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
spiritual gratitude self
Perhaps nothing helps us make the movement from our little selves to a larger world than remembering God in gratitude. Such a perspective puts God in view in all of life, not just in the moments we set aside for worship or spiritual disciplines. Not just in the moments when life seems easy.
moving heart blessing
Ministers are powerless people who have nothing to boast of except their weaknesses. But when the Lord whom they serve fills them with His blessing they will move mountains and change the hearts of people wherever they go.
real problem
I've had a tremendous problem with depression in my life. I'd rather not talk about it, because it's over. But depression is real.
silence benefits our-words
We must ask ourselves how many times others would benefit more from our silence than from our words.
community important ministry
Ministry is the least important thing. You cannot not minister if you are in communion with God and live in community.
past people way
It is freeing to become aware that we do not have to be victims of our past and can learn new ways of responding. Forgiveness is love practiced among people who love poorly. It sets us free without wanting anything in return.
laughter worry joy
Joy and laughter are the gifts of living in the presence of God and trusting that tomorrow is not worth worrying about.
men needs entering
The man who can articulate the movements of his inner life need no longer be a victim of himself, but is able slowly and consistently to remove the obstacles that prevent the spirit from entering.
true-friend love-is enemy
If fear is the great enemy of intimacy, love is its true friend.
stories world want
...we all want to hear stories, from the moment we are born to the moment we die. Stories connect our little lives with the world around us and help us discover who we are.
spiritual self life-is
The spiritual life is a reaching out to our innermost self, to our fellow human and to our God.
opportunity giving people
Asking people for money is giving them the opportunity to put their resources at the disposal of the Kingdom.
powerful anxiety despair
Our Western society is showing its technological muscles in ever more threatening ways, but the experience of fear, anxiety and even despair has increased in equal proportion. Indeed, the paradox is that the powerful giants feel as powerless as a new-born babe.
past men air
Nuclear man is the man who realizes that his creative powers hold the potential for self-destruction. He sees that in this nuclear age vast new industrial complexes enable man to produce in one hour that which he labored over for years in the past, but he also realizes that these same industries have disturbed the ecological balance and, through air and noise pollution, have contaminated his own milieu...