Preparation for Death: Considerations on Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell A Popular Abridgment [Paperback]

St. Alfonsus Liguori (Author), Robert Coffin (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2009

Meditation on death, though it seems depressing to many, is essential for our Salvation! Death is the one journey every man must go through alone. It is the one thing that sobers us all and can set us on a more resolute path to Holiness. But this path only begins after facing the reality of death, for to avoid it only increases our fear. In this popular abridgment of his monumental Preparation for Death, St Alphonsus teaches us the proper attitude toward death, which is one of readiness, of always having our debts cleared. Each chapter is a short consideration with three points, easily understood by laity in all states of life. Each point is followed by meditations and prayers for perseverance in our efforts to lead good lives. To aid busy priests in their sermons, St Alphonsus purposely included texts from Scripture and passages from the Holy Fathers, personally selected by the Saint himself to touch the heart of every reader and listener. St Alphonsus shows us how death is, on the natural level, a great sorrow but, on the supernatural level, a great gift. Understanding it as a gift and implementing this knowledge in our lives is the lesson of each powerful meditation. This book is a wonderful way to enhance your Lenten devotions and gain a more profound gratitude for Christ's victory over Death and Hell through His crucifixion and Resurrection!

Product Details

• Paperback: 146 pages
• Publisher: TAN Books and Publishers (March 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895551748
• ISBN-13: 978-0895551740
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #423,347 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a catholic classic, February 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Preparation for Death: Considerations on Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell A Popular Abridgment (Paperback)

This is the best catholic book ever written on preparing for death. The scholarship in this book is enormous. The book shows us that we are here to prepare our souls for heaven. The author uses the most logical and forceful arguments to show us this is the case. Point by point, he shows us why we are on earth, the vanity of life and the distractions people attend to instead of working to save themselves. The underlying theme of the book is that this world is a place of suffering and preparation for heaven and that is in heaven that we will be perfectly and eternally happy. People in this age may laugh at such ideas. That want everything here on earth. But how, writes the author, can anyone be really happy when there are so many problems and suffering in the world? He has an excellent point. He writes that God makes it easy for us to save our souls and that it would be foolish not to take advantage of prayers,mass and all the other helps God gives us. I couldn't agree more.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what the doctor ordered: medicine for souls, October 24, 2005

By 

Andrew Thomann (Shepherdstown, WV USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Preparation for Death: Considerations on Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell A Popular Abridgment (Paperback)

You MUST read this book!

I have read this book about 5 times already. It is short but so thorough that you will not be disappointed if you believe in hell and want to avoid going there when you die.

St. Alphonsus breaks down this treatise into short sections on the pains of hell, the reality of hell, the ways to avoid going there, and most helpful are prayers following each section that are most helpful for turning to Mary and Jesus for spiritual weapons to protect us against the pains of hell, which are for ever.

A must read for all Catholics, and all Christians who believe in hell. Please buy this book and read it often. You will not regret it.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Timeless Classic, December 18, 2006

By 

Katherine Fronatt (Lansing, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Preparation for Death: Considerations on Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell A Popular Abridgment (Paperback)

"Nothing is more precious than time; but there is nothing less esteemed and more despised by the men of the world" says St. Alphonsus in this "little book that has cost me a great deal" Published at in 1758 at the age of 62, this work brings home the fact that none of us knows when or where we will die, only that we shall. Will it be a good death, in the Grace of God or a bad one? It is up to you, to always be prepared. We are not promised tomorrow, nor even the next hour. The hours we have wasted will come back to taunt us when our time has come; what we wouldn't pay for an extra month or day or hour. "The days of salvation pass away, and no one reflects that day which has passed can never return" This may sound all very depressing and rather sad but it's really a book of hope and joy: We still have time to repent, to go to Confession, to amend our lives and to make reparation. We still have time to thank Him that we did not die in our past sins. A virtual must-read for every Catholic home.