Eternal Pity

“Those who know Richard John Neuhaus as one of America’s leading public intellectuals can now see the more essential Neuhaus in this book: the priest consecrated to the care of souls. Here Neuhaus has wisely selected from the wisdom of others on how we are to face death, and he has provided great insight from his own experience in facing death, which has made him a wiser man and a better priest.” —Rabbi David Novak, J. Richard and Dorothy Shiff Chair of Jewish Studies, University of Toronto

“This little book of thoughts on the mystery of death is a treasury of wisdom on the great perennial questions: What is the good life? How do I live it?” —Mary Ann Glendon, Professor of Law, Harvard University

“Intelligent and wise people have thought and written a great deal about death, and some of the best of what they’ve said has been collected by Father Neuhaus in this volume. The book is worth its price for the pieces by Flannery O’Connor, John Donne, and Peter De Vries alone; but there’s great wisdom, too, in Neuhaus’s own discussion of death, the kind of wisdom that comes only from a close approach to death. If you’re someone who’s preparing for death—and you are, like it or not—an attentive and repeated reading of what’s in this book will help you to prepare well.” —Paul J. Griffiths, Professor of the Philosophy of Religions, University of Chicago

“This is a powerful, beautiful, sobering collection of writings on death, suffused by a wonderful nobility of purpose. Throughout his career, Father Neuhaus has been an insightful thinker and an elegant writer and editor—and this book is made even more effective by the brush with death in his own recent experience. Death is the one undeniably real thing in an unreal age. An awareness of death underscores the preciousness of God's gift of life. For those willing to reflect deeply on this mystery, The Eternal Pity is a marvelous read.”—Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Denver

“This quietly compelling anthology contains reflections—meditations, incantations, benedictions—long on wonder, short on polemics. . . . The assembled voices—each of them worthy of inclusion—and the editor’s guidance, in the powerful introduction and the notes that introduce the contributions, make The Eternal Pity the kind of whole-being exercise the subject requires. Neuhaus, ever generous with his gifts, gives yet another here.” —Wilson Quarterly

“In this climate, an anthology of ‘reflections on dying’ might seem redundant. But it isn’t, for the real antidote to all the chatter about death in our own day isn’t silence but better talk. In The Eternal Pity, Richard John Neuhaus has brought to the task an urbane wisdom reminiscent of another great Catholic convert, John Henry Newman.” —The Weekly Standard

“If dying is in your future, then this book is written for you.” —St. Anthony Messenger

“John Neuhaus has put together an illuminating selection of readings from what is a huge body of literature on death and dying. All of the readings in this collection contain something of value....” —Practical Philosophy

“[Neuhaus] draws upon his pastoral experience in Brooklyn, his own near death experience, and his concern for reflective public discourse to invite the reader to approach this subject with wonder and respect. His essay is filled with many critical insights regarding the way our culture frequently either denies or romanticizes the subject of death. Anyone interested in appreciating spiritual diversity in working with families who are experiencing the death of a loved one will find this book full of helpful wisdom.” —Social Thought: Journal of Religion in the Social Services

"Faced with death we all struggle to find words. This lovely book gives us words to ponder and to memorize, words from the Bible and the poets, stories and meditations and testimonies, and the words of the Order for the Burial of the Dead from the Book of Common Prayer. It is a book of comfort and hope and wisdom to turn to on hearing of the death of a friend or loved one and to have at hand when facing one’s own death." —Robert Louis Wilken, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of the History of Christianity, University of Virginia Charlottesville

“[T]his volume concerns death and dying . . . the book offers 27 selections from various sources, ranging in date from ancient to modern times . . . The result is a handbook for the dying—that is, every one of us.” —Library Journal