Today we celebrate the Memorial of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th-century Cistercian abbot and Doctor of the Church, who held profound views on old age and death, grounded in his theological understanding of grace, humility, and the ultimate aim of the Christian life: union with God. During my philosophy studies in Jesuit formation, a fellow Jesuit Scholastic was obsessed with a quote that he attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, “death waits at the door of the elderly and ambushes the young.” I cannot verify that the exact quote originates from St. Bernard, but even if the quote is indeed from him, his theology on old age and death is much more profound than the simple quote suggests. In summary, he views the issue of old age and suffering as a natural progression toward God. He believes that old age and physical decline are a part of our journey toward God. Physical weakness in old age also provided opportunities for us to recognize our limitations and rely more on God. Our weak bodies are not merely a burden but rather a companion in weakness, as it accompanies the soul in its journey toward God.
St. Thomas Aquinas, in his commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, reflects on the parable of the laborers in the vineyard from the perspective of the stage of age. Relying on Aristotle, or what St. Thomas usually called the Philosopher, he points out that there is a difference between adolescents and old men; adolescents are those who are still full of passion, desire, and hope, while the old men are full of memories. So, when the landowner approaches those who standing in the marketplace, they are still weak and dominated by their passions. In other words, those who represent adolescence are to be excused for not spending their time in God’s service, which is different from the old men who have more thoughts and wisdom. This kind of exegesis might raise a question whether it signifies that the occasion for turning back to God is not given to certain men until old age. But, St. Thomas explains that the Lord knew the timing for each person, and if He had called them earlier, they would not have joined. So, they are hired at the time when they consent to work in the vineyard. The debate over the just payment in the parable can also be understood in the context of the human lifespan. Some die sooner at a younger age and are rewarded more quickly, but there are some who live until old age, and therefore they have to wait for their eternal rewards. In other words, those who die young will be rewarded quickly, but those who die at an older age must be patient for their eternal reward.