Sisters Care of San Antonio at 1946 La Manda Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78201 US - Pope John Paul II Addresses the Elderly
| Pope John Paul II Addresses the Elderly |
Journey to Eternity To my elderly sisters and brothers! "Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty if we are strong, and most of them are fruitless toil for they pass quickly and we drift away." Psalm 90:10 Seventy years was an advanced age when the psalmist wrote these words, and few people lived beyond it. Nowadays, thanks to medical progress and improved social and economic conditions, life expectancy has increased significantly in many parts of the world. Still, it remains true that the years pass quickly, and the gift of life, for all the effort and pain it involves, is too beautiful and precious for us ever to grow tired of it. As an older person myself, I have felt the desire to engage in a conversation with you. I do so first of all by thanking God for the gifts and the opportunities that He has abundantly bestowed upon me up to now. In my memory, I recall the stages of my life, which is bound up with the history of much of this century, and I see before me the faces of countless people, some particularly dear to me. They remind me of ordinary and extraordinary events, of happy times and of situations touched by suffering. Above all else, though, I see outstretched the provident and merciful hand of God the Father, who "cares in the best way possible for all that exists" (St. John Damascene) and who "hears us whenever we ask for anything according to His will" (1 John 5:14). With the psalmist, I say to Him: "You have taught me, O God, from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. And now that I am old and gray, O God, forsake me not, till I proclaim your strength to every generation that is to come" (Psalm 71:17:17-18). My thoughts turn with affection to all of you, dear elderly people of all languages and cultures... In this letter, I wish simply to express my spiritual closeness to you as someone who, with the passing of the years, has come to a deeper personal understanding of this phase of life and consequently feels a need for closer contact with other people of his own age, so that we can reflect together on the things we have in common. I place all this before the eyes of God, who embraces us with His love and who sustains us and guides us by His providence. Dear brothers and sisters, at our age it is natural to revisit the past in order to attempt a sort of assessment. This retrospective gaze makes possible a more serene and objective evaluation of persons and situations we have met along the way. The passage of time helps us to see our experiences in a clearer light and softens their painful side. Sadly, struggles and tribulations are very much a part of everyone's life. Sometimes it is a matter of problems and sufferings that can sorely test our mental and physical resistance, and perhaps even shake our faith. But experience teaches that daily difficulties, by God's grace, often contribute to people's growth and to the forging of their character. Beyond single events, the reflection that first comes to mind has to do with the inexorable passage of time. "Time flies irretrievably," as the ancient Latin poet Virgil put it. Man is immersed in time; he is born, lives and dies within time. Birth establishes one date, the first of his life, and death another, the last. . But if the life of each of us is limited and fragile, we are consoled by the thought that, by virtue of our spiritual souls, we will survive beyond death itself. Moreover, faith opens us to a "hope that does not disappoint" (see Romans 5:5), placing us before the perspective of the final resurrection. A complex century toward a future of hope... In speaking to the elderly, I know I am speaking to and about people who have made a long journey (see Wisdom 4:13). 1 am speaking to my contemporaries, and so I can readily draw an analogy from my own personal experience. Our life, dear brothers and sisters, has been situated by providence in this 20th century, which arrived with a complex inheritance from the past and has witnessed many extraordinary events. Like so many other times in history, our own has registered lights and shadows. Not all has been bleak. Many positive aspects have counterbalanced the negative, or have emerged from the negative as a beneficial reaction on the part of the collective con- sciousness. Yet it is true, too--and it would be both unjust and dangerous to forget it - that unprecedented sufferings have affected the lives of millions and millions of people... While these memories and these painful happenings sadden us, we cannot forget that our century has also seen the appearance of many positive signs that represent so many sources of hope for the third millennium. There are many reasons, then, for giving thanks to God. There is immense potential for peace and progress. From the very adversities that our generation has experienced, there comes a light that can brighten the years of our old age. Here we see the confirmation of a principle central to the Christian faith: "Tribulations not only do not destroy hope; they are its foundation." We should meditate on how quickly time flies, not in order to resign ourselves to an inexorable fate, but rather to make full use of the years we still have before us. The autumn of life... What is old age? At times it has been referred to as the autumn of life - so Cicero calls it - following the analogy suggested by the seasons and the successive phases of nature. We need but look at the changes taking place in the landscape over the course of the year, on the mountains and in the plains, in the meadows, valleys and forests, in the trees and plants. There is a close resemblance between our human biorhythms and the natural cycles of which we are a part. At the same time, however, man is set apart from all other realities around him, precisely because he is a person. Made in the image and likeness of God, he is conscious and responsible. Even in his spiritual dimensions though, he experiences the succession of different phases, all equally fleeting... Old age is not without its own benefits. As St. Jerome observes, with the quieting of the passions, it "increases wisdom, and brings more mature counsels." In a certain sense, it is the sea- son for that wisdom that generally comes from experience, since "time is a great teacher." The prayer of the psalmist is well known: "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart" (Psalm 90:12). The elderly in Sacred Scripture... The Bible does not hesitate to point out, at times with blunt realism, the fleeting nature of life and the inexorable passage of time... Despite such wry realism, Scripture maintains a very positive vision of the value of life. Man remains forever made "in the image of God" (see Genesis 1:26), and each stage of life has its own beauty and its own tasks. Indeed, in the Word of God, old age is so highly esteemed that long life, is seen as a sign of divine favor (see Genesis 11:10-32). In the case of Abraham ... the privilege of old age is stressed. At Abraham's side is Sarah, a woman who sees her body growing old, yet experiences within the limitations of her aging flesh the power of God who makes good every human shortcoming. Moses, too, was an old man when God entrusted him with the mission of leading the Chosen People out of Egypt. It was not in his youth but in his old age that, at the Lord's command, he did mighty deeds on behalf of Israel. Among other examples of elderly people in the Bible, I would mention Tobit, who humbly and courageously resolved to keep God's Law, to help the needy and to endure blindness patiently, until the angel of God intervened to set his situation aright (see Tobit 3:16-17). There is also Eleazar, whose martyrdom bore witness to an exceptional generosity and strength (see 2 Maccabees 6:18- 31). The New Testament also contains eloquent examples of elderly people. The Gospel of Luke begins by introducing a married couple "advanced in years" (1:7): Elizabeth and Zechariah, the parents of John the Baptist ... Here we see a remarkable older couple, filled with a deep spirit of prayer. In the Temple at Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to offer Him to the Lord ... There they meet the aged Simeon, who had long awaited the Messiah. Taking the child in his arms, Simeon blesses God and proclaims: "Lord, now let your servant depart in peace" (Luke 2:29). At Simeon's side we find Anna, a widow of 84, a frequent visitor to the Temple, who now has the joy of seeing Jesus. The Evangelist tells us that "she began to praise God and spoke of the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38). Nicodemus, too, a highly regarded member of the Sanhedrin, was an elderly man. He visited Jesus by night in order not to be seen. To him the Divine Teacher reveals that He is the Son of God who has come to save the world (see John 3:1-21). Nicodemus ap- pears again at the burial of Jesus, when, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, he overcomes his fear and shows himself a disciple of the crucified Lord (cf. John 19:38-40). How reassuring are all these examples! They remind us that at every stage of life the Lord can ask each of us to contribute what talents we have. The service of the Gospel has nothing to do with age... the teaching and language of the Bible present old age as a "favorable time" for bringing life to its fulfillment and, in God's plan for each person, as a time when everything comes together and enables us better to grasp life's meaning and to attain "wisdom of heart." "An honorable old age comes not with the passing of time," observes the Book of Wisdom, "nor can it be measured in terms of years; rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age" (4:8-9). Old age is the final stage of human maturity and a sign of God's blessing. Guardians of shared memory... In the past, great respect was shown to the elderly. "Great was once the reverence given to a hoary head," says Ovid, the Latin poet. Centuries earlier, the Greek poet Phocylides had admonished: "Respect gray hair: give to the elderly sage the same signs of respect that you give your own father." And what of today? If we stop to consider the current situation, we see that among some peoples old age is esteemed and valued, while among others this is much less the case, due to a mentality that gives priority to immediate human usefulness and productivity. Such an attitude frequently leads to contempt for the later years of life, while older people themselves are led to wonder whether their lives are still worthwhile... There is an urgent need to recover a correct perspective on life as a whole. The correct perspective is that of eternity, for which life at every phase is a meaningful preparation. Old age, too, has a proper role to play in this process of gradual maturing along the path to eternity. And this process of maturing cannot but benefit the larger society of which the elderly person is a part. Elderly people help us to see human affairs with greater wisdom, because life's vicissitudes have brought them knowledge and maturity. They are the guardians of our collective memory, and thus the privileged interpreters of that body of ideals and of common values that support and guide life in society. To exclude the elderly is, in a sense, to deny the past, in which the present is firmly rooted, in the name of a modernity without memory. Precisely because of their mature experience, the elderly are able to offer young people precious advice and guidance. In view of all this, the signs of human frailty that are clearly connected with advanced age become a summons to the mutual dependence and indispensable solidarity that link the different generations, inasmuch as every person needs others and draws enrichment from the gifts and charisms of all. "Honor your father and mother" Why then should we not continue to give the elderly the respect that the sound traditions of many cultures on every continent have prized so highly? For peoples influenced by the Bible, the point of reference through the centuries has been the commandment of the Decalogue: "Honor your father and mother," a duty which for that matter is universally recognized, The full and consistent application of this commandment has not only been a source of the love of children for their parents, but it has also forged the strong link that exists between the generations. Where this commandment is accepted and faithfully observed, there is little danger that older people will be regarded as a useless and troublesome burden. The same commandment also teaches respect for those who have gone before us and for all the good they have done: the words "father and mother" point to the past, to the bond between generations, which makes possible the very existence of a people. In the two versions found in the Bible (see Exodus 20:2- 17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21), this divine commandment is the first of those inscribed on the second tablet of the Law, which deals with the duties of human beings toward one another and toward society. Furthermore, it is the only commandment to which a promise is attached: "Honor your father and mother, so that your days in the land which the Lord your God gives you may be long" (Exodus 20:12; see Deuteronomy 5:16). "Rise in the presence of one with gray hair; honor the person of the older man" (Leviticus 19:32). Honoring older people involves a threefold duty: welcoming them, helping them and making good use of their qualities. In many places this happens almost spontaneously, as the result of long-standing customs Elsewhere, and especially in the more economically advanced nations, there needs to be a reversal of the current trend, to ensure that elderly people can grow old with dignity, without having to fear that they will end up no longer counting for anything. There must be a growing conviction that a fully human civilization shows respect and love for the elderly, so that despite their diminishing strength they feel a vital part of society. While speaking of older people, I would also say a word to the young, to invite them to remain close to the elderly. Dear young people, I urge you to do this with great love and generosity. Older people can give you much more than you can imagine. The Book of Sirach offers this advice: "Do not disregard what older people say, because they too have leamt from their parents' (8:9); "Attend the meetings with older people. Is there one who is wise? Spend time with him' (6:34); for "wisdom is becoming to the elderly" (25:5). The Christian community can receive much from the serene presence of older people. I think first of all in terms of evangelization: its effectiveness does not depend principally on technical expertise. In how many families are grandchildren taught the rudiments of the faith by their grandparents! There are many other areas where the elderly can make a beneficial contribution. The Spirit acts as and where He wills, and quite frequently He employs human means that seem of little account in the eyes of the world. How many people find understanding and comfort from elderly people who may be lonely or ill and yet are able to instill courage by their loving advice, their silent prayers or their witness of suffering bome with patient acceptance! At the very time when their physical energies and their level of activity are decreasing, these brothers and sisters of ours become all the more precious in the mysterious plan of providence. Dear elderly friends who feel insecure because of ill health or other circumstances, I assure you of my closeness and affection. When God permits us to suffer because of illness, loneliness or other reasons associated with old age, He always gives us the grace and strength to unite ourselves with greater love to the sacrifice of His Son and to share ever more fully in His plan of salvation. Let us be convinced of this: He is our Father, a Father rich in love and mercy! My thoughts turn in a special way to you, widows and widowers, who find yourselves alone in the final part of your lives; to you, elderly men and women Religious, who for long years have faithfully served the cause of the kingdom of heaven; and to you, dear brother priests and bishops, who, for reasons of age no longer have direct responsibility for pastoral ministry. The Church still needs you. She appreciaates the services that you may wish to provide in many areas of the apostolate; she counts on the support of your longer periods of prayer; she counts on your advice born of experience, and she is enriched by your daily witness to the gospel. "You show me the path of life, in Your presence there is fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11) It is natural that, as the years pass, we should increasingly consider our "twilight." If nothing else, we are reminded of it by the very fact that the ranks of our family members, friends and acquaintances grow ever thinner; we become aware of this in a number of ways, when, for example, we attend family reunions, gatherings of our childhood friends, classmates from school and university, or former colleagues from the military or the seminary. The line separating life and death runs through our communities and moves inexorably nearer to each of us. If life is a pilgrimage toward our heavenly home, then old age is the most natural time to look toward the threshold of eternity. And yet, even we elderly people find it difficult to resign ourselves to the prospect of making this passage.... Death thus forces men and women to ask themselves fundamental questions about the meaning of life itself. What is on the other side of the shadowy wall of death? Does death represent the definitive end of life or does something lie beyond it? Human history, from the most ancient times down to our own day, has provided a number of simplistic answers that limit life to what we experience on earth...But precisely against the backdrop of pessimistic attitudes there shines forth the hope-filled say, hope-filled outlook present in revelation as a whole and particularly in the Gospel: "God is not God of the dead, but of the living" (see Luke 20:38).... And Jesus says of Himself: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die" (John 11:25-26). Christ, having crossed the threshold of death, has revealed the life that lies beyond this frontier, in that uncharted "territory" that is eternity. He is the first witness of eternal life; in Him human hope is shown to be filled with immortality.. Faith thus illuminates the mystery of death and brings serenity to old age, now no longer considered and lived passively as the expectation of a calamity but rather as a promise-filled approach to the goal of full maturity. These are years to be lived with a sense of trusting abandonment into the hands of God, our provident and merciful Father. It is a time to be used creatively for deepening our spiritual life through more fervent prayer and commitment to the service of our brothers and sisters in charity.. An encouragement to live life to the full... In this spirit, dear elderly brothers and sisters, as I encourage each of you to live with serenity the years that the Lord has granted you, I feel a spontaneous desire to share fully with you my own feelings at this point of my life, after more than 20 years of ministry on the throne of Peter and as we await the arrival, now inuninent, of the third millennium. Despite the limitations brought on by age, I continue to enjoy life. For this I thank the Lord. It is wonderful to be able to give oneself to the very end for the sake of the kingdom of God! At the same time, "I find great peace in thinking of the time when the Lord will call me: from life to life! And so I often find myself saying, with no trace of melancholy, a prayer recited by priests after the celebration of the Eucharist: "At the hour of my death, call me and bid me come to you." This is the prayer of Christian hope, which in no way detracts from the joy of the present, while entrusting the future to God's gracious and loving care. Grant, O Lord of life, that we may be ever vividly aware of this and that we may savor every season of our lives as a gift filled with promise for the future. Grant that we may lovingly accept Your will, and place ourselves each day in Your merciful hands. And when the moment of our definitive "passage" comes, grant that we may face it with serenity, without regret for what we shall leave behind. For in meeting You, after having sought You for so long, we shall find once more every authentic good that we have known here on earth, in the company of all who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith and hope. Mary, Mother of pilgrim humanity, pray for us "now and at the hour of our death." Keep us ever close to Jesus, Your beloved Son and our brother, the Lord of life and glory. Amen! Sarah and Abraham... God said to Abraham, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can, Just so will your descendants be... as regards your wife Sarah, I will bless her an give you a son by her. I will bless her and she will become nations: kings of peoples will issue from her.’ Abraham bowed to the ground and laughed, thinking, ‘Is a child to be born to a man one hundred years old, and will Sarah have a child at the age of ninety?’ God said: ‘Yes, your wife Sarah will bear you a son whom you must name Isaac. And I shall maintain my covenant with him, a covenant in perpetuity, to be his God and the God of his descendants after him...’ Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age. Abraham named his son Isaac. Sarah said: ‘God has given me cause to laugh! All who hear about this will laugh with me! Whoever would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children! Yet I have borne a son in his old age.’ --Gen. 15: 5; 17: 15-19; 21: 2-7. Elizabeth and Zechariah In the days of King Herod of Judea there lived a priest called Zechariah who belonged to the Abijah section of the priesthood and his wife Elizabeth who was a descendant of Aaron. Both were upright in the sight of God and impeccably carried out all the commandments and observances of the Lord. But they were childless: Elizabeth was barren and they were both advanced in years. While Zechariah was exercising his priestly office before God, there appeared to him the angel of the Lord standing on the right of the altar of incense. The angel said to him 'Zecharia, do not be afraid, your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth is to bear you a son and you shall name him John. He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he must drink no wine, no strong drink, even from his mother's womb he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and he will bring back many of the Israelites to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah, he will go before them to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the good sense of the upright, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him....' Sometime later his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept to herself, saying, 'The Lord has done this for me, now that it has pleased him to take away the humiliation I suffered in public.' --Luke 1:5-17; 24-25.