How to Become a Saint: A Beginner's Guide [Paperback]

Jack Bernard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2007

Saints are not supermen or superwomen, people with some extra spiritual oomph that the rest of us lack. The life of a saint is simply one that is fully oriented toward God, and this life is attainable for everyone. In How to Become a Saint, Jack Bernard explains that true holiness is not the special calling of a few, but the will of God for all people. In it, he offers vision, encouragement, and practical disciplines for pursuing such a life of faith. Rather than advocating just trying harder to become a better person or simply accepting an "anything goes" attitude of Christian spirituality, Bernard roots his writings in the church, encouraging disciples to pursue holiness within a community of believers instead of a "me and God" view of personal spirituality. With a pastoral heart and the wisdom that comes from persevering through many years of spiritual struggle, Jack Bernard seeks to bring hope to serious disciples that sainthood is not only possible but is God's desire and intention for all believers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Everyone can become a saint; it's not a state of life intended for a few select women and men throughout history. This is the thesis Bernard, who died in 2002, posits in this collection of spiritual musings that he wrote in 1999. Bernard, a one-time atheist, missionary and founder of the Church of the Sojourners, provides a "back to basics" commonsense spirituality, which is much needed during this time of growing polarization among Christians. Sainthood, he argues, is sorely misunderstood. It does not require perfection, but rather trust: trust in God and God's will, and trust in the goodness of oneself and others. The author acknowledges that sainthood is not an easy task, but it is much more suited to the human condition than perfection. Holiness is an attribute required for sainthood, but again, this is not perfection, but a "strict undividedness toward God." Those who focus on God and God's will cannot fail to find holiness and sainthood. This pursuit, Bernard makes clear, is best accomplished within the context of the community of believers, though he's not advocating any particular denomination here. The author's spiritual messages may seem redundant throughout the text, but he may have intended that: this is an oft-ignored message that bears repeating. (Feb.)
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From the Back Cover

"Rather than portraying sainthood as the anomaly reserved for superchristians, Bernard brings the calling to be set apart for God before all of us in a simple and mystical invitation. As Jesus was dying on the cross, the veil of the temple was split open, setting all that was sacred free into the world--so Bernard's book mystically makes the road to sainthood accessible to ordinary radicals who long for more of God."--Shane Claiborne, author of The Irresistible Revolution and a founding member of The Simple Way

"Few books breathe the life of holiness like this one. Jack Bernard didn't want Christians simply to recover the concept of holiness; he wanted us to be undivided toward God, to become saints. Rooted in an unflinching commitment to the mission of God through the church, these pages are full of wisdom, full of encouragement, and full of grace. This book is for anyone who has ever tried to be holy, anyone who desires to be holy, and anyone who desires to desire to be holy."--Philip D. Kenneson, author of Life on the Vine

"Thank God for a community like Church of the Sojourners that produced a saint like Jack Bernard who could write a book about the promise of holiness for the whole people of God. This is 'mere Christianity' for 'a new kind of Christian'--essential reading for all of us who long to be the change we seek."--Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, author of To Baghdad and Beyond: How I Got Born Again in Babylon

"Jack Bernard is the last person on earth to think of himself as a saint. This is why How to Become a Saint is so refreshing and so instructive. Here is a truly authentic, honest, down-to-earth word on what it means to be wholly undivided toward God. This book is neither a manual nor a manifesto; it is a wellspring of humble, hard-fought wisdom that can be applied by anyone who wants to love God more fully and faithfully."--Charles Moore, editor of Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard and Leo Tolstoy: Essential Spiritual Writings

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Brazos Press (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587431998
• ISBN-13: 978-1587431999
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,271,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for dedicated Christians seeking to better understand and embody their faith., June 8, 2007

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Become a Saint: A Beginner's Guide (Paperback)

Written by Christian missionary Jack Bernard (1942-2002), How to Become a Saint: A Beginner's Guide is a simple guide for anyone who seeks to become closer to God and Jesus Christ through embarking upon the long road to sainthood. How to Become a Saint denounces the myth that sainthood is an anomaly, only for a few individuals with superhuman religious zeal. Chapters discuss sainthood defined as undividedness toward God; the obedience that comes from faith; the importance of perseverance; true versus false mysticism; and much more. "As a proper grasp of grace leads to obedience, knowing we are predestined leads to determined effort at faithfulness. You are not on your own with the promise of a reward at the end if only you can gut it out. What Jesus said to his first disciples he still says to you 'And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age' (Matt. 28:20)". Highly recommended for dedicated Christians seeking to better understand and embody their faith.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended!, September 28, 2008

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L. Boniface (QLD, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Become a Saint: A Beginner's Guide (Paperback)

I truly appreciated this book, I thought it was practical and thorough. I liked particularly his words on perseverance, prayer and discernment. I thought his focus on the church rather than the individual was wonderful. Worth a read for anyone who is seeking to become more authentic in their Christian faith. This book was not prescriptive, rather encouraging and challenging.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shift in thinking, October 25, 2007

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Pilgrim on the road (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: How to Become a Saint: A Beginner's Guide (Paperback)

This book is not a "how to" or "10 Easy Steps" on being a saint. It is a thoughtful re-definition of what it means to be a serious follower of Jesus in a world that likes to compartamentalize the Christian faith into something you do only on a Sunday morning (hmmmm, some Christians think like that too!?). The author talks about some basic steps that we all need to practice and yet he takes it beyond that ----wanting the reader to embrace a bigger view of what it means to live in light of the love of God.