Lord,

    so grandparents generously shower their own

         with gifts and treats, large and small...

 

As you're slow to anger and quick to forgive,

     so grandparents gently blankeet their own

         with kindness, understanding and love...

 

Our grandparents mirror your love for us,

     their attention reveals the care that is yours

         for us your children, your daughters and sons...

 

So today we offer our thanks and prayers

    for Grandma and Grandpa,

    for Grammie and Grampy,            

    for Memere and Pepere,

    for Yaya and Pappoús,      

    for Nana and Papa,

    for Savta and Sabb,

    for Lola and Lolo,

    for Maimeo and Daideo, 

    for Ma and Pa,

    for Sobo and Sofu,

    for Meemaw and Peepaw,    

    for Dedushka and Babushka,    

    for Nonna and Nonno,

    for Oma and Opa,              

    for Babcia and Dziadzia,

    for Abuela and Abuelo,

    for Baba and Gigi,

and for all our grandparents

    and our great-grandparents

        and our adopted grandparents:

those who are with us 

    and those who now love us

from their place with you, Lord, 

    in their heavenly home.

Amen. 

Thank You (Tribute for Grandparents Day) 

    by Michael Land 

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