Prayer service based on the prayer intention of Pope Francis for the month of July - prayers for the elderly

I prayed this pray as part of our Monday morning prayer for the chancery staff of the Diocese of Jackson this past Monday, July 18 2022.  

Prayer intention of Pope Francis for the month of July: 

We pray for the elderly, who represent the roots and memory of a people; may their experience and wisdom help young people to look towards the future with hope and responsibility.

Thoughts from Pope Francis

We cannot speak about family without talking about the importance of the elderly among us.

There have never been so many elderly in the history of humanity, but many of the elderly don’t quite know how to live this new stage of life: there are many plans for assistance for the old age, but few projects for existence.

The elderly often have a special sensitivity for care, for reflection, and affection.

The elderly are, or can become, teachers of tenderness. And indeed we can!

In this world accustomed to war, we need a true revolution of tenderness.

We have a great responsibility towards new generations about this.

Thoughts from Father Lincoln: 

We think of the older generation that does so much for our parishes, who do so much in supporting our parishes, our schools, and our Diocese financially and in prayer.  

We think of our retired priests who are doing so much right now to help our Diocese and our parishes, who celebrate Mass and fill in and give us their wisdom and who accept assignments when we need them.  

We think of the wise elders in our own families who have led us and have guided us in so many ways.  

I think of many of you in the chancery who have elderly parents or grandparent who have challenges with health or dementia or memory or just trying to do the basic functions of life, of how challenging it is to try to help them in their reality and help them feel treated with dignity and respect. 

Let us remember our grandparents and the elderly who are the bread that nourishes our lives, the hidden wisdom of a people. That is why we are called to celebrate them 

Prayer intentions: Let us now pray: 

We pray for the elderly, that they may become teachers of tenderness so that their experiences and wisdom may help young people to look towards the future with hope and responsibility.

Let us pray for the sick and the shut-in, for all those who are in the hospice, hospitals and nursing homes. For healing in mind, body and spirit.  

For our call to follow the Gospel of life in our lives through our words and our actions, that we see care and respect for the elderly as a part of the Gospel of Life.  

For all who are victims of violence and crime.  We pray for the elderly who are often vulnerable and taken advantage of.  We pray for healing and reconciliation for the wounds and injustices we have in society.  

We pray for all of our families during the summer vacation.  We pray for our children, families and teachers as they get ready to go back to school.  We pray for our parishes getting ready for the new school year of religious education.  We pray for our Catholic schools. 

We pray for Pope Francis’s upcoming pastoral trip to Canada (July 24- 30), that it being a healing trip for the Church in Canada, that it bring new life to the faithful there.  

Closing - let us pray the Lord's Prayer together: