A Time to Die: Monks on the Threshold of Eternal Life

This was kind of depressing and kind of reassuring too.The book is all about different monks, basically on their death bed, and how thy deal with the whole process. If you have a belief in the hereafter the book won't bother you (except it is all about dying all throughout). If you have no faith it may be a real bummer for you.

This is a unique window into monastic life lived today. The numerous accounts of Bendictine order monks who have finished their days with the loving care and support of their brothers is truly inspirational. In our time where isolation and medical sterility characterize end if life services, a lot can be learned from the heartfelt care described here. So worth the read. I didn't want it to end. Be prepared to engage in a bit of soul searching.

It is a great book, a survey of the different monk orders as they handle death of their brothers. Their approach to death is comforting and eye opening.

Diat travels to various Monasteries and discusses how they view physical death: some willingly and some fighting all the way. The writing is so wonderful that it would be easy to forget the topic. I recommend this to anyone who has read the books Diat cowrote with Cardinal Sarah.

As I age and enter my seventies, I figure that I may not have much time left to live. I wanted to read about these holy men and how they left this world.The proper nouns of the people and places were somewhat difficult to follow.Even though some deaths were similar in nature, each religious was considered a separate soul.

As one reaches the senior years in life the more you become aware of your own mortality and that the “grim reaper” may be seeking you out in the near future. This is a book that is focused on research done by a French writer on Catholic monks living in various monasteries in France.Since the life of a monk is preparing for death and looking forward to meet God you would think these monks would all have the same experiences and views when it comes to life and death. However, what this book shows is that it does not matter how religious you may be each of us deals with the issue of death and dying in our own way.The author relates what he has learned from these monks about how they deal with some of the many issues related to life, death and dying.The eight chapters cover the following material: A life cut short, the shadow of the Black Mountain, a fortress away from the world, the smile of Brother Theophane, rainy days, the art of a happy death, how to say goodbye, and the deaths of the recluses.Even though the book would appeal to Catholics more than anyone else; nevertheless, anyone interested in the subject of dealing with death might find this book interesting and informative.Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Martial Art and Warrior Haiku and Senryu)

This is truly a wonderful book that helps us to reflect on death, life after this world, gives us hope for eternity , drives away the fear of unknown territory/threshold each one of us will be crossing eventually. Many monks' death show us to surrender trustingly in God's mercy and love and to let us be carried away in His arms like a child.

This is a powerful journey through France's major thriving abbeys and monasteries with interviews and stories of Holy men who have given their entire lives to Christ and prayer. Discusses dying and death with a realistic and balanced spiritual persoective. It is also a pure meditation book on faith, hope and love and living with Christ and Mary more authentically and passionately.

Le agrado mucho.

Really makes it personal and an eye opener in what the monks go through

Livro muito interessante.

I was not sure I could bear to read this, yet I found it to be peaceful reading.

sterben Mönche anders?Nicolas Diat ist der Frage in Interviews nachgegangen.Ein sehr positives,geistlich reiches Buch.