The Gift of Peace - (Illinois) by Joseph Bernardin (Paperback)

About the Book

The national bestseller and new spiritual classic is now available for the first time in paperback. In these pages, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin shares the profound peace he came to at the end of his life. "The Gift of Peace" is part of the Cardinal's great legacy of compassion for others.

Book Synopsis

Joseph Cardinal Bernardin's gentle leadership throughout his life of ministerial service had made him an internationally beloved figure, but the words he left behind about his final journey would change the lives of many more people from all faiths, from all backgrounds, and from all over the world.

In the last two months of his life, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin made it his ultimate mission to share his personal reflections and insights as a legacy to those he left behind. The Gift of Peace reveals the Cardinal's spiritual growth amid a string of traumatic events: a false accusation of sexual abuse; reconciliation a year later with his accuser, who had earlier recanted the charges; a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and surgery; the return of cancer, now in his liver; his decision to discontinue chemotherapy and live his remaining days as fully as possible. In these pages, Bernardin tells his story openly and honestly, and shares the profound peace he came to at the end of his life. He accepted his peace as a gift from God, and he in turn now shares that gift with the world.

Review Quotes

"A wonderful book celebrating and showing the way to peace."
-New York Newsday

"Poignant."
-Chicago Tribune

"A gem of a book."
-Publishers Weekly

"This is a book for people of all religions."
-Columbus Dispatch

"Very moving-written with simplicity and deep wisdom."
-Library Journal

"A gentle, personal voice."
-USA Today

"This uplifting book testifies to a life well spent-The Cardinal shares with his readers a tremendous trust in the Lord that results in inner peace-Simple true words that can give us all a deeper sense of hope."
-America

"Overflows with strength and compassion-Bernardin's recipe for personal peace transcends organized religion."
-Paul Reid, Palm Beach Post

"In his final testament, Cardinal Bernardin urges the dying to bask in the light of each other."
-Newsweek

"We come to know a humble man who touched many people with love and compassion, without judgment."
-Hartford Courant

About the Author

Joseph Louis Bernardin was born in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1928. He was ordained a priest in 1952 and served as an Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta (1966-68), general secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C. (1968-1972), president of the Conference (1974-1977), and Archbishop of Chicago (1982-1996). He became Cardinal in 1983. Cardinal Bernardin was widely respected for his gentleness, his spirituality, and his ability to reconcile. He received the Medal of Freedom at the White House two months before he died of pancreatic cancer in November 1996.