SPIRITUALITY OF THE ELDERLY

Nicodemus said to Jesus, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be reborn? »  (Jn 3, 4)

1.- Integral vision of man: human beings live a triple dimension

1)  - The relationship with themselves:   He lives the values: Authenticity, Self-Esteem, Personal Identity, Freedom, Dignity, Joy of Living.

2)  - The social dimension: Community life, living with others, communication, service to others, work, the fulfilment of duty, solidarity, moral conscience....

3)  - Orientation to God: He seeks to relate to the transcendent, to a higher being. This helps him to engage in the social, apostolic and justice fields.

2.- The person's transcendent dimension. -  Man is by vocation a transcendent being and questions the ultimate destiny of his life by asking many questions about his existence.

Similarly, the elder carries noble ideals, sublime aspirations. He seeks to live the encounter with God and over the years he approaches this encounter with the transcendent

3.- The true meaning of spirituality. - Spirituality gives meaning to existence, allows you to understand your destiny. Older people have   a stronger spiritual and religious bond than other age groups.  As they age, they connect more to spirituality and religiosity.  Spirituality is a set of aspirations, convictions, values, and beliefs.  At the heart of spirituality is religious spirituality, in which principles, values and the relationship with the transcendent.

Religious spirituality helps older people to have a sense of belonging to a group, to practice their rites and moral codes, to participate in one's faith and to contribute to the increase in life expectancy, to respond to the process of death, to a deep faith and practice of religiosity that gives meaning and satisfaction of life, supports illness and helps to live life better. Life makes more sense when we communicate with the transcendent, and old age is a stage conducive to a deep and simple dialogue with God.

The most spiritually conducive paths are dialogue to facilitate liberation, and personal and spiritual growth in the image and likeness of God. Abandonment in the service of others.

4.- Christian conception of old age. - Old age is the antechamber of the Kingdom. Life is a candle that is lit, but in Christian life it is a continuous growth, being also a biological process, the only interruptions being sin and infidelity to God. In old age, the Holy Spirit finishes his work, for the encounter with Christ. Old age is a period full of vitality, growth, and fulfilment, in which one has time to speak to God, without haste and without words. It is a time of encounter with God, with oneself and with others, where one must meet God through the needy.

The elderly person in conditions of vulnerability or illness needs assistance in the spiritual field. This can be very helpful, closeness and prayer with the elderly. The elderly person has a need of:  

• being recognized for its past and to make sense of the present.
• feeling accompanied.
• trusting in his family.
• feeling supported.
• being respected in one's beliefs and values.
• maintaining emotional ties.
• finding a place in the church.

In spiritual life, you must: Cover feelings and follow Christ’s example. Be like the Good Samaritan. Seek a personal encounter with Christ and practice mercy.

F. Ramón Del Rosario (Frankelo)