Father Theodore Heck, OSB - Growing Old with a God Loving Heart
Posted by Sr. Patricia Proctor, OSC in Family on Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:49 PM
I just discovered this interesting article on CNN about Father Theodore Heck, OSB who died on Wednesday at the age of 108. The article states that until recently his memory was very good. During the course of his lifetime he read thousands of books all of which he carefully wrote down and kept track of.
This quote from the CNN article shows just how alert he was until almost the very end.
“Every year, he would take up a subject and read about it,” DuVall said. “When he was 99, he decided he should learn Spanish, and when he was 100, he took up the computer.”
I had never heard of Father Heck before this article – but in doing a bit of googling I discovered a few more pictures and a few more details. What stays with me the most though – is his kind face.
I think that is what is so beautiful about growing old with a God loving heart. The beauty of your soul becomes etched in every wrinkle. Since I’m getting a few of those wrinkles myself it helps to find an article like this that sort of becomes a mile stone of what age and grace can do.
Since both of my parents (Dad in heaven and Mom in a dementia unit) suffered from memory loss – and since every day I seem to find myself more and more forgetful – it is also encouraging to read that “Hey, this doesn’t have to automatically happen.”
On the other hand I am open to whatever path of life God should lead me. While I do things like puzzles, Sudoku and other mind activities to keep as alert as I can and while I “think” about doing other positive stuff like eating better, sleeping and exercising better – I do have an inner confidence that I can accept even dementia if it comes my way. Only of course because I know how loving and accepting both of my parents were (are) with it.
At the same time.. I do think I am going to pray to Father Heck for a grace filled path to eternity as seemingly his was.
You can read a bit more from this article about Father Heck from his Abbey and view a short slide show of his life at Saint Meinrad’s. .
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