Growing Old
The Vocation and Practice of Ageing
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.v4i1.27088Keywords:
Ageing, fourth age, lament, spiritual practice, undergoing, vocationAbstract
This article arises out of our experience of working and reflecting theologically as chaplains in a residential aged care setting. In the first part of this article, we explore the vocation of ageing from the perspective of the Christian tradition, suggesting that this theology offers resources to engage the experience of ageing in ways that render it a journey of growth and self transcendence. In the light of this exploration, we turn to the question of the practices that support engagement with this vocation, particularly for those in the “fourth age”.
References
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Clendenin, A. (2000) “Unfinished Business among the Aging and Those Who Love Them”. The Journal of Pastoral Care 54(2): 121–33. https://doi.org/10.1177/002234090005400202
De Chardin, P. T. (1964) Le Milieu Divin: An Essay on the Interior Life. London: Collins Fontana.
De Hennezel, M. (2008) The Art of Growing Old: Ageing with Grace, trans. S. Dyson. New York: Viking.
Fischer, K. (1998) Winter Grace: Spirituality and Aging. Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books.
Fischer, N. (2011) Sailing Home: Using the Wisdom of Homer’s Odyssey to Navigate Life’s Perils and Pitfalls. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Fitchett, G. (1999) “Screening for Spiritual Risk”. Chaplaincy Today 15(1): 2–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999183.1999.10767102
Gilleard, C., and P. Higgs (2010) “Aging without Agency: Theorizing the Fourth Age”. Journal of Aging and Mental Health 14(2): 121–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860903228762
Lamb, W., and H. Thomson (2001) “Wholeness, Dignity and the Ageing Self: A Conversation Between Philosophy and Theology”. In Aging, Spirituality and Pastoral Care: A Multi-National Perspective, eds. E. MacKinlay, J. Ellor and S. Pickard, 57–76. New York: Haworth Pastoral Press.
Mackinlay, E. (2001) The Spirituality of Ageing. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
MacKinlay, E., and C. Trevitt (2006) Facilitating Spiritual Reminiscence for Older People with Dementia: A Learning Package. Canberra: Centre for Aging and Pastoral Studies.
Merton, T. (1961 [2007]) New Seeds of Contemplation. New York: New Directions Publishing Corporation.
O’Connor, K. M. (2002) Lamentations & The Tears of the World. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
Vaillant, G. E. (2002) Ageing Well. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
Vanstone, W. H. (2006) The Stature of Waiting. London: Morehouse Publishing.
Weil, S. (1973) Waiting on God, trans. E. Craufurd. New York: Harper and Row Publishers.
Whyte, D. (2013) The Pilgrim Way. Keynote presentation at New Ventures West’s UnConference, San Francisco, CA. Available at: http://nvwunconference.com/resources/ (accessed September 1 2015).
Williams, R. (1991) The Wound of Knowledge: Christian Spirituality from the New Testament to Saint John of the Cross. Cambridge, MA: Cowley Publications.
– (2012) Faith in the Public Square. London: Bloomsbury.
Clendenin, A. (2000) “Unfinished Business among the Aging and Those Who Love Them”. The Journal of Pastoral Care 54(2): 121–33. https://doi.org/10.1177/002234090005400202
De Chardin, P. T. (1964) Le Milieu Divin: An Essay on the Interior Life. London: Collins Fontana.
De Hennezel, M. (2008) The Art of Growing Old: Ageing with Grace, trans. S. Dyson. New York: Viking.
Fischer, K. (1998) Winter Grace: Spirituality and Aging. Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books.
Fischer, N. (2011) Sailing Home: Using the Wisdom of Homer’s Odyssey to Navigate Life’s Perils and Pitfalls. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Fitchett, G. (1999) “Screening for Spiritual Risk”. Chaplaincy Today 15(1): 2–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999183.1999.10767102
Gilleard, C., and P. Higgs (2010) “Aging without Agency: Theorizing the Fourth Age”. Journal of Aging and Mental Health 14(2): 121–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860903228762
Lamb, W., and H. Thomson (2001) “Wholeness, Dignity and the Ageing Self: A Conversation Between Philosophy and Theology”. In Aging, Spirituality and Pastoral Care: A Multi-National Perspective, eds. E. MacKinlay, J. Ellor and S. Pickard, 57–76. New York: Haworth Pastoral Press.
Mackinlay, E. (2001) The Spirituality of Ageing. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
MacKinlay, E., and C. Trevitt (2006) Facilitating Spiritual Reminiscence for Older People with Dementia: A Learning Package. Canberra: Centre for Aging and Pastoral Studies.
Merton, T. (1961 [2007]) New Seeds of Contemplation. New York: New Directions Publishing Corporation.
O’Connor, K. M. (2002) Lamentations & The Tears of the World. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
Vaillant, G. E. (2002) Ageing Well. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
Vanstone, W. H. (2006) The Stature of Waiting. London: Morehouse Publishing.
Weil, S. (1973) Waiting on God, trans. E. Craufurd. New York: Harper and Row Publishers.
Whyte, D. (2013) The Pilgrim Way. Keynote presentation at New Ventures West’s UnConference, San Francisco, CA. Available at: http://nvwunconference.com/resources/ (accessed September 1 2015).
Williams, R. (1991) The Wound of Knowledge: Christian Spirituality from the New Testament to Saint John of the Cross. Cambridge, MA: Cowley Publications.
– (2012) Faith in the Public Square. London: Bloomsbury.
Published
2016-12-15
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Bachelard, S., & Millar, N. (2016). Growing Old: The Vocation and Practice of Ageing. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, 4(2), 180-191. https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.v4i1.27088
