Comments

For centuries humanity has struggled with the question, ‘Do animals go to Heaven’? Pet lovers especially, long to know if their beloved pets will join them in paradise. In this treasure of a book a curious skunk asks a friendly monk that very same question. His answer, and the ensuing drama, propels us into the daily lives of the animal kingdom for a first-hand look at what life as an animal is really like. The striking similarity between their life experiences and ours is breathtaking. They hope and dream, love and forgive, fear and tremble. But do they go to Heaven? What do you say?

Be prepared for surprises, wonders, and lots of soul-warming experiences from the very first chapter.
THE MONK AND THE SKUNK definitely belongs in that rare category of “can’t put it down” novels. And don’t let the memorable animals you’ll meet lull you into thinking this is just a children’s book, even though the older kids will love it as much as us grownups! You may never forget Fragrance, or Lightning, or Target, or especially Aroma. And watch out– you may very well change your lifestyle after finishing the final chapter of this compelling and charming novel.”
           Tom Sherry
           Author of A DESTINY TO DIE FOR

I read the Monk & The Skunk in only two days – It’s a hard book to put down. John Regan is a great story teller and has a wonderful ability to keep the reader interested to the very end.
            Don Kazimir
            Respect Life Ministry Director
            Catholic Charities, Diocese of Palm Beach

God created all things to love Him. The Skunk confirms what we already felt in our hearts. Animals must go to Heaven! The Monk and The Skunk gives us hope that we will live with animals in eternity!
            Stephanie Munroe

I am happy to endorse “The Monk & the Skunk” by John Regan. This tale will appeal both to older children and to adults. In this day & age, we need to see the connection between all living creatures, & our Creator. This book does so in a very beguiling fashion. Buy it for yourself, your kids, & grandkids.
            Jack land Ph. D. Child & Family Development,
            Syracuse University. Co-founder of the South County Mental Health Center, Delray Beach, Florida

God’s heavenly gate welcomes all of His creation, even His furry little ones.
              Hope D’Alessandro Forte

It’s the type book you can read in one sitting but you don’t want to as you enjoy it so much you don’t want it to end.
              Melanie Hill

I have never questioned whether or not animals go to Heaven. I just knew. Animals are a little gift from God. There is no better sound than the beautiful birds to greet you in the morning and no better feeling than being welcomed by your faithful dog at the end of the day. Why would God leave them behind?
              Faith Psillas

I don’t think of heaven as a “place”. However: wherever, or whatever, or if ever, animals are of course welcome. All creatures great and small, as has been said, the great God made them all.
              Anonymous

Are we the only ones in God’s creation to go to Heaven? Do animals who have been loyal pets and friends to people simply perish? Possibly, but more than likely, their lives are honored. Jesus’ resurrection as noted in all 4 Gospels sets the tone for all created things.
               Eve R. Carr

There is no question in my mind, whatsoever, that animals definitely go to heaven. No question about it.
               Ann Carroll

I believe animals go to heaven, because all of God’s creation is worthy of that. Everything of this earth created in His image is a taste of what the beauty of heaven will be. Although heaven will surpass our worldly expectations of beauty, I think the gifts of this earth will be there. Animals are one of many gifts of this earth.
                Taylor de Lacey

Like the temple veil that was torn in two when Jesus died, the veil of misunderstanding between the animals and us will be gone in Heaven. And they will tell us how much they loved us and needed our love in return.
                 D.W.

When God instructed Noah to put two of each kind of animal on the ark, He made it clear just how important the animals are in His plan of creation. Why would He then abandon them when they die? Surely, if He loves them on earth, He will love them in Heaven too.
                  Mary Ann

Being an avid animal lover all my life & an even more devout Pro-Lifer, I believe all animals go to Heaven… and, I have had every type of animal as a pet- including armadillos, ferrets, pot-bellied pigs, raccoons, snakes, opossums, cats, dogs and yes, even a skunk. I believe they all have souls and I know that I will see them all once again up in the Animal Kingdom in Heaven right alongside my all-time favorite saint, Saint Francis of Assisi… May they all rest in peace in the loving arms of their creator.
                Willy Guardiola (willyguardiola@yahoo.com)
                President
                Christian on a Mission Non-Profit Ministry

“One day we will again see our animals in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures.”
                  Pope Paul VI

1 The Secret

        Not far from Rome, in the beautiful Italian countryside, an ancient Monastery sits atop a lush green hill basking in the warm summer sunshine. Quietly at first, then with a squeaking sound, a large wooden gate attached to the outside garden slowly opens onto a pathway that leads to the valley below. Suddenly, as if shot from cannon, a habit clad monk comes charging out of the monastery and leaps into the air screaming, YEEEHAAA as he does a flying flip and endless somersaults while hurtling hundreds of feet down the country path to the valley below.
        Silently watching from the nearby bushes a stunned skunk audibly utters, “Good grief!! What in the world was that?”
        So, here is this skunk, stretching his neck out of the bushes, peering down the path into the valley below, searching through the settling dust for whomever or whatever it was that blasted out of the otherwise placid monastery. He sees nothing.
        ‘Well, I’m not going to just sit here’ he whispers to himself. ‘I’ve got to check this out or Fragrance will never believe me.’ Fragrance is his wife and the mother of their two youngsters. Cautiously looking over his shoulder, to make sure there isn’t a repeat performance that could potentially run him over, down the path he goes. Halfway to the valley he notices many foot prints and lots of trampled bushes. The trampled bushes, he concludes, are obviously from the summersaults.


 

But, what about the foot prints, and why are there so many? Suddenly he discovers the end coming into view at the very bottom. As he reaches the valley floor a beautiful scene unfolds before him revealing a very large clearing ringed with thick vegetation, hundreds of flowers and a stately oak tree at the far end. And there, sitting under the tree on a large flat boulder was the amazing gymnastic monk. He seemed to be removing a guitar from a case which he had obviously taken from a wooden shed adjacent to the tree. The curious skunk moved quickly through the underbrush, as silently as possibly, in an effort to get closer so he could investigate this unusual monk. The slightest noise would alert the monk who might react in a hostile way causing the skunk to defend himself and spray his attacker. And that was last thing he wanted. Finding a comfortable well hidden spot a few bushes from the clearing, and very close to the monk, he settled down to see what would happen next.

          Ok folks, what would you like to hear” the monk suddenly announced.
          Curiously looking around the large clearing the skunk could see no one but the monk. Afraid to stick his head above the tops of the bushes for a more thorough look he decided to just be patient and wait.
          “For starters shall we try Amazing Grace?” the monk continued, still addressing a non- existent audience. Immediately the skunk responded by saying “Sure” before he panicked and slapped his paw in front of his mouth, realizing he had made a terrible mistake. Instantly, the monk moved toward the back of the large boulder and searched the clearing for visitors. He saw no one. Burying himself deeper beneath the underbrush the skunk muttered quietly, “I hope he doesn’t see me. I can’t go through another attack. I still smell from the last one.

          Whispering, the anxious monk began to pray. “Dear lord, I heard a voice, but I don’t see anyone. Was it you, or am I just overtired and hearing things”? With that, he picked up his guitar and began to sing.
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me I once was lost but now am found was blind, but now I see.”
          As the skunk was quietly humming to himself the Monk abruptly stopped. “Wait a minute. Let me try that again in a different key. Ok, here we go again.
         “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a. “Wretch like me” the skunk forcefully sang before suddenly realizing he had made a potentially fatal mistake. In a panic, he quickly raced through the underbrush, heading a short distance back up the pathway and settled behind the base of a tall tree.

          The Monk was silent, and somewhat fearful. He slowly stood up, placed the guitar back in its case and very quietly returned it to the shed. Frantically trying to think of a way to safely get back to the monastery, without being attacked by the owner of the mysterious voice, he suddenly heard the sound of the lunch bell ringing loud and clear from the top of the hill. “YEEEHAAA”, he screamed as he leapt from the boulder and raced across the clearing, charging up the hill to safety. Peering out of the bushes to watch the disappearing Monk, the Skunk sighed with relief and a bit of disappointment. “Gee, it looks like he was more afraid of me than I of him. I sure hope he returns though. That song is my favorite.”

          The lunch bell rang for the ninth time as the Monk burst through the main door of the Monastery, out of breath and anxious about the mysterious voice in the valley.
          “Three more rings until Grace. I guess I can make it to the dining room in time for lunch” he reasoned as he raced down the long stone hallway to the dining room.
          “In the name of the Father and of the Son”, Father Mark the Superior began, just as the Monk rushed into the dining room and sat down next to Father John. As soon as Father Mark finished praying, Father John whispered “Father Charlie, I thought you were having lunch in the valley today.”
           “John, you won’t believe what happened. I was pretending I was playing for an audience and I asked if “Amazing Grace” would be a good choice. Suddenly, a voice answered and said ‘Sure’. I looked around and didn’t see anyone, so I assumed it was my imagination. Moments later I began to sing Amazing Grace, and when I got to the words “wretch like me” that same voice spoke again, and this time it was very loud, and said ‘Wretch Like Me’. I couldn’t believe it. I stood on top of the boulder and noticed the bushes between me and the pathway moving as something ran away. I don’t know what it was but the voice sounded like a man.”

          “A man would be too big to run under the bushes like that. Even a kid would be too big Charlie.”
           “I know John. That’s why I freaked out and ran up the hill.”
          John was very familiar with the hide-a-way Charlie had made for himself in the valley. Clearing the land and planting shrubs and flowers took 2 years of serious back breaking labor. But the result was a beautiful retreat in the valley where the monks could come and listen to Father Charlie sing and play his guitar. It was especially important to Charlie because it offered him a quiet place in nature where he could write new songs and practice singing. This had been his hobby since he entered high school. And now, twenty years later, he had compiled a collection of 42 songs for which he had written both the lyrics and music.

         “Charlie…may I speak freely?”
          “Sure John.”
          “Do you think that maybe as you were singing the words, you were also thinking the words, and it was kind of like an echo in your brain’?
          “John…I’m not imagining things. I know what I heard. And I heard it twice”
         “Well I wouldn’t mention it to anyone else.”
          “Gee thanks. I thought we were friends.”
         “We are friends Charlie. And I didn’t mean I don’t believe you. But I’m not sure about the others. There are 27 of us here and you don’t want to be explaining yourself every time someone else hears about it.”
          “Well, I’m going back tomorrow morning, right after Mass. Will you join me and be my witness in case it happens again?”
          “I can’t. I’m meeting with Tony the roofing contractor in the morning. A few more rains like last week and we could have some major damage if we don’t replace at least the main section.”
          “Ok. I‘ll go by myself. It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to tell anyone else at this point now that you mention it. But if I’m not back by dinner time send a search party. Who knows? There may be a monster down there.”

          “Relax Charlie. I’ll be praying for you”
          Father Charles finished lunch and headed to the Chapel. He knew there were real answers for every situation in life and the only person who consistently had those answers was God.

Buy Now

Home