Both Uses of

venerable
in
Catch-22

Despite the multiple perils to which Major — de Coverley exposed himself each time he rented apartments, his only injury had occurred, ironically enough, while he was leading the triumphal procession into the open city of Rome, where he was wounded in the eye by a flower fired at him from close range by a seedy, cackling, intoxicated old man, who, like Satan himself, had then bounded up on Major — de Coverley's car with malicious glee, seized him roughly and contemptuously by his venerable white head and kissed him mockingly on each cheek with a mouth reeking with sour fumes of wine, cheese and garlic, before dropping back into the joyous celebrating throngs with a hollow, dry, excoriating l†
Chpt 13 *

venerable = respected (worthy of respect) -- typically because of age or position

Nately's father — and everyone else's father Nately had ever met — was dignified, wise and venerable; this old man was utterly repellent, and Nately plunged back into debate with him, determined to repudiate his vile logic and insinuations with an ambitious vengeance that would capture the attention of the bored, phlegmatic girl he had fallen so intensely in love with and win her admiration forever.†
Chpt 23

Definitions:

(1) (venerable)
respected (worthy of respect) -- typically because of age or position
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
meaning too rare to warrant focus:

Much more rarely, venerable can be used as a specific religious title whose exact meaning depends upon the religious denomination, but when given, is only to a small number or people who are exceptionally respected and admired.