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July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
Elderly called to be ‘teachers of tenderness,’ pope says JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
VATICAN CITY — The elderly can find purpose in their old age by teaching future generations about the value and importance of tenderness, Pope Francis said. Elderly men and women often have “a special sensitivity for care, for reflection and affection” that is sorely needed in today’s war-torn world, the pope said in a video message released by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network June 30. “We are, or we can become, teachers of tenderness. And indeed, we can!” he said. “In this world accustomed to war, we need a true revolution of tenderness.” At the start of each month, the network posts a short video of the pope offering his specific prayer intention. For the month of July, the pope dedicated his prayer intention to the elderly to coincide with the Church’s celebration of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Pope Francis celebrated the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021 and decreed that it be observed each July on the Sunday closest to the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Jesus’ grandparents. The celebration is July 24 this year. In his message for this year’s celebration, Pope Francis asked older people PAGE 31: Sister Constance like himself to be “artisans of the revolution of tenderness.” “We grandparents and elderly people have a great responsibility: to teach the Veit, L.S.P., writes about aging and the blessings that the women and men of our time to regard others with the same understanding and loving gaze with which we regard our own grandchildren,” he wrote. elderly bring to others’ lives Addressing younger people as well, the 85-year-old pope encouraged them to seek out and visit those who feel most alone. “Expecting a visit can transform those days when we think we have nothing to look forward to; from an initial encounter, a new friendship can emerge,” he said. “Visiting the elderly who live alone is a work of mercy in our time!” In his video message, the pope noted the high number of older men and women in the world compared to young people and said that today, there are “many plans for assistance for the old age, but few plans for existence.” Nevertheless, grandparents and the elderly can find meaning by passing along their wisdom to future generations, he said. Younger Christians, he added, must cherish their elders who “are the bread that nourishes our lives, the hidden wisdom of a people.” Concluding his prayer intention, Pope Francis prayed that elderly men and women can become “teachers of tenderness so that their experience and wisdom may help young people to look toward the future with hope and responsibility.”
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INDULGENCE OFFERED
Any Catholic who participates in the celebration July 24 of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly can receive a plenary indulgence, the Vatican announced. (Editor’s note: See details at right.) “Grandparents, the elderly and all the faithful who, motivated by a true spirit of penance and charity,” attend Mass or other prayer services for the occasion can receive the indulgence, which “can also be applied as a suffrage for the souls in purgatory,” said the announcement. Announcing the indulgence May 30, the Vatican said it also can apply to those who “devote adequate time to actually or virtually visiting their elderly brothers and sisters in need or in difficulty.” To receive a plenary indulgence, which is a remission of the temporal punishment due for one’s sins, a person must show detachment from sin, go to confession, receive the Eucharist and pray for the intentions of the pope. The indulgence also is available to “the elderly sick and all those who, unable to leave their homes for a serious reason, spiritually join” the celebrations, particularly by watching on television or the internet or listening on the radio, and “offer to the merciful God their prayers, sorrows and sufferings,” the Vatican said.
Daily Scripture readings JULY 10-16
Sunday: Deuteronomy 30:10-14, Colossians 1:15-20, Luke 10:25-37; Monday (St. Benedict): Isaiah 1:10-17, Matthew 10:34-11:1; Tuesday: Isaiah 7:1-9, Matthew 11:20-24; Wednesday (St. Henry): Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16, Matthew 11:25-27; Thursday (St. Kateri Tekakwitha): Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19, Matthew 11:28-30; Friday (St. Bonaventure): Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, Isaiah 38:10-12, 16, Matthew 12:1-8; Saturday (Our Lady of Mount Carmel): Micah 2:1-5, Matthew 12:14-21
JULY 17-23
Sunday: Genesis 18:1-10a, Colossians 1:24-28, Luke 10:3842; Monday: Micah 6:1-4, 6-8, Matthew 12:38-42; Tuesday: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20, Matthew 12:46-50; Wednesday: Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10, Matthew 13:1-9; Thursday: Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13, Matthew 13:10-17; Friday (St. Mary Magdalene): Song of Songs: 3:1-4b, John 20:1-2, 11-18; Saturday: Jeremiah 7:1-11, Matthew 13:24-30
JULY 24-30
Sunday: Genesis 18:20-32, Colossians 2:12-14, Luke 11:1-13; Monday (St. James, Apostle): 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Matthew 20:20-28; Tuesday (Sts. Joachim, Anne): Jeremiah 14:17-22, Matthew 13:36-43; Wednesday: Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21, Matthew 13:44-46; Thursday: Jeremiah 18:1-6, Matthew 3:47-53; Friday (Sts. Martha, Mary & Lazarus): Jeremiah 26:1-9, John 11:19-27; Saturday: Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24, Matthew 14:1-12
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