Book Review 1: "I Will See you in Heaven" by Jack Wintz
Well, it is January after all, so why don't we start with a book review?
There have been a few very helpful things that I've done once Fatty died to process the grief. One of them was reading this book called "I will see you in Heaven" by Father Jack Wintz (a monk).
It never occurred to me, quite honestly, that animals could go to heaven. I imagined there might be butterflies but I guess I never sat and contemplated the existence of animals in the afterlife. Now, for the title of the book, I have to say up front, I disagree. There is no guarantee of heaven for any of us! So I might be in purgatory (in the best scenario) with Fatty, Peaches, Junior and Chiquito all frolicking in heaven. Upon further consideration, I thought that Fatty and Peaches did have some really selfish moments and knowingly made incredibly bad choices from time to time, so I wouldn't be surprised if one or both might be in purgatory or an equivalent.
Nevertheless, despite these considerations, the book was beautiful. The author, a Franciscan monk, shows how in the Bible, God is all inclusive of His love for all of creation, and doesn't limit it to just humans. He demonstrated how God created the garden of Eden and took time in creating animals of the earth, of the air, of the sea and wanted them to live in harmony with Adam and Eve. Then there is my favorite, Noah's ark. Here, God could have saved only Noah and his family. But he asked Noah to build a massive ark for all of the animals to be saved. I can only image how Noah's wife and family must have felt hearing Noah tell them what he had been asked to do. The ark shows how God loved His creatures and wanted them to keep living.
The book, in synthesis, showed that God created animals and wanted us to live in harmony with them. So it is a gift, and in no way immature, to have a bond with your pet and live lovingly with them, and when they die to grieve their death. The author stated that this love between pet and human is what God intended and that He wants us all to live with Him, love Him and be with Him one day in heaven. If God wanted animals on earth, why wouldn't He want them in Heaven as well?
The last part of this book had prayers for our pets. I know that Bentley and Fatty both relax when they hear me pray the rosary. Both kittens have shown stillness time after time I prayed with them. And no doubt, they have the same creator as I do! I remember the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When she appeared to St. Juan Diego she appeared with a flock of happy birds. If she loves animals, I am sure they love her too when they hear the rosary prayer to Our Holy Mother who is queen of the universe!
In conclusion, after reading the book I have intentionally prayed more with Bentley next to me, and am happy to report he purrs when I pray.
Other things that have helped: going to museums and seeing paintings of animals, like the one above from the Baltimore Museum of Art.
There have been a few very helpful things that I've done once Fatty died to process the grief. One of them was reading this book called "I will see you in Heaven" by Father Jack Wintz (a monk).
It never occurred to me, quite honestly, that animals could go to heaven. I imagined there might be butterflies but I guess I never sat and contemplated the existence of animals in the afterlife. Now, for the title of the book, I have to say up front, I disagree. There is no guarantee of heaven for any of us! So I might be in purgatory (in the best scenario) with Fatty, Peaches, Junior and Chiquito all frolicking in heaven. Upon further consideration, I thought that Fatty and Peaches did have some really selfish moments and knowingly made incredibly bad choices from time to time, so I wouldn't be surprised if one or both might be in purgatory or an equivalent.
Nevertheless, despite these considerations, the book was beautiful. The author, a Franciscan monk, shows how in the Bible, God is all inclusive of His love for all of creation, and doesn't limit it to just humans. He demonstrated how God created the garden of Eden and took time in creating animals of the earth, of the air, of the sea and wanted them to live in harmony with Adam and Eve. Then there is my favorite, Noah's ark. Here, God could have saved only Noah and his family. But he asked Noah to build a massive ark for all of the animals to be saved. I can only image how Noah's wife and family must have felt hearing Noah tell them what he had been asked to do. The ark shows how God loved His creatures and wanted them to keep living.
 |
| Kittens, turtles and doves getting ready to board the ark. |
 |
| Entry into the Ark by Jacobo Bassano, 1590 |
The book, in synthesis, showed that God created animals and wanted us to live in harmony with them. So it is a gift, and in no way immature, to have a bond with your pet and live lovingly with them, and when they die to grieve their death. The author stated that this love between pet and human is what God intended and that He wants us all to live with Him, love Him and be with Him one day in heaven. If God wanted animals on earth, why wouldn't He want them in Heaven as well?
The last part of this book had prayers for our pets. I know that Bentley and Fatty both relax when they hear me pray the rosary. Both kittens have shown stillness time after time I prayed with them. And no doubt, they have the same creator as I do! I remember the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When she appeared to St. Juan Diego she appeared with a flock of happy birds. If she loves animals, I am sure they love her too when they hear the rosary prayer to Our Holy Mother who is queen of the universe!
In conclusion, after reading the book I have intentionally prayed more with Bentley next to me, and am happy to report he purrs when I pray.
Other things that have helped: going to museums and seeing paintings of animals, like the one above from the Baltimore Museum of Art.
Comments
Post a Comment