Letters to Gabriel [Hardcover]

Karen Garver Santorum (Author, Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 9, 1998

The book is a series of letters that Karen wrote to her son, Gabriel Michael, who was born prematurely and died two hours after birth. Karen expresses the bond between mother and child with incredible tenderness and love. Through her lived experience and deep faith, Karen makes a bold and profound statement about the gift of life, family values, the bond between parent and child, the grieving process and the paradox of suffering. What began as a normal pregnancy for Karen ended with serious difficulties just as her husband Rick Santorum (Republican - Pennsylvania) was leading the charge against partial birth abortion in the U.S. Senate.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 132 pages
• Publisher: Ccc of Amer; 1st edition (April 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568145284
• ISBN-13: 978-1568145280
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Catholicism > Roman Catholicism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

99 of 120 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Short Life Leaves a Powerful Legacy, June 22, 1999

By 

Steven Fantina (Phillipsburg, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Letters to Gabriel (Hardcover)

In Letters to Gabriel, Senator Rick Santorum's Wife tells the heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting story of their son's tragically brief life. A severe prenatal development led to his very early delivery, and although his time on earth lasted a mere two hours, his existence added something to the world. In that short lifetime, he experienced decades of love from devoted parents-grateful for the miracle that he was born alive and that they had two hours to love him.

Anyone who is a parent, godparent, uncle, aunt, or loves a child will be greatly moved by this simultaneously despairing and joyous story. Your heart will break for Karen Santorum and her family, but you'll also feel a strong admiration for her. The Santorums will never fully recover from Gabrial's death but they are obviously better parents-in fact better people-for having known him.

Letters to Gabriel is the legacy of a baby whose abbreviated life impacted more people than many of us will touch in fifty years. Like most roller-coaster rides, it is rather short-less than 175 pages, but your emotions careen through the pages for a very memorable journey.

In addition to Karen's moving letters, the book benefits from Dr. Laura Schlessinger's sapient introduction and a very poignant introduction by Mother Teresa written three months before her death.

66 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Before I Formed You In the Womb I Knew You, December 9, 1998

By 

Scott (Dubuque IA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Letters to Gabriel (Hardcover)

Karen Garver Santorum knew her child Gabriel, who was formed in her womb, before he was born for others to see. An experiential, very moving description of the tenacious way which the author loved her chilld before he was born. Though I lack the capacity to bear a child (i.e., maleness), the vicarious experience through Ms. Santorum was stunning. Whatever one might feel about the rights of an unborn child, what is undeniable is the real and true human relationship between the author and her son. A thrilling and moving experience to read!

55 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new perspective on life, September 13, 2000

By 

jeannine james (prattville, al usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Letters to Gabriel (Hardcover)

I thoroughly enjoyed Karen Santorum's book. They way she incorporated her personal tragedy and her strong faith was compelling. I cried through out this book but it made me think about the fragility of life. This book made me appreciate life more. I finished it late one evening and immediately went in and gave my three healthy kids hugs. I applaud Karen for sharing her very heart-breaking story with us.