Gift of Peace: Personal Reflections by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin (Illinois) (Paperback)

While the issue of the false accusation is the first piece of the text, it does not dominate it. After a few pages, it is over and done with. One wonders at such power of forgiveness. Perhaps it was in response to the next, final battle that became much more dominant. Prominent throughout the book is the battle with cancer. Bernardin speaks of his own struggles and fears, but puts these in perspective as he became acquainted with the others who were getting treatment with him. He became, in his words, an unofficial chaplain to the other cancer patients. Bernardin struggled to maintain his sense of faith that all who similarly suffer must endure - as Bernardin said, it was finally time to practice what he preached! He renewed his sense of the importance of prayer, and his sense of ministry. While his post-operative treatments would only require ten minutes, he often found his visits would last for hours, as he visited with others. When the hospital staff offered to make private entrance and exit arrangements so that he would not be 'disturbed', he countered with the observation, 'I'm a priest first, a patient second.'

Bernardin shares letters he received from other cancer patients, their families and friends, all added to his prayer list. It grew from the handful of people he met to well over 700 names in a very short time. The letters are touching, some asking for prayers, some also offering prayers. The farmer who knew the seasons, who wished the Cardinal faith as his harvest time drew near; the fathers and mothers of children who asked for special prayers for children or gave thanksgiving for recoveries; all these letters are important.

There is a difficulty with dying publicly, as Bernardin had to endure. There was also a responsibility, to make valid a lifetime spent in the ministry. Relating the story of his recent visit with Fr. Henri Nouwen, Bernardin found peace in the idea that life is a preparation for death, and those who have lived life in the faith should see death as a friend. Bernardin also found faith in the example of Jesus - when the doctors gave Bernardin his final pronouncements of 'inoperable' and 'incurable', he finally knew what Jesus felt in the Garden of Gesthemane.

One touching aspect of this book is that it was completed in draft form less than two weeks prior to Bernardin's death. Being a man who took pride in his penmanship, he decided he wanted to write (actually write, not type or draft for typeset) the opening section (done on All Saints Day, 1996), the cover, and section dividers. The publishers kept this promise, so one feels a real sense of connection with the text.

It is not an easy thing to die. It is even harder to watch someone else. Walking with Bernardin during his final days as this book permits the reader to do in many ways will help all of us for a journey we are destined to make, and to relate more fully to others who are on the same journey, on the road to eternity.