Grandparents' Day: Resources for the Persistent Ones Who Knock at God's Door

FB Smit shares resources for grandparents who are persistent knockers at God’s door and the backbone of a child’s spiritual life.

One of my favorite days of the year to work at a school is Grandparents’ Day. The first-graders’ anticipation is palpable as the students wait for their grandparents to make their way to the classroom. The children eye the door in anticipation, hoping the next person who walks in the door belongs to him/her. The wait feels like forever.

When their awaited ones finally arrive, and the pair spot each other, it’s impossible to tell which party is more delighted. The look on the grandparent’s face rivals only their own grandchild’s expression of pure delight.

Even if they had seen each other the prior evening or in the earlier assembly that showcased their littles’ voices in song, the joy of their reunion is as though they had been apart for a lifetime.

Having a front-row seat to these love-fests is like Christmas.

Persistent Spiritual Warriors

Outside of school, in church and in prayer circles, grandparents express their joys and pains around their children and grandchildren. Sunday’s Gospel makes me think of them, especially grandmothers.  

I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. (Luke 11:8)

This loaf-giving story likely refers to the spiritual warriors who go to Mass every weekday to knock and knock again on God's door in petition for their families.  It’s not uncommon that a spouse converted from a persistent lifetime knocking of prayers.  

God got up, unlocked the door, and handed her a loaf.   

Grandparents are often the backbone of a child’s spiritual life. They nestle their littles at Mass while their parents are at work. Some push sleeping progeny in strollers.   

One grandmother prays that a mission trip she will go on with her granddaughter will bring the teenager closer to Christ. Another's grandchild reads a book while her grandmother fingers rosary beads in petition for her prodigals.   

Two boys wiggle and wrestle in the pew while their grands try to quiet them. The squirmers have never been inside a church, and their grandparents seized this rare babysitting opportunity to take them to Mass because they desperately want to bring them to Jesus.

I can feel their longing lifting off of them.

And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

Seniors have clocked more knocks than most.

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Resources for Catholic Grandparents

The late Pope Francis recognized seniors’ unique offerings by establishing a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. A celebration, the first of its kind, took place on July 25, 2021. This year, it’s commemorated for the fifth time on Sunday, July 27, the day after the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Grandparents of Jesus.  

For those persevering in hope, and to affirm the dignity of seniors, the Catholic Grandparents Association organized the first International Conference for Catholic Grandparents and the Elderly:  

A similar organization for grandparents, Grandly.org, with its tag line, Strategic Grandparenting, aims to help grandparents fulfill the unique role they have in their grandchildren's lives, especially in bringing them to faith in Christ.

This year's theme for World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly is fitting for this Jubilee Year of Hope:

Happy are those … who have not lost hope (Sirach 14:2)

We join our prayers with faith-filled grandparents whose persistence is contagious. And as if with one voice, we join them in anticipation for our own long-awaited loves to walk through the doors of faith.   

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