The Heart of Henri Nouwen: His Words of Blessing

by Michael J. Christensen and Rebecca Laird

Book Overview

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of Nouwen's birth, Crossroad issued this anthology of the best of Henri Nouwen from our list. This volume focuses on the three themes that were closest to his own... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 082451985X
• ISBN13: 9780824519858
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Crossroad Publishing
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Forgivenss; celebration; compassion

This slight book serves as an excellent introduction to the heart and mind of one of the greatest spiritual writers of the 20th century. Nouwen writes extensively of how fragile and frail human hearts can be prepared to share the immensity and power of the heart of God. This work cuts and pastes the densest, most potent passages from more than 40 works. While it is atavistically incorrect to ever read only bits and pieces of any writer's oeuvre, without proper contextuality, the quoted material here well serves its purpose to entice and provoke further reading explorations. Any human being trying to cope with the mundane, but evermore exacerbating realities of contemporary existence will find much comfort, solace, and wisdom here. Although never precisely considered part of the creation spirituality theological cadre, Nouwen's work fits nicely within those paradigms and even quietly rebukes traditional fall/redemption thinking. The best of beautiful writing from a beautiful mind and heart.

Keep this book with you at all times!

'The Heart of Henri Nouwen' is a wonderful little book. It's the kind of book that I keep with me every day. I read it as I would a meditation or a 'thoughts-in-solitude' type of text. For me, it is for reflection, soul-making, soul-mending, and very healing. It's 'spiritual' in the sense that it connects our normal living -- and its attendant emotions -- with purpose and with vision. It constantly reminds me, whatever my day is like, to look at the following question directly in the mirror: "What kind of a person do you want to be?" Tough question, but I cannot go through life without wanting integrity in my answer.