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When we honestly ask ourselves which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
1932-1996

Dr. Henri Nouwen (1932-1996), born in Holland and ordained there as a Catholic priest,  lived much of his life in the United States and Canada. He taught at Notre Dame, Yale and Harvard. He spent the last decade of his life as a pastor at L'Arche Daybreak, a community for the developmentally disabled located near Toronto. Henri died  during a visit to his home country Holland in 1996 from a heart attack.

 

Henri was also an acclaimed spiritual writer, and is the author of 40 books.

Full Biographical Sketch

 

The Wounded Healer
The Wounded Healer is a hope-filled and profoundly simple book that speaks directly to those men and women who want to be of service in their church or community, but have found the traditional ways often threatening and ineffective. In this book, Henri Nouwen combines creative case studies of ministry with stories from diverse cultures and religious traditions in preparing a new model for ministry. Weaving keen cultural analysis with his psychological and religious insights, Nouwen has come up with a balanced and creative theology of service that begins with the realization of fundamental woundedness in human nature. 

The Way of the Heart
The wisdom of Henri J.M. Nouwen:
SOLITUDE: "In solitude we become compassionate people, deeply aware of our solidarity in brokenness with all of humanity and ready to reach out to anyone in need . . ."
SILENCE: "Silence first makes us pilgrims. Secondly, silence guards the fire within. Thirdly, silence teaches us how to speak . . ."
PRAYER: "Prayer, when we are faithful to it and practice it at regular times, slowly leads us to an experience of rest and opens us to God's active presence . . ."

Can You Drink the Cup?
Can we drink the cup as Jesus did? Henri Nouwen not only raises that question but also wrestles with it on every page. With stories from his family life and his life with people with mental disabilities he challenges us to drink our cup to the bottom, thereby letting it become the cup of our salvation. For those who have the courage to make Jesus' question their own, Can You Drink the Cup? can be life changing.