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The Art of Dying Well
Rather than turning away from death, great saints such as Robert Bellarmine, the author of this book, use it as a lens through which to view life from the right perspective — God's perspective.
Seen this way, death becomes for them — and can become for you — a source of spiritual liberation rather than a reason for fear, enabling you to love the world as it ought to be loved and to answer your final summons with joy.
St. Robert Bellarmine makes it simple for you. He explains sixteen things you can do to put your life in order now, so you'll start living better today and be prepared for death whenever it comes, be it tomorrow or years from now. Not only will these sixteen insightful measures free you from fear; they'll invigorate your spiritual life and bring into all aspects of your life the consoling peace of Christ.
Let St. Robert Bellarmine — the brilliant Doctor of the Church who influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence and other American founding documents — introduce you to the art of dying well. You'll discover:
Why learning these principles is more important than anything else you can do today
How to die to the world while living in it — without losing the truly good things in life
Fasting: how this spiritual discipline can determine your soul's destiny
The secret spoiler of prayers and good works: has it crept into your heart?
Why now is the time to prepare for death — whether you're young or in your twilight years
And much more to help you learn to live well now and to die holy when God calls you!
Seen this way, death becomes for them — and can become for you — a source of spiritual liberation rather than a reason for fear, enabling you to love the world as it ought to be loved and to answer your final summons with joy.
St. Robert Bellarmine makes it simple for you. He explains sixteen things you can do to put your life in order now, so you'll start living better today and be prepared for death whenever it comes, be it tomorrow or years from now. Not only will these sixteen insightful measures free you from fear; they'll invigorate your spiritual life and bring into all aspects of your life the consoling peace of Christ.
Let St. Robert Bellarmine — the brilliant Doctor of the Church who influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence and other American founding documents — introduce you to the art of dying well. You'll discover:
Why learning these principles is more important than anything else you can do today
How to die to the world while living in it — without losing the truly good things in life
Fasting: how this spiritual discipline can determine your soul's destiny
The secret spoiler of prayers and good works: has it crept into your heart?
Why now is the time to prepare for death — whether you're young or in your twilight years
And much more to help you learn to live well now and to die holy when God calls you!
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1620
26 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 4, 2026
This short book wasn't exactly what I expected, but I mean that in the best way.
I was expecting meditations on death - maybe the last four things - but that was not the case. Instead, Bellarmine establishes this first great truth: "a good death depends upon a good life." If a person wishes to die well, he must first learn to live well. From the outset, Bellarmine lays down this simple premise: if one lives well, he will die well; if he does not live well, he will not die well.
He begins by urging the reader to “die to the world”—to detach from what is worldly in order to cling to what is heavenly. He calls this “death to the world” a narrow gate, but one that must be entered. We must live in the world without becoming of the world, because we cannot serve two masters: the world and God.
From there, the book takes a turn I didn’t expect. Bellarmine moves through the Three Theological Virtues, then the Three Evangelical Counsels, and speaks candidly about the greatest error of the wealthy: believing their possessions truly belong to them, when in reality they belong to God—and will be accounted for accordingly. He then treats the moral virtues of sobriety, justice, and piety, followed by a practical section on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Finally, he devotes an entire chapter to each of the Seven Sacraments, explaining their purpose and how we can benefit from them. His treatment of the sacraments is great: thorough and instructive, yet succinct.
In the final chapter on Extreme Unction, he explains how sin enters through the senses, and offers remedies for each. Through the eyes, for example, comes lust; through the tongue, sins such as blasphemy, lying, detraction, backbiting, and boasting; through taste, gluttony and drunkenness.
His final piece of advice to guard against sin is to fly idleness if you wish to avoid many sins:
"In fine, a powerful remedy against temptations of the flesh and all sins of impurity, is to fly idleness; for no one is more exposed to such temptations, than he who has nothing to do..."
I was expecting meditations on death - maybe the last four things - but that was not the case. Instead, Bellarmine establishes this first great truth: "a good death depends upon a good life." If a person wishes to die well, he must first learn to live well. From the outset, Bellarmine lays down this simple premise: if one lives well, he will die well; if he does not live well, he will not die well.
He begins by urging the reader to “die to the world”—to detach from what is worldly in order to cling to what is heavenly. He calls this “death to the world” a narrow gate, but one that must be entered. We must live in the world without becoming of the world, because we cannot serve two masters: the world and God.
From there, the book takes a turn I didn’t expect. Bellarmine moves through the Three Theological Virtues, then the Three Evangelical Counsels, and speaks candidly about the greatest error of the wealthy: believing their possessions truly belong to them, when in reality they belong to God—and will be accounted for accordingly. He then treats the moral virtues of sobriety, justice, and piety, followed by a practical section on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Finally, he devotes an entire chapter to each of the Seven Sacraments, explaining their purpose and how we can benefit from them. His treatment of the sacraments is great: thorough and instructive, yet succinct.
In the final chapter on Extreme Unction, he explains how sin enters through the senses, and offers remedies for each. Through the eyes, for example, comes lust; through the tongue, sins such as blasphemy, lying, detraction, backbiting, and boasting; through taste, gluttony and drunkenness.
His final piece of advice to guard against sin is to fly idleness if you wish to avoid many sins:
"In fine, a powerful remedy against temptations of the flesh and all sins of impurity, is to fly idleness; for no one is more exposed to such temptations, than he who has nothing to do..."
December 3, 2024
Wow, Wow, Wow! What a Book.
Bellarmine has opened my mind to think in a new way! Is death Good? Is death Bad? Can we prepare for death? Is there a way to Die Well? What Does Dying Well Even Mean? All these questions and many more can be answered if you read this book!
I definitely think this would be a good one to read if a loved one has passed recently and you are struggling with your emotions, faith, etc!
Bellarmine has opened my mind to think in a new way! Is death Good? Is death Bad? Can we prepare for death? Is there a way to Die Well? What Does Dying Well Even Mean? All these questions and many more can be answered if you read this book!
I definitely think this would be a good one to read if a loved one has passed recently and you are struggling with your emotions, faith, etc!
October 22, 2022
A clear, well written, and very practical book. Great thoughts mostly, though there are some outdated gender ideas toward the end.
November 19, 2023
Very good summary of the Christian life
February 21, 2025
A must read especially for seniors and caregivers.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews