Fr. John LaFarge, S.J. The Precious Gift of Old Age. Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press, 2022. Paperback $14.95. Ebook $9.99. Available from the publisher.
People often talk about the art of growing old gracefully. Yet, in our fast-paced technological culture, senior citizens are often disregarded or perceived as a burden.
In The Precious Gift of Old Age Fr. John LaFarge, S.J. reflects upon his own advocacy experience and shares practical insights on the golden years to inspire and empower readers. He stood up for the rights of those discriminated against because of their race and, in these pages, champions the dignity of our elders.
An essential resource for the elderly, their caregivers, and people looking for a broader perspective, the book breaks open the extraordinary blessings of growing old and what readers can do to foster a more welcoming world for the aged.
To demonstrate how old age is loved and cherished, Fr. LaFarge draws from Scripture, the lives of holy men and women like St. Patrick and St. Augustine, history, culture, and contemporary examples.
Fr. LaFarge further addresses the challenges of caring for the elderly who are too sick to live at home and require admission to nursing homes. Readers will also learn strategies for overcoming loneliness and assisting those suffering from the pains of poverty or neglect.
On the flip side, this book clarifies the duties of the younger generations toward their elders, and how it is incumbent upon youth to shift the tide of our utilitarian culture of death.
Most significantly, the elderly provide wisdom based on their knowledge of life and past experiences. Far from being a burden, they orient younger generations toward the life to come.
Fr. LaFarge reflects on old age as a gift. “This new life takes the form of love: of a dynamic, tangible force in human affairs. A reward of old age is to give to me ever new and varied opportunities for the experience of this new life of love for God and man. The acceptance of these new opportunities, as they present themselves to me each day, is an Amen of joy. It is also an Amen of atonement, of reparation, for my own sins and for those of others, in union with the divine sacrifice offered by the Son of God.”
The “Greatest social power in the world” truly rests in old age.
Members of the media may send an email to Sophia Institute Press’ Director of Publicity, Sarah Lemieux at slemieux@SophiaInstitute.com to receive a physical or digital copy of The Precious Gift of Old Age and/or to schedule an interview with their spokesperson.
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