IT was a humbling experience watching the television coverage of the funeral procession that ended at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral’s mausoleum where the body of His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal was finally laid to rest last Thursday. No matter what status in life, religious or otherwise, the inevitable will come. Cebuanos, including myself, will surely miss the kindhearted and soft-spoken Cardinal who was my favorite church figure to interview as a news reporter in the ‘80s.
I remember that day when he had just arrived from the Vatican after his installation as a Cardinal. He met with the press and he gave each one of us a “stampita” bearing the disfigured face of Jesus. It was a thoughtful gesture and I really appreciated him for that. I carried the “stampita” in my wallet for years, until I fell victim to a snatching incident. I may have lost the “recuerdo” but my fondest memories of him will stay forever.
Ricardo Cardinal Vidal has served a purposeful life and touched so many lives, young and old. Cebu Archbishop Vidal became our adopted son thus, he was loved by Cebuanos. When he acted as mediator during the dark years of Martial Law, Cardinal Vidal simply suggested a continuous dialogue between parties. He never imposed on anyone in his effort as peace negotiator. His calmness was contagious. His visitor notably will immediately notice his peaceful countenance.
Cardinal Vidal was quoted to have said: “You are young; I am old.” The Cardinal’s acceptance of his age is clearly a manifestation of his simplicity of heart that made him grow old gracefully.
If it were up to us, some senior citizens I know would rather die of old age. We do not mind the gray hair, blurred eyesight and hearing aid malfunction, the embarrassment sometimes caused by dentures and the wobbly walk due to unstable knees. What is important is we are still able to be with our family, especially our grandchildren, and do volunteer work here and there.
I remember an anecdote shared by Tony Castle, a writer, about a court jester in the ancient times who was given an option which was a matter of life and death. This option came after a king was upset with the jester and in a fit of rage, the king asked the jester in what manner the latter preferred to die. The court jester answered, “I select to die of old age.”