Plymouth: Bishop Mark O'Toole reflects on importance of grandparents

Education of Mary, Velasquez

Source: Diocese of Plymouth

In a Pastoral Letter this week, Bishop Mark O'Toole reflects on the importance of grandparents. The full text follows.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Next Friday, the 26th July, in the Church, we keep the memory of Jesus' grandparents, St Joachim and St Ann. It is good to know that Jesus lived within a family and to reflect on the reality that he knew the influence and presence of an older generation. In light of this, I wanted to take this opportunity to write to you about the importance of grandparents, both for us personally and in the life of faith.

I know that many of you have grandchildren and play an important part in their lives. Many of us are grateful for the sacrifice and generosity we experienced in our grandparents and thank God for them, living or dead.

I want also to thank those of you who are grandparents, for what you do in passing on the faith within your own family. As I have visited the Diocese, celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation these past weeks, it has been good to meet some of our young people and to hear them speak so positively of the importance of their grandparents. They look up to you, and are grateful to you for your support and love for them. They know that for you, our Catholic faith is vital. Many want to deepen that faith, in their own lives.

In his recent letter to young people, titled 'Christ is Alive' (Christus Vivit), Pope Francis speaks of the importance of dialogue between the different generations. He reminds us that "helping the young to discover the living richness of the past, to treasure its memory and to make use of it for their choices and opportunities, is a genuine act of love towards them, for the sake of their growth and the decisions they are called to make".[102]

He says that it is not good if there is "a rupture between generations" (Par 191). This is sometimes presented to us by our society but it is a lie for it would have us believe that only what is new is good and beautiful. Our experience in the Church is much richer. We know there a wisdom passed down from generation to generation, "familiar with human weakness and not deserving to vanish before the novelties of consumer society and the market (Par 190)."

Whilst at the Synod in Rome, for young people, in October, I was reminded of the humorous saying of Pope Saint John XXIII, "The young need to remember that the world existed before them, and those who are older that the world will continue to exist after them!"

So, to our young I say, 'continue to cherish your grandparents and learn from them what it means to love and to live a life of faith'. To our grandparents, I say, 'thank you for your fidelity and generosity. Do continue to witness to the Lord, and to the beauty of our faith, both within your own family and to the people around you.'

In the Gospel today, we see in St Mary and St Martha, two essential dimensions of our faith - prayer and action. All of us need to hold on to both of these. In rooting our lives in a personal encounter with Jesus, may we each be of service to our loved ones and to our neighbours. May each of us, young and old, deepen our faith in the Lord, and in the company of the Church, bring others to Him.

Pray for me.

Yours devotedly,

Bishop of Plymouth