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
eye heart unique
Once we deeply trust that we ourselves are precious in God's eyes, we are able to recognize the preciousness of others and their unique places in God's heart.
community want sides
If you want to know anything about community, you have to realize that the contemplative side is essential. Community without retreating and quiet time never survives.
community solitude elements
Community always calls us back to solitude, and solitude always calls us to community. Community and solitude, both, are essential elements of ministry and witnessing.
waiting periods
Waiting is a period of learning. The longer we wait, the more we hear about him for whom we are waiting.
christian real godly
Christian life is not a life divided between times for action and times for contemplation. No. Real social action is a way of contemplation, and real contemplation is the core of social action.
real love-and-friendship and-love
Friendship and love are impossible without a mutual vulnerability.
jesus children home
Home is the center of my being where I can hear the voice that says: 'You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests' - the same voice that gave life to the first Adam and spoke to Jesus, the second Adam; the same voice that speaks to all the children of God and sets them free to live in the midst of a dark world while remaining in the light.
jesus tasks world
We seldom realize fully that we are sent to fulfill God-given tasks. We act as if we were simply dropped down in creation and have to decide to entertain ourselves until we die. But we were sent into the world by God, just as Jesus was. Once we start living our lives with that conviction, we will soon know what we were sent to do.
heart world
Yes, it's a competitive world, but where is your heart?
children heart long
To forgive another from the heart is an act of liberation. We set that person free from the negative bonds that exist between us. As long as we do not forgive we pull them with us, or worse, as a heavy load. The great temptation is to cling in anger to our enemies & then define ourselves as being offended & wounded by them. Forgiveness, therefore, liberates not only the other but also ourselves. It is the way to the freedom of the children of God.
mean waiting identity
Learning to weep, learning to keep vigil, learning to wait for the dawn. Perhaps this is what it means to be human.
real solitude fellowship
Solitude does not pull us away from our fellow human beings but instead makes real fellowship possible.
hurt unity tasks
One of the main tasks of theology is to find words that do not divide but unite, that do not create conflict but unity, that do not hurt but heal.
life peace freedom
Much violence is based on the illusion that life is a property to be defended and not to be shared.