Towards Evening Author:Mary Hope - There has been much research - and more writing - lately on old age: this book is the first contribution to the subject from the Catholic point of view. — Mary Hope is a lay woman who has had much to do with the very old all her life and who is now old enough to begin to see these problems at first hand. She does not strain to be bright and bra... more »cing, nor does she ignore the fact that old age is usually accompanied by pain and such added trials as bad eye-sight or hearing. But she notes that it has its special joys too - a new sympathy with small children, and joy in their joy, and its special humor. It delights her to find herself being treated by young people just as she remembers treating a very old aunt!
The author has led a very actve life; now she finds she can no longer "do" much; no reason, she says, for doing nothing, but an excellent reason for giving more time to prayer.
In fact she sees old age as a quiet season, given by God, for gettting ready for heaven, and finds a special happiness in the thought that in His sight the very old are children still, and children who are soon to go home. Her own ideas about getting ready for heaven are not forced on her readers, nor even recommended, just noted as things that she finds helpful, or that seemed so to old people she has known.
We think her book will appeal especially to people who, like the author, are not yet "really old," but who can see old age approaching and are wondering how best to meet it.
It will be very helpful to anyone who has old people in his or her care and who finds them "difficult": learning to see things from thier point of view can make all the difference.« less