In an age that there is great suspect, and hostility towards priests, this book restores one faith in the many saints in our midst, who never gain newspaper headlines. I read the book before watching the CD about Father Judge, and it is a wondeful, easy read.

I had it on my wish list for a long time, as I had heard it would be published soon. When I finished the book, and CD, I sent them both on to a friend, who will pass it on to someone else.

Father Judge was a true hero, loved his ministry, struggled as a human and shined as a light. It is painful still to re-visit 9/11, but this is the conclusion of a live well led and lived. Well written, introducing us into his life and his friends.

As a disheartened Catholic living in NJ with an excellent view of the NY skyline, I watched in horror as the World Trade Center towers came crashing down on 9/11/01. My faith, which I had already been questioning, was tested even further. As the days passed, we all began to hear the tragic and heroic stories to emerge from Ground Zero. One of the first was that of Fr. Mychal Judge. I was moved by his death and attended a mass in his honor at St. Joseph's in East Rutherford, NJ. It was an overflow crowd and we had to listen to the service from the street. It was very moving and the words of those who knew & loved Fr. Mychal touched me. After that I realized that I should not be touched by his death, but I should learn about his life. This was an amazing gift that God gave to me. I began reading about him, anything I could get my hands on. After a time of such turmoil in our country, and to me in my own backyard, it was as if the grace of this incredible man was walking me through my own grief and helping restore my own faith in God, the Church and our world.

I was very anxious to read this book, and I must say, I was not disappointed. I think it did a good job of showing us who Mychael Judge was, both as a Franciscan Priest and as a very human man. It showed his frailties, his struggles and the heroic and inspirational way in which he handled these matters. It showed a man of true love and acceptance, one who encouraged a Church of inclusion, not exclusion. One who strived to make the Church a better place, who did not allow the faults of the Church to taint his love for God or Jesus Christ. Through stories told by friends, fellow Franciscans and those who knew him well, you get a better picture of the man Mychal was. And, after his death, the man that he was led me back to the Church and allowed me to have a place for God in my heart again. I like to think that this is something that would have made Fr. Mychal very happy. So that is my own personal tribute to him.

The beginning of the book details the tragic day of 9/11/01. The author did an excellent job of making that terrible day seem real and gives us some understanding of what those on the scene were experiencing. Throughout the story, I also felt that I was there when Mychal was offering his own blanket to a homeless man, or when he was massaging the feet of AIDS patients when no one would dare touch them. It gave an excellent portrait of what he learned, what he did and how he became the true Hero he was to so many.

I strongly recommend reading this book. You will learn about a wonderful man and it will restore your own faith in God and the people in His world.