For centuries, Christians have pondered the Seven Last Words of Christ, those sacred phrases spoken from the Cross that reveal the heart of the Gospel. Yet too often, they are treated only as objects of theological study. In this powerful new work, Casey J. Chalk shows that these words are much more: they are a framework for living a saintly life and dying a holy death.
With insight drawn from Scripture, the Church Fathers, medieval theologians, and great literary minds, Chalk reveals how each of Christ's final utterances teaches a vital lesson for daily discipleship -- showing us how to forgive, endure suffering, give ourselves in love, and thirst for souls as Christ did.
Alongside thinkers such as St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Robert Bellarmine, and Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, Chalk brings the Seven Last Words to life with modern relevance and vivid real-world examples that speak to every struggle of the human heart. In these pages, you will discover:
- Inspiring examples of holy men and women who united their sufferings to Christ's Cross
- How forgiving others heals your own heart and draws you close to our Savior
- How God is present and at work even in pain
- Simple, daily ways to bring souls to Christ through love and sacrifice
- What Christ's final words teach us about the spiritual inheritance we leave behind
- Practical ways you can evangelize and satisfy Christ's thirst for souls
Whether read during Lent or throughout the year, this book is a spiritual companion for anyone longing to grow in love of Christ and to live -- and die -- in union with His Cross.
The Seven Last Words are not only Christ's farewell, they are His invitation to the abundant life.