Henri Nouwen
Henri Nouwen
Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen,was a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian. His interests were rooted primarily in psychology, pastoral ministry, spirituality, social justice and community. Over the course of his life, Nouwen was heavily influenced by the work of Anton Boisen, Thomas Merton, Rembrandt, Vincent van Gogh and Jean Vanier...
NationalityDutch
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth24 January 1932
complaining whole-life interruptions
My whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I discovered that my interruptions were my work.
service-to-others wounds woundedness
The main question is not, how can we hide our wounds...but how can we put our woundedness in service to others.
moving-forward men space
One of the remarkable qualities of the story is that it creates space. We can dwell in a story, walk around, find our own place. The story confronts but does not oppress; the story inspires but does not manipulate. The story invites us to an encounter, a dialogue, a mutual sharing. As long as we have stories to tell to each other there is hope. As long as we can remind each other of the lives of men and women in whom the love of God becomes manifest, there is reason to move forward to new land in which new stories are hidden.
who-we-are beloved moments
From the moment we claim the truth of being the beloved, we are faced with the call to become who we are.
grateful eye heart
I can choose to grateful when I am criticized, even when my heart still responds in bitterness. I can choose to speak about goodness and beauty, even when my inner eye still looks for someone to accuse or something to call ugly.
true-identity insecurity want
It is very hard to stay in touch with our true identity because those who want our money, our time, and our energy profit more from our insecurity and fears than from our inner freedom.
humility community glory
Community is where humility and glory touch.
deep-love
Do not hesitate to love and to love deeply.
darkness demand matter
Praying is no easy matter. It demands a relationship in which you allow someone other than yourself to enter into the very center of your person, to see there what you would rather leave in darkness, and to touch there what you would rather leave untouched.
sisterhood space fearless
That is our vocation: to convert the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhood can be formed and fully experienced.
baptism church body-of-christ
The Church is the body of Christ fashioned by baptism & the Eucharist.
rejects
Every time you reject yourself, you idealize others
rebel hardship
To learn patience is not to rebel against every hardship.
irrelevance leader world
The leaders of the future will be those who dare to claim their irrelevance in the contemporary world as a divine vocation...