Grandparents-Bringing Home the Faith

There were a number of times when I was a Director of Religious Education and RCIA (the process by which people come into the Church) that I would talk to grandparents who were concerned about their grandchild’s sacramental life.

Sometimes the parents did not have time to think about it; sometimes the parents were unable to focus on it due to their own ill health or lifestyle, and sometimes the parents were simply uninformed about the faith themselves.

Often parents would not have any problem with their own parents seeing to this aspect of their child’s life.  Some knew that it was important, but they just couldn’t make it happen themselves for whatever reason.

Some parents, coming to a mature recognition of the importance of the sacrament, were devastated to think that they had ignored this part of their child’s life for many years.

And I must say, more than once, a child attending a Catholic school came to his/her own personal desire to become Catholic, even if their family practiced another religion or no religion at all!

Of course, the Church welcomes those who desire the sacraments, no matter when they come to an awareness of its necessity.  Young, old and every age in between are welcome. 

Some people believe because of their past, embarrassing indiscretions, they are somehow unwelcome, but that is not the case at all.

Some people believe that because they are divorced, they are not welcome.

Again, not true.

I spoke with a woman on the phone years ago, in a call unrelated to my work, who mentioned incidentally that she had not been to Church in over 20 years because she had been divorced.  She figured she wasn’t allowed.

These scenarios are heartbreaking, because, as I said, everyone is welcome.

When grandparents come to us with a desire for their grandchildren to receive baptism, for instance, it is true that there must be a certainty that a child’s reception of the sacrament will not be misconstrued as a symbolic act, a checking off of a box, if you will.

With the permission of the parents, I found grandparents more than willing to fulfill the responsibility of their grandchild’s faith and commit to bringing the child to Mass and seeing that they receive an education in the faith.

I mention all of this because in the Second Letter to Timothy (Chapter 1), Paul writes this to Timothy:

“I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you.”

Paul is describing how faith is passed on from one generation to the next.

I know there is a boatload of grandparents who are devastated because their own son or daughter has not carried forward the faith to their grandsons and daughters, but rest assured, you never know the impact your words and actions may have on generations to come.

Grandparents, please, never give up hope in the power of God to touch lives and reach souls.  Continue to be his instrument in whatever way you are called.  God bless you for your continued presence in the lives of your grandchildren.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com
janetcassidy.blubrry.net (podcasts)