October 2 is, for the Italian state, National Grandparents’ Day, but it is also, in the Church’s liturgical calendar, the feast of the holy Guardian Angels. What an interesting coincidence!
Statistics tell us that 10 million grandparents regularly look after grandchildren aged 0 to 14 and also help their parents. They truly are earthly “guardian angels”.
«We all passed through our grandparents’ arms»
Grandparents’ Day on October 2 is truly official recognition by the Italian state of the value of grandparents in society, a role considered no less important than that of parents for children’s growth and happiness. Speaking about grandparents, Pope Francis said: «When we were growing up and felt misunderstood or frightened by life’s challenges, they noticed us, what was changing in our hearts, our hidden tears and the dreams we carried within. We all passed through our grandparents’ arms, and they held us. And it is also thanks to this love that we became adults».
Intergenerational dialogue
Dialogue between young and old, between grandparents and grandchildren, is very important, a source of mutual enrichment. Grandparents are the keepers of memory, while grandchildren are those who carry the story forward. Grandchildren continue to develop what their grandparents have sown, while also bringing new ideas. When properly nurtured, intergenerational dialogue can lead grandparents and grandchildren to engage with new perspectives and life experiences they had not previously known, and can also help them learn something new.
Grandparents and the guardian angel
Many of us remember reciting the guardian angel prayer together with our grandparents! Yes, because it is very often grandparents who teach this prayer to their grandchildren. Perhaps they recited it together on the way from home to school. These are precious memories that grandchildren never forget. It is wonderful that grandparents are the ones who introduce them to their guardian angel, helping them experience the friendship of this gift that God has given to every person. And precisely to tell children about the guardian angel and his action in each of our lives, Editrice Shalom has just published the book “An Angel as a Friend. The Guardian Angel Told to Children”.
Just as grandparents do not forget to pray for their grandchildren, so we must not forget to pray for our grandparents, who are our precious treasure.
And what memory do you have of your grandparents? You can share it in the comments.
