The Dignity and Wisdom of Old Age

Welcome to Episode 21 of the Saint John the Baptist Parish Podcast. Well, coming up this weekend, two very special days. Saturday is All Saints' Day. Now, as you know, this is a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church, except when it falls on a Saturday, as it does this year, or a Monday. The following day, the November 2, is All Souls Day.

Now, that's never a holy day of obligation. But, of course, Sundays are. And this year, All Souls Day does happen to fall on a Sunday. These are wonderful days. Of course, All Saints Day is about honoring all the saints throughout church history, known and unknown.

And All Souls Day is about remembering our beloved departed and praying for them. Well, a few items of note in the parish. Our Women's Guild annual holiday fundraiser has begun. If you get a copy of our current bulletin, you'll find the website address where you can go and help out. The pregnancy help center is needing some items, sleepers, clothing for newborns up to six months, pacifiers, baby bibs, baby washcloths.

You can see a whole list of what they need also in the bulletin. We wanna support women who are expecting children in their time of need. Couple of items to put in your calendar in November. We're going to be praying for our military family and friends, really, throughout the month, but the Veterans Day celebration, Tuesday, November 11. Did you know that this was originally called Armistice Day?

And that commemorates the signing of the agreement that ended the first World War back in 1918. But more than fifty years ago, back in the middle of the last century, they renamed this federal holiday to Veterans Day to honor not only those who perished in service to our country, but all men and women who have served in the armed forces of the United States. So if you know someone that's in the army or the navy, air force, marines, or even the other branches, be sure to thank them for their service. One of the hardest things in life is losing a loved one, and we're going to be offering a six week bereavement support group for adults. The next session will be November 17.

That'll be on a Monday, November 17, 03:30 to 04:30 in the parish hall. There's no fee for these sessions. You call the office to reserve a seat. Well, it's hard to believe, but we're less than sixty days away from Christmas. 2025 has gone by very fast.

In fact, every year seems to go by fast. And as you get older, they seem to go faster and faster and faster. Many people wake up one day and wonder, where did the time go? I'm 50 or 60 or 80. And it seems like just yesterday, I was 20.

Aging can be one of the hardest things in life, especially because of the culture we live in. You know, ever since the middle of the twentieth century, America has been obsessed with youth. Think of the advent of rock and roll and Elvis Presley. But it's so often the case. What the world, what our culture focuses on often is sort of the opposite of what we should do if we are trying to grow our spiritual lives.

Our society elevates youth over the aged, And this ignores the Bible, which calls us to honor our elders. Our culture ties human worth to good looks, strength, and success. Consumer markets chase youthful tastes. They want to sell to the young. And it's all wrapped up in this newer is better mentality, believing that fresh ideas will change the world while undervaluing the wisdom of tradition and the elderly.

Scripture says, Gray hair is the crown of glory. It is gained in a righteous life. And as we look at our Christian tradition, and what many of our wonderful popes have taught over the ages, it's to look at age as a sacred gift. You know, our three most recent popes, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis, all had something to say about embracing the season of life known as Old Age. It's a season rich with dignity, overflowing with wisdom, and alive with mission in the Catholic church.

This directly challenges our culture, which worships youth and forgets the timeless value of experience. So in scripture, we look at the book of Job. In chapter 12, it declares, Wisdom is with the aged, an understanding and length of days. This isn't just some dusty old proverb. It's actually divine truth.

Building on this scriptural foundation, Pope John Paul the second echoed it in an Angelus address more than twenty five years ago, saying, The Bible teaches us to venerate old age, rejecting the desire to avoid its burdens, as it is a phase of just living and divine blessing. One of Pope John Paul the second's most famous documents was called Evangelium Vitae or the Gospel of Life. In that, he said respect for the elderly is part of the gospel of life, countering cultures that marginalize them in a culture of death that values youthful looks and achievement. His successor was Benedict the sixteenth. He went a little deeper saying, amid life's challenges, remember that the ultimate authority is the Lord, who sustains us in old age.

Pope Francis also talked a lot about the elderly, saying that as our lifespans get longer, it gives us more time to reflect on the dignity of this season of life. You know, there's a famous quote from Saint Augustine, Let your old age be childlike, and your childhood like old age. That is, so that neither may your wisdom be with pride, nor your humility without wisdom. So, as we live in the twenty first century, in an era where youth and health is idolized, and the elderly and the sick are pushed to the margins, we need to all remind ourselves of the great treasure for our society that the elderly have, their wisdom. We must cherish the elderly, even in their frailty.

And remember, in the words of Pope Francis, they are a blessing for society.