Customer Reviews

Jaws of Death: Gate of Heaven

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this book is a deep and moving book of a truly brilliant mans extensive study of Christian and non Christian writings on DEATH. This is a simple readable book illuminated with a profound love of Jesus and inspiring hope. Before his death in a two week period this work was done; death is something none of us will ever avoid and this work has some great teachings and insight. I can not say I loved reading this book , but I am a better person for having read it, and sometimes great words are not the easiest to read but maybe the most worthwhile.

At the age of eighty-six in the last two weeks of his life the author wrote his, his last book. A book that takes his years of thought and prayer and puts down on papers how we confront the prospect of our own death.

There is no question that he had an acceptance of his impending death. His reverent insight into the fear of death we must all face and of God's judgment is well written. As is his writing as he pulls back the dark veil of death for us. And reminds us that only through the darkness of death may we enter the light of eternal life. An eternal life offered by our faith in God, in the resurrection of the body, and in reunion through Christ with our beloved dead.

I decided to read this book now that I have reached the point the doctors have decided it is best I just go home and be as comfortable as possible. Reading this book both frightened me and brought me joy. Since we are all mortal, I do suggest you read this book. Get through the first half, the second half makes it all worthwhile. For you cannot have light without darkness.

As one who was facing imminent death himself, Von Hildebrand ("Von H") treats death with the philosophical seriousness itself. As someone who was diagnosed with terminal cancer I found this approach to be just the right one. The book is in two halves; the first half feels a little grim whereas the second radiates a splendid light. This is precisely where Von H gets its right. There can be no real rejoicing about meeting the Divine Master without facing the existential horror of death, not just for oneself, but for loved ones looking on at one's fading away. Von H knows both perspectives, having lost his first wife and on his death bed, knowing his wife's sorrow at his leaving. It seems therefore, regardless of our level of faith, there would be something inhuman in positively rejoicing at leaving behind a beloved spouse. We need to remember that she will see our lifeless body, frozen to the touch, and will have to face to reality of our no longer being reachable. The sorrow of our parting is truly a dreadful thing. And, this is where Von H's personalism comes in, particularly his discussion of the eternal aspect to any "I Love you", being a kind of a cry of "You shall not die."

Thus, we encounter a degree of oddness about modern funerals which is hard to fathom. Why are people so often chirpy? Is there not something inhuman about not accepting that for those left behind, the sorrow of losing a loved one can be overwhelming? It's as if the sickness of grieving hearts is not recognized.

Von H takes seriously the naturalist view that death is a descent into nothingness and cries out against the loss of our personal being, much more grand than anything in the Universe. And, if this is indeed our destiny, then Shakespeare's comment from Macbeth about life as "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" would appear apt.

So, we need to face the choices squarely; if death is indeed about descent into nothingness, then all is meaningless, but if we destined to immortality, as we intuit, and our faith tells us, then all is to be played for in this short life given to us. He also deals with the pantheistic notion that after death we enter into some sort of cosmic consciousness with the disdain it deserves, personal being is everything, and cosmic conscious would in fact be our extinguishment as personal beings.

Von H deals with the reasons why people may in fact long for death, suffering, loss of hope, terrible dread about future sufferings and events. He also notes that many seek death as a kind of liberation.
Von H looks at the beauty of the world and all the natural goods that have been given to us and rejoices in them and he knows that we do not want to be separated from these goods, especially the love for and love from a spouse, the beauty of her face a constant reminder of the beauty of her soul.

And, Von H rightly reminds us that death is a punishment for death - it is therefore linked to God's justice - we merit death - a radical break from what we know moving into an undiscovered country.. And, as Pope Benedict XVI notes in his encyclical "Spe Salvi", the thought of living this life endlessly would be a kind of hell. This brings us directly to the question of what precisely do we want: what kind of life do we want?

Von H notes that death is "extraordinarily intimate", a "dreadful misfortune", having a "solitary and authentic grandeur" and having "great solemnity" - "Death, moreover, places us in absolute isolation with respect to every form of human companionship". All who have sat beside loved one knows these things and yet must face them in a more dreadful manner in approaching one's own death.
Second half

Von H in the second half of the book now approaches death again through the eyes of faith. Having noted that life is a valley of tears, he begins to focus on the eternal bliss ahead, but is also mindful of death as entry into personal judgment. So, the themes of judgment become entwined - neither trumps the other. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" as Hebrews tells us. Then Von H opens up his heart, the man whose goal in life was to be transformed in Christ begins to yearn with all his being to see his Divine Master. He cites the lovely words of the Adoro te from St Thomas. And yet this heartfelt desire also looks to "the moment of death (as) something awesome, mixing as it does our hope for heavenly bliss with our fear of Hell. And, just as the horror of death must be held with the joy of seeing the master, so must the fear of judgment not be swallowed up by expectant joy. Von H perfectly understands the true approach to death: love and fear held together like the hypostatic union of the Divine and human natures in Christ.

What I leant most from this book as was about the engagement of the heart (Von H's book "the heart" is also wonderful) - I had been praying to the Lord to increase my longing to see his Divine face but Von H's treatment re-vitalised that longing. He also enabled me to see with greater clarity the sorrow of death from the perspective of those left behind. Let me quote from him again:

"Only when our love for Jesus becomes intense and our longing for union with Him becomes the very centre of our lives (surpassing all other kinds of longing, yearning, desiring, or hoping) can the supernatural view of death victoriously eclipse the natural view".

But, Von H is careful to remind us that the fearful aspect of death is never truly vanquished and this seems apt - its solemnity, grandeur and glory seems to require a holy fear so that we take it with the utter seriousness it deserves.
The as he approaches death more closely, he notes:

"At death's approach, everything non-essential fades away, everything else becomes truer, more valid and conclusive"

Writing as I am now, knowing that I am terminally ill but yet feeling quite ok, it is hard for me to envision this but I will know soon enough the truth of Von H's words.

"Behold the Bridegroom cometh! Go forth to meet Him"

It was evident from Von H's work (and from the interviews I have seen with his wife) that Von H was a holy man and the words of a holy man of such a great intellect are more precious than gold. If you are dying (and we all are really) and you have a philosophical disposition, then this great work is for you.