grandparents
"Through God's covenant with them their family endures, their posterity for their sake." —Sirach 44:12
Grandparents, congratulations on the birth of your grandchild! That little grandson or granddaughter is one of the reasons God hasn't taken you home yet. You've got work to do. Nurse that child with your loving prayers morning, noon, and night. Pray your children and grandchildren will choose to inherit your goodness and virtue (Sir 44:10). Pray your spiritual wealth may remain in your family and even increase (Sir 44:11).
Today we celebrate Joachim and Ann, grandparents of Jesus. "Their bodies are peacefully laid away, but their name lives on and on. At gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise" (Sir 44:14-15). We celebrate grandparents and their role in God's plan of salvation. We thank the Lord for making us family and dependent on each other. We thank Him for giving our lives such meaning and power, even to the thousandth generation (Ex 20:6).
Many of you grandparents are heavily burdened and distressed because your children and grandchildren are not committed to the Lord. Do not fear. Trust God. Put your family in His nail-scarred hands. God's love will melt the most hardened heart. Pray on into eternity.
Prayer: Father, may not one child, grandchild, or relative miss the glorious family reunion in heaven.
Promise: "Blest are your eyes because they see and blest are your ears because they hear." —Mt 13:16
Praise: Sts. Joachim & Ann dedicated their daughter to God and received the Son of God as their Grandson.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet How to Get Your Kids to Go to Church and Go to Heaven or on audio AV 42-3 or video V-42.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 12, 2005
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