Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 7/26

The icon above, Whole Holy Family, is by Bro. Michael McGrath and depicts 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, but tradition has assigned them the names found in the apocryphal Gospel of James.

Pope Francis established an annual International Day of Prayer for Grandparents to be celebrated on the Sunday closest to July 26, the feast of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim  parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and thus grandparents of Jesus. 

 

Here's a message from Pope Leo for this year's International Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. 

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 - which we can also pray for grand- and great-grandparents and for all those who serve as adopted grandparents!

O God, we offer you thanks and praise 

    for our grandparents 

who love us, their children's children,

    as you love all of us...

 

As you delight in our very being  

    so do grandparents thrill at the birth 

        of their grandchildren...

 

As you made us in your image and likeness 

    so do grandparents look for family features 

        on a new generation's faces...

 

As you adopt us as your own in Christ, 

    so do grandparents welcome the adopted kids 

        their children bring to the family...

 

As all blessings come from you, O Lord,

    so do grandparents shower their own

         with gifts and treats, large and small...

 

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

     so do grandparents gently blanket their own

         with kindness, understanding and love...

 

Our grandparents, Lord, 

    mirror your love for us,

their attention reveals the care you have

    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 Mémère and Pépère,

    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 

for those who are with us 

    and for those who have died

and who love us now 

    from their place in heaven,

with you, Lord,

    and all your saints... 

Amen. 

 

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