Much has been written on the last words of Jesus, the traditional phrases taken from Scripture that depict the final moments of Jesus’s life as he dies on the cross. In this new take on the last words, author Dan Horan brings a fresh perspective to this time-honored meditation as he challenges readers to look at their lives through the lens of Jesus’s suffering and death. Yet interlaced with suffering, the focus throughout is on the immense love of God for human beings, shown in the gift of Jesus, God made flesh.

In his preface, Horan writes: “In a world that remains irrevocably shaped by the suffering of the human condition, the misunderstanding between groups and cultures symbolized by the horrific events of September 11, we need to hear Christ’s words anew.” He gives us a different look into these words by drawing on works by other noted scholars and spiritual writers, then fashioning a view of these phrases that’s contemporary and thought-provoking.

An ideal Lenten companion, especially during Holy Week, The Last Words of Jesus will also serve as a useful meditation throughout the year on the deep love Jesus bore for us in taking on the human condition.

The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via Audible.

Daniel P. Horan, OFM is a Franciscan friar of Holy Name Province, a columnist at America magazine, and the author of several books including Dating God: Live and Love in the Way of St. Francis. He has taught at Siena College and St. Bonaventure University, and has published numerous scholarly and popular articles on Franciscan theology and spirituality, Thomas Merton, and contemporary systematic theology. He has lectured around the United States and Europe, currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Thomas Merton Society, and is working on a Ph.D. in systematic theology at Boston College.