Customer Reviews

End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life

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A grandiloquent previous reviewer and the synopsis of the book point out the importance of this book to St. Therese, so I won't go into that here. I think it stands well enough on its own even despite its connection to the Little Flower.
I would divide this book into three sections: first, it presents a Catholic end-times theology, and details the coming of the Antichrist, Resurrection of the Dead, and Last Judgment. Next, it discusses Purgatory, Heaven, and Hell. Finally, it discusses the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and suffering, which of course deal with this world but have consequences in the hereafter. The chapters of the book are actually conferences that Fr. Arminjon presented, and since they were initially delivered as speeches they are easy reading despite the wealth of information they contain. The translation is excellent.
With the popularity of the Left Behind series and the importance of end-times theology to the Evangelical Protestant community, it's nice to have a presentation of Catholic eschatology. I've had a hard time finding a book that does what this one does--namely presenting what exactly will happen when the time comes for Christ to return. Catholics place less of an emphasis on this than Protestants, but it's still a part of our religion and needs to be understood. This book was written before the historical-critical interpretation of scripture became prevalent in the Catholic Church, and so prophesy is interpreted literally instead of being explained away as a metaphor only relevant to the ancient author. It's frightening, but living life with one eye fixed on the four last things will make anyone a better Christian.

This is an excellent book, it tells me the in a very explicit way what the catholic religion is all about; the saving of souls, the ability or the desire to reach the goal of being worthy of eternal life, and to follow Jesus' footsetps. It just supports what I was being taught since I was a child; to bear misfortune or difficulties with patience (which is very difficult to achieve), have charity to all the living and dead, the importance of one's soul compared with the wordly goods. But most importantly, it shows that the signs of apostasy (wich are very much clear today with the current state of the church, the persecution of the clergy in Orissa, India,the rampant materialism, the worship of the senses either through sensual satisfaction, food, etc., and the desire to have an easy earthly life) was already happening during Father Charles Arminjon time.

This book is outstanding!!!!! Buy it for yourself and tell your family and friends about it. With the times we are living in,and the world's view of living for the here and now, this book puts it all into perspective. What really matters is not the time we spend here which is limited, but eternity which is everlasting. It will help you make sense of the suffering and pain we endure in this life so as to spend our eternity with Him who is all love! Please, get this book and give it to others!

I am an old time Pentecostal that began attending a conservative, pro-life Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) because I believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. I still believe in tongues, so I guess that makes me a Charismatic Lutheran.
Father Arminjon's lectures covered two topics in particular that blessed me.
One was the chapter on Purgatory. Protestants believe that our works and deeds done in the Body will be tried by fire because St. Paul wrote that. Nowhere does it tell us how long and how severe the fire will be, so the doctrine of Purgatory is not too hard for me as a Protestant to believe.
The second reason I give this book a great recommendation is the last chapter on Christian suffering as the means of redemption. Protestants throw the baby out with the bath water when we reject the doctrine of redemptive suffering. Even though I am not fully convinced that we play a part in our redemption through suffering, I do see that it is a powerful means of purgation in this world. We grow through our sufferings, and while most Protestants agree with this, we may tend to avoid it more than we should, at least that has been my own personal experience.
I am trying with God's grace to not only accept my sufferings but to embrace them. This is a hard thing to do, and I keep falling away from it, but this book helps remind me to do it.

For a musical chord to shape itself and transform a noise into a melodious sound just the right combination of notes come together to form it. Saint Therese of Lisieux can be thought of as perhaps one of the most melodic chords in God's saintly and heavenly symphony . . . and one can study Therese's life to see what "notes" contributed to form her into who and what she was, became and is; a saint . . . a Doctor Of The Church (proclaimed one by the late Pope john Paul II) . . .and although seemingly unnoticed and almost insignificant on the world stage, one of the most admired and revered saints, transcending traditional denominational lines - something within her resonates like a harmonic chord in the hearts of so many . . .

One of those "notes" Saint Therese herself told us of: a book she had read at the age of fourteen (one she borrowed from her father) - a book of writings by Father Charles Arminjon called "The End Of The Present World(And The Mysteries Of The Future Life). But it wasn't the mere enanoration of a fouteen year old with some spiritual writings . . . Therese copied passages and prayed them for the rest of her life and even till shortly before her death told of what a grace this book brought to her. If one wants to know something of what helped make Therese Martin desire and succeed in becoming a saint, this book is one of the major influences within her soul. If it helped Therese to motivate herself to ever greater dedication to loving God in her life for an eternity of God's love in the next, these writings of Father Arminjon can help any of us to "get a proper perspective of "what this life's real purpose is" . . . we are all called, just like Therese, to belong to the same family: the communion of saints (here in this world and forever in the eternal one).

We wish to pilgrimage there by the "following of Christ" . . . and it is most helpful to follow the footsteps of Jesus by looking for and trodding along in the footprints left by those who walked along with him before us - Father Arminjon's book of writings are footprints Saint Therese herself found and followed and which led her to accompany Jesus on her road to heaven . . . we are even more blessed because "we" have both to help guide us on our walk: Father Arminjon's words and Saint Therese's words and life and heavenly intercession . . . the more reliable and clear and trustworthy the trascks we follow, the more assured we are that we are on the right path: and Saint Therese was declared to be an offical "Doctor (teacher) of The Church". In other words, The Church tells us that we can have confidence in the teaching of Saint Therese as being consistent with The Gospel and Our Lord Jesus . . . and Therese herself draws our attention to this book by Father Charles Arminjon. And now, thanks to the efforts and work of Susan Conroy in searching for and tracking down a rare volume in its original French, the first english translation edition ever has been made available (and the first edition of any kind in over 100 years!) . . . we live in times when so much of The Gospel seems to take second place, third place, last place or "no place at all" in people's lives. We need words and thoughts that can call us back (or lead us on further)to spiritual reality beyond the enchantment with the kaleidoscopic ever passing parade of "this world" where "tempus fugit" rules the material world, where life is short and one takes nothing with them when they depart . . .except for the love that transforms them and which is eternal and never ending - store up "treasures in heaven where neither rust nor moth consumes".

"The End Of Tne Present World (And The Mysteries Of The Future Life" is a book more than worth reading and re-reading. And pray as you read and study it, and i'm confident that Saint Therese will be your "book club" reading companion as you do. :)

This book should be read at least once by every Catholic. It is hard to put down once you start reading.

Yes, it has "scary" parts but it also brings comfort to those who wonder why they suffer and makes you want to enter Heaven as soon as possible (to me, the idea of death is not so alarming any more).

I became interested because of the quote from St. Therese of Lisieux who is the greatest Saint of all times for me.

This book described the creation of the earth, what heaven, Purgatory and hell will be like. The explanation of the creation of the Earth is so beautiful as is the description of Heaven.

Take the time to read this book - your life will be better!

This book has a very interesting background. Apparently at age 14, just before the Little Flower entered the convent, she had read this book and said "Reading this book was one of the greatest graces of my life". It took the translater, Susan Conroy seven years to find a copy in the original French. After 10 years translating it, she discovered Peter McEnerney in Ireland had also untaken the same challenge. The book is a collaberation of the efforts of both. It had never been translated into English, but it was worth it. Fr. Arminjon, a "highjly esteemed preacher", delivered these chapters as a series of conferences. He explores in great depths many of the aspects of eternal life we need to keep in mind, as revealed in Sacred Scripture and interpretated by the great saints, not fictional novelists, seeking to undermine and rewrite traditional Church teachings, just because they don't like the Truth! In these days, there there is much speculation about the "rapture" the "thousand years of peace", even whether there is a Satin and if evil and a final judgement really exist. Here is a definative source that you can trust. These are some of the chapters: (it thoroughly explores) The End of the World and Circumstances that Will Accompany It, The Persecution by Anti Christ and Conversion of the Jews, the Resurrection of the Dead and General Judgement, Purgatory, Eternal Punishment, The Eternal Beatitide and the Supernatural Vision of God, Christian Sacrifice as a Means of Redemption, the Mystery of Suffering in Relation to Future Life. I must say it is not easy reading, but very deep, and will require all your concentration. I wonder that Therese could even get through it at age 14. Her spirituality is so simple, so childlike, I was surprised. But she must have also had great wisdom to have understood the book. Since she died at age 24, yet was named Doctor of the Church, is it any wonder? Not for the shallow reader.

My favorite authors have always been C S Lewis, G K Chesterton, and Fulton J. Sheen. Wonderful spiritual works they have produced. But, I must say that after reading this book, it really has passed them all for the information it addresses. I've looked for this specific information for years. The others have tidbits of wonderful information on hell and suffering and the end days, but nothing like Father Arminjon. Simply amazing and you can tell he really must have been something when he was presenting this across Europe in the 1800's. But, you'd never know it was produced then... it sounds like it was written yesterday. I can't say enough about this work. It's a must read. It answers questions like how God allows suffering on earth and how a Good and Merciful God could send something he created to burn in Hell for eternity. There are the obvious answers most studied Christians might reply, but Father Arminjon takes the explanations to a whole new level of understanding. Something non-Christains should here. By the way, the end times information is great too; the anti-Christ will be a Jew - that cuts out a lot of possibilities people tend to suggest.

This book is packed with tremendous insights into our faith...
It's a deep book; that you can understand as you read.. but upon re-reading some of the illuminating passages, the wisdom seems to unfold even more!
This book is Truly a Treasure!!!

Very beautiful, easy to read insightful descriptions of the end of the world that is backed up by scripture! This book has been translated from the French for the first time, and is a "must read" for devout Christians! Every home library should have this book, which is also a wonderful devotional!