How to face death without fear

In this powerful and profoundly beautiful work written when he was eighty-six years old, Dietrich von Hildebrand confronts death in all its aspects. He shows how even death's horrible aspects can be viewed in the light of Christ and how, by doing so, you can attain a genuine, lasting readiness for death.

Your questions answered your fears overcome

Relying on Scripture, Church teachings, and the saints, von Hildebrand offers reliable answers and practical guidance on dozens of topics:

THE MOMENT OF DEATH: What happens the instant you die. How to use your times of health (and of illness) to prepare for that instant.

THE MEANING OF DEATH: Why you need to grasp death's meaning. What Christ and the Church teach us about it. False views of death, and why they never satisfy.

THE FEAR OF DEATH: Ways to increase your faith in God- and to decrease your fear of death. The importance of Christian hope. How it differs from optimism.

THE DEATH OF OTHERS: Why it's proper to mourn the death of your loved ones even when you have every hope they are enjoying eternal bliss. Reunion in Heaven with those you loved on earth: will it really happen?

YOUR DEATH: How to prepare for it. The right (and wrong) way to pray for your salvation. How contemplation of death can increase your appreciation of life.