Today, people often enter old age still very energetic and full of initiative. At the same time, however, this stage of life brings an experience of limitation when one faces declining energy, illness, loneliness, or marginalization. How can we show closeness in these situations? The Saint of the “little way” teaches us.

“Before leaving, I gave her my most beautiful smile”

When Thérèse of Lisieux was a novice, she was assigned to accompany Sister Saint Peter at the end of prayer, from the chapel choir to the refectory at mealtimes. Sister Saint Peter was an elderly, partially paralyzed nun, because of widespread arthritis that made her ill-tempered and very demanding of the assistance she required. Once they arrived at the refectory, Thérèse’s task was over. But her care did not end there.

In fact, the Saint recounts that Sister Saint Peter “with her poor, crippled hands, arranged the bread in her bowl as best she could: I soon noticed this, and every evening, before leaving, I also performed this small service for her. Since she had never asked me to do so, she was deeply moved by my thoughtfulness, and by this means, although I had not expressly sought it, I completely won her goodwill, especially because (I learned later), after breaking her bread, before leaving I gave her my most beautiful smile.”

Care for the elderly learned in the family

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is famous for her “way of spiritual childhood” or “little way,” in which she proposes a simple yet powerful way of living the faith through small acts of love, kindness, and service to others, especially to vulnerable people such as the elderly often are.

Little Thérèse had the example of her parents before her. Her sister Céline bears witness to this, recounting: «I can still see Mother caring for a poor old man. I may have been seven years old at the time, but I remember it as if it were yesterday. We were out walking when we met a pitiful-looking man on the road. Mother sent Thérèse to give him alms. The poor man was so grateful that Thérèse began talking to him. Then Mother invited him to follow us, and we returned home. She prepared a good meal for him - he was starving - gave him clothes, and presented him with a pair of shoes… And she invited him to come back to our house if he needed anything else…». And regarding Father, she adds: «One day, in church, Father met an elderly person who appeared to be very poor. He took him home. We gave him food and everything he needed. As he was about to leave, Father asked him to bless Thérèse and me. We were already young girls, and we knelt down before him, and he blessed us».

Because of the experience they have acquired, older people help us develop a realistic view of life and learn to take into account its limitations as well. Through their experience of fragility, they teach us the value of weakness and humility and pass on faith and resilience. Older people truly are a great resource and a gift!

And do you have any thoughts to share about older people? You can write them in the comments.