Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Heaven-- But Never Dreamed of Asking, by Peter Kreeft.  Ignatius Press.  1990.

The title of the book might make some people think it's going to be a very basic, light treatment of the subject. Not so. Peter Kreeft is an outstanding biblical scholar and theologian who provides ample references to biblical passages, writings of philosophers and Church fathers, and alternate views from other religions. Kreeft did as good a job with this as anyone I've ever read. He presents extremely logical and biblical arguments for the Church's teachings on the afterlife. He also offers very thought-provoking ideas about the nature of a soul and of Heaven and Hell. The question and answer parts are very satisfying--issues are examines with great depth. I especially enjoyed his treatment of time itself...what is the meaning of "eternity" and how is it experienced? I found it easy to accept all the author's conclusions, and the book's message was uplifting on top of being informative. In short, here you have it all--a scholarly look at the subject and a message of hope and joy. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who has pondered our eternal future!

- Amazon.com book reviewer



St. Romuald (950-1027): June 19

After a wasted youth, Romuald saw his father kill a relative in a duel over property. In horror he fled to a monastery near Ravenna in Italy. After three years some of the monks found him to be uncomfortably holy and eased him out.

He spent the next 30 years going about Italy, founding monasteries and hermitages. He longed to give his life to Christ in martyrdom, and got the pope's permission to preach the gospel in Hungary. But he was struck with illness as soon as he arrived, and the illness recurred as often as he tried to proceed.

During another period of his life, he suffered great spiritual dryness. One day as he was praying Psalm 31 ("I will give you understanding and I will instruct you"), he was given an extraordinary light and spirit which never left him.

At the next monastery where he stayed, he was accused of a scandalous crime by a young nobleman he had rebuked for a dissolute life. Amazingly, his fellow monks believed the accusation. He was given a severe penance, forbidden to offer Mass and excommunicated, an unjust sentence he endured in silence for six months.

The most famous of the monasteries he founded was that of the Camaldoli (Campus Maldoli, name of the owner) in Tuscany. Here he founded the Order of the Camaldolese Benedictines, uniting a monastic and hermit life.

His father later became a monk, wavered and was kept faithful by the encouragement of his son.