It has long been a mystery to me why the Catholic Church has done so little to provide spiritual guidance to its members in the later stages of life. When you consider how many of these members, both here in the United States and around the world, are over sixty, you become convinced that the church has bypassed rich opportunities for pastoral care of the aged and of those who feel concern about them.

Friends and colleagues active in other churches and religious groups assure me that this neglect of opportunity is not confined to my church. These groups also tend to ignore the special needs and rich possibilities available to them in their own older members.

I remember one Protestant minister, a scholar interested in aging and spirituality, confirming this fact. He went on to share with me his opinion that the chief reason for this neglect is because the clergy are in denial about their own aging.

Just recently the silence about elder ministry on the part of Catholic officials has been broken dramatically. At least on the highest levels, strong evidence has suddenly appeared showing that the church recognizes the spiritual needs and the potential of its older members and wants to respond.

Three documents have been published that reveal a new level of awareness on the part of church leaders about the resources represented in its elders and their claim both to minister and to be ministered to.  The first two of these writings come from Rome and are addressed to Catholics throughout the world; the third was sent by the American bishops at the recent conclusion of their semi-annual meeting.

The first document, called “The Dignity of Older People and their Mission in the Church and in the World,”  was issued by the Vatican’s Council for the Laity in October, 1998. Positive in outlook and including much enlightened gerontology, the text offers fine material under such headings as “The meaning and value of old age.”

The second piece, also from Rome, is a “Letter to the Elderly” written by Pope John Paul II. Issued in October 1999, this long letter comes from the 79-year-old spiritual leader who wants to share with others his experiences of growing old.

This document is filled with hope, as John Paul’s writes in a personal way about God’s work in his own life and in the world. Among other  remarks about his own experience, he says: “Despite the limitations brought on by age, I continue to enjoy life.”

Looking toward the new millennium, he finds many signs of hope. Among them, he cites the new consensus about universal human rights, recognition of the dignity of women, and the ongoing dialogue among world religions.

For an appraisal of this letter I interviewed Monsignor Charles Fahey, director of Fordham University’s Third Age Center and the leading priest-gerontologist in this country. Not always an enthusiast for church documents, Monsignor Fahey calls this letter “the best statement on the spirituality of aging” that he has seen. He hopes that people from other religious traditions will draw spiritual profit from it also.

The third document appeared only two weeks ago. It was issued by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and entitled “Blessings of Age: A Pastoral Message on Growing Older with the Faith Community.” Monsignor Fahey served as a consultant to the American bishops for this statement and brought his wide knowledge and experience to the project.

At the beginning the bishops state three reasons for writing: 1) to affirm and challenge older people; 2) to present a new view of older people that sees them as active participants in the church’s life and mission; 3) to help develop structures in parishes that will encourage and make easier the contributions of elders.

Another feature of the bishops’ letter is their directing words to groups of people who may not themselves be elderly but who have some stake in their well-being. Thus they offer advice to caregivers, to pastors and pastoral staff members, and to younger adults.

In the past I have often found church documents less than stimulating, to say the least. But these recent writings strike me as different. They show a positive,  hopeful outlook and they demonstrate remarkable confidence in the people to whom they are addressed.

The kind of spiritual gerontology they offer meets a need that I have found widespread. In this age of both soul-searching and great uncertainty, they offer much that for both reflection and prayer.  My hope is that many others will find in them some of the inspiration that has come to me.

Incidentally, the best way to find the first two documents is through the Internet at the Vatican web site. Its address is www.vatican.va. The Pope’s letter is not yet available in printed form but “The Dignity of Older People” can be purchased for a nominal price at 1 (800) 876-4463.

The American bishops statement can be found at www.nccbusee.org/laity.blessings.htm. [link no longer active] You can also get it in printed form by calling 800 235-8722.

Richard Griffin