Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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!!

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!

I have had the privilege of hearing Father Jim speak both in person and on audio tapes. I was anxious to read this book as I have been touched by Cancer in my life. My sister died of Brain Cancer at 37 years of age; my brother-in-law died from Liver Cancer at 41 years of age; my father-in-law has Colon Cancer; and I have fought Breast Cancer. As I read it, I got more out of his book than I ever imagined I would. Also, as I read it, I realized how many lives this book could touch not only in my own family, but friends as well: those who have encountered untold pain in any way (mind, body and spirit) and those too, who suffer from incurable diseases. In all honesty, anyone would benefit from reading this wonderful book. My 26 year old daughter read the book along with me at the same time, while we were on vacation. We took turns, because we had only one copy. She has that copy now. My daughter has encountered incredible pain over the years having had scoliosis back surgery (a rod placed along her spine), childbirth twice without drugs and she is pregnant with her 3rd child. After I finished reading it, I bought 10 copies to send to family members and friends. I have kept one copy that will stay with me forever! My husband started reading my copy last night. I know it will touch him deeply when he reads it. It is heartbreaking to tell you that dear Father Jim lost his battle to Cancer, June 24th, the Feast Day of St. John the Baptist, after a courageous journey to the end. During his journey, he never gave up reaching out to others, providing his most thought provoking, "Spiritual Lessons" along the way. His Spirit will always live on in our minds and hearts forever. You will see, his book will be a keeper!!!

This book, by Father Jim Willig tells it like it is. He shares from the depth of his being what it is like to have cancer and what it is to have cancer and to identify with Christ in his sufferings and what it is to have cancer and to be in the human condition. I have never met Father Jim, but I have followed his story from a distance. I have admired his courage, his tenacity at clinging to the only thing that gives his life meaning: Jesus and the Gospels, and his supports...his family, close friends, parishioners and those like me who are miles away but so fiercely connected in prayer. He is and has been in the School Of Suffering as only cancer patients know so intimately. He has been and continues to learn the lessons of that school well. He tells his story not with gloom and doom but full of realism, hope, humor and instruction for the rest of us. Read this book!!! You will be glad you did!!!

Not an autobiography - but an inspirational textbook about the redemptive value of suffering. Father Jim engages the reader with Assignments and Prayers. Finish the book (including the Assignments and Prayers) and you will understand why he encourages us to reexamine our conventional view of suffering.

I found this little book at Milford Spirituality Center near Cincinnati. It was the only book, except for the Bible, which was left in every retreatant's room -- a very good recommendation. It lets us follow Fr. Jim Willig, a much loved local priest, from his first diagnosis of renal cell cancer until his death. A man of faith and prayer, honesty and humor, love and profound humanity, he offers us the privilege of sharing his final thoughts and feelings. In each chapter he focuses briefly on some aspect of his journey and lists like a good teacher the lessons learned and assignments to be done. It is a quick read, very moving and worth re-reading, and the lessons are not just for those who are suffering and dying, but for all of us.

I read this book while in the process of grieving during the illness of a good friend who was dying from cancer. I bought my friend a copy and bought a copy for her sister, who was her primary caregiver. I thought it would help her sister understand and it might enable my friend to keep her strong faith during her time of great suffering. It did help me understand the human frailty and what one endures when his/her faith is challenged by a devastating illness. Father Willig was quite an individual, someone who I'm sure is part of eternity. May God bless him.
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to keep his/her faith during times when it is ultimately tested and for those with whom you want to share its message.

This book is such an inspiration (just like Father Jim). I wish I could afford to give a copy of this book to everyone I know. Father Jim is such a special person. Do yourself a big favor and read this book!!