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Show TAsRaeeee P TRG RPS DS THINK ABOUT DEATH and START TO LIVE! Generation Gap It is human nature to puoff thoughts of death as long as we author—mythsthat prohibit sharing the joys of an all-too-short life After the singing competition, the blood-pressure machines do a big business. It is no wonderthe old are cranky, the young unregenerate and rude, and the middle-aged panicky. One of the reasons for this division is that we do not believe merit affects the quality of life. Yet Winston Churchill was in his 60s when he becameBrit- can This is especially true when mathematicians get their gifts early and are washed up at 30, never considering that Goethe wrote “Faust” when in his 70s. But when a 47-yearold bishop becomes a cardinal, we say he is young. The trouble with all of us is that webelieve life is like a business graph. Weimaginelife as a slowly ascending our years are young, our healthis good, and we're having a won. derful time. Bur even in this life, the ruc values and real joys of living comeinto clear focus only when weface up to the facts of death and ask ourselves: “What does it mean?” judgment, shall live eternally cither in joy —or misery This has been the teaching of the age-old Catholic Church since the ume of the Apostles. It is a doctrine that compels a Catholic to think of his life in terms of his death, It soundslikea gloomy doctrine to those whodislike to face up to the facts of death and the certainty of divine judgment, bur Catholics are inspired rather than depressed by it However gloomy the praspect of death may be, Catholics are constantly reminded by the Church of the importance of ina mannerpleasing to God. We facing up co it instead of trying see it not as a Grim Reaper, rob- © ignoreit, In the monthof Nobing us of our worldly ple-sures, vember cach year, the thoughts Once we do this, the terrify- ing specter of death becomes less fearsome. Wesce it as a teacher, cautioning us to shape ourlives but as the golden gateway to of thefaithful are especialiydiGod's greatest of all gifts—erer- rected to the special consideranallife. There are some people, of course, whobelieve that after this life there is no more. The pure andthe sinful, they contend, all meet the same gloomy end of eternal nothingness; there is no judgment,no punishment, noreward. But if our reason did not tell us this is wrong, we have the clearer assurance of God Himself Butthe young,too, have “exclusive areas”in discotheques such as New York's “Wednesday.” ain’s war-time Prime Minister. On New York’s lower East Side, in the crowded tenements, we hada pret- ty good idea of whatlife looked like —all ages of life. We lived with kid brothers, maiden aunts, and grandparents. The result was that we didn’t think people belonged in the categories of young, middle-aged, or old—we all communicated one way or another. Today, in most suburban complexes, the town at midday is populated only by the women, the kiddies, and the dogs. Wehavevictimized ourselves by subscribing wholeheartedly to our own myths. Weall retire at 65, not because that is when we should retire, but rather because 65 is the most advantageous retirement age for the insurance business. We really believe that poets and line which reaches its peak at roughly 50 and then abruptly andrelentlessly descends into senility or bankruptcy at 70. I submit that life is a continuum, an ever-circling curve, every point of which is as near the end as the beginning. Only if it is thus can the old learn from the young just as the young learn more handily from the old. Thereis little reverence for the old in our society. And because there is none, there is probably less reverence for the young. + More Harry Golden Wit and Wisdom Family Weekly readers who would like to enjoy more of the warmth and friendliness of America's favorite sage may send for the giant treasury, “The Best of Harry Golden.” Mail $8.95 to F.W. Books, Dept. A198, Box 707, Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10017. Family Weekly, March 9, 1969 5 that manshall live on earth, shall eventually meet death, that he shall be judged and, upon that dons of that occasion when every human being must take off on that final “flight” to God's vast unknown. If you wouldlike to know how to think about death, what happens after death, how to think about Heaven, how the Church helpsits people a: death, what's the right attitude toward death as Catholics see it, write today for our free pamphlet. It will be mailed promptly, and nobody will call on you. Ask for Pamphlet No. FM-53 -~ FREE—Mail Coupon Today!--—— = Pleose send me your Free Pamphlet entitled: “Think About Death And Start To Livel”” | rm53 | Name Address. City i ; _ __State___ Zip H KNIGHTS or COLUMBUS|1 RELIGIOUS INFORMATION BUREAU 3473 SOUTH GRAND, ST. LOUIS, Don't Neglect Slipping FALSE TEETH Do false teeth drop. siip or wobble when youtalk, eat, laugh or sneeze? Don't be annoyed and embarrassed by such handicaps. PASTEETH. alkaline (non-acid) powdertospiine kle onyourpl Ise teeth wore Airaly tetGives confident feel, ing of security and added comfort. No gummy, gooey taste or feeling. Dentures that At areessential to health See your dentist regularly. ¢PASTRETH at all drug counters, MO. 63118 5 y BACKACHE Aching Muscles You long to ease those pains, porarily, anc etic ied flosds thus Meshing out irritation pain causing bladder wastes. DeWitt's Pills often succeed where others fail. If pain persists always see your doctor. Insist on DeWitt’s Pills 1 J |