Lessons from the School of Suffering: A Young Priest With Cancer Teaches Us How to Live [Paperback]

Jim Willig (Author), Tammy Bundy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2001

Suffering is no guarantee of holiness. Many times it can be an invaluable teacher; other times it can crush a person into self-pity. But the lessons to be learned from suffering are many and, if we learn these lessons well, they can transform our lives, according to a young priest suffering from renal cancer.

In Lessons From the School of Suffering, Father Jim Willig shares his story of being diagnosed in his late 40 s with terminal renal cancer and the consequences of living with cancer and undergoing various treatments, none of which stemmed his disease. Willig, a beloved pastor and inspiring preacher, felt called to share the lessons he learned from the great pain associated with having cancer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...the legacy of Fr. Jim who, by carrying the cross of his cancer, sowed the seeds of faith... --The Catholic Standard Times, September 12, 2002

I couldn't put down Jim Willig's book. Jim has been a fine priest all his life, but this book is his greatest sermon. He brought us through his suffering into the heart of Jesus and in that journey, whether we suffer from cancer or not, we have all become his parishioners. He has taught us to join hands on the way to Emmaus and listen, because the Lord is with us. --Fr. Damien, Abbot, Abbey of Gethsemani

In this book Father Jim Willig proves himself an adept learner and a skilled teacher. He offers lessons that everyone subject to suffering will study and learn with profit. --Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archdiocese of Cincinnati

I couldn't put down Jim Willig's book. Jim has been a fine priest all his life, but this book is his greatest sermon. He brought us through his suffering into the heart of Jesus and in that journey, whether we suffer from cancer or not, we have all become his parishioners. He has taught us to join hands on the way to Emmaus and listen, because the Lord is with us. --Fr. Damien, Abbot, Abbey of Gethsemani

In this book Father Jim Willig proves himself an adept learner and a skilled teacher. He offers lessons that everyone subject to suffering will study and learn with profit. --Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archdiocese of Cincinnati

About the Author

REV. JIM WILLIG was pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Cincinnati.
He earned master s degrees in Sacred Scripture from Mount St. Mary s Seminary in Cincinnati and in spirituality from the University of San Francisco.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: St. Anthony Messenger Press (April 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867164557
• ISBN-13: 978-0867164558
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #723,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful and moving book., July 18, 2001

By 

JT "JT" (Hyde Park, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lessons from the School of Suffering: A Young Priest With Cancer Teaches Us How to Live (Paperback)

Fr. Jim Willig is my brother. His cancer not only had a profound effect on his life and our family but on the many thousands of people who searching for Jesus. This book is a close up look at what he thought and went through. Nothing happens without a purpose. Those who are suffering with cancer or other tragedies will be conforted by Jim's book, there is a reason and purpose to life. It all holds meaning. Those that God holds dearest are the very ones often given the most difficult path.

Jim passed away on June 24, 2001 surrounded by our family and frineds in what I call a very holy moment. There is no doubt in my mind that this book was inspired. I see the hand of God in all this writing. May it be a blessing to you. It will no doubt change your life, forever.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fr. Jim's Life Changing Words, August 25, 2001

By 

Barbara Burdick (Platteville, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lessons from the School of Suffering: A Young Priest With Cancer Teaches Us How to Live (Paperback)

Lessons from the School of Suffering is written for a person with a heart that seeks God. Fr. Jim passionately and honestly expresses all of his feelings about his illness, his human condition with its doubts, fears, and struggles. Then he shares prayers that lead to spiritual growth, words for ALL people, not only those with life threatening illness.This is a book with humor amid the pain.It's inspiring!!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lessons from real life from a real person, July 20, 2001

By 

Duke (Midwest, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lessons from the School of Suffering: A Young Priest With Cancer Teaches Us How to Live (Paperback)

In telling his story, Jim Willig demonstrates incredible strength and human weakness. It is heartening in a sense to see a man of such incredible faith struggle with his own mortality; It makes one feel better about the doubts we struggle with. Jim teaches us that in the end, all we have is faith (I don't know what the future is, but I know Who the future is). He lived an example of acceptance that we can all learn from. God bless Jim Willig. May his example lead us in our daily acceptance of what life gives us!