Clergy - Roman Catholic, Doctrine - Roman Catholic

Nouwen Then

Name: Nouwen Then
Author: Christopher de Vinck
ISBN: 9780310224624

by Christopher de Vinck

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Overview

Nouwen Then is a reflective tribute to one of the most frequently-quoted Christian thinkers in the twentieth century.

The name Henri Nouwen stands for qualities foreign to our culture. Forsaking the Ivy League prestige of Harvard, he became, in his life at the L'Arche Daybreak Community in Canada, a living example of "downward mobility." Yet in making himself of no reputation, this humble priest, scholar, writer, and speaker influenced millions. On September 21, 1996, Henri died unexpectedly, leaving a legacy that will not be measured in material wealth but in the faces and hearts he touched. Nouwen Then reveals the impact of a life lived fully devoted to Christ. With beauty, love, and sensitivity, editor Christopher de Vinck weaves his personal memories of Henri Nouwen with the reflections of other Christian communicators. Philip Yancey, Luci Shaw, Kelly Monroe, Fred Rogers — these and others share their tributes to a fellow pilgrim and his influence on their journeys of faith. Prepare to consider your own life in a new light. For as you will discover through these candid, personal reflections, Henri Nouwen continues to point—through his own words and the memories of others — to a simpler, a better, a more Christ-like way of life.

Author Biography: Christopher de Vinck is the author of several books, notably Threads of Paradise, Simple Wonders, and The Power of the Powerless. His articles have appeared in Reader's Digest, Guideposts, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. He lives with his wife, Roe, and their three children, David, Karen, and Michael, in Pompton Plains, NJ.

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

When Henri Nouwen died on September 26, 1996, he left behind a legacy of love and hope to ministers striving to offer a gracious word to the suffering. In his book The Wounded Healer, Nouwen poignantly and powerfully laid open his own heart and soul to share the message that pastors could not be very effective as healers without embracing their own suffering. Nouwen's book, and the ones that followed, touched millions of lives. His work with the severely handicapped at L'Arche, in France and at Toronto's Daybreak continued his own ministry of love and hope. De Vinck gathers the reflections of several writers and pastors on the meaning that Nouwen has brought to their lives. For example, Tim Jones The Art of Prayer notes that Nouwen's writings, especially his journals and his writings on prayer, helped him to realize that he "knew [he] had permission to speak not as a spiritual genius but as a soul who was simply, imperfectly seeking God." Fred Rogers a.k.a. "Mr. Rogers" reflects on his personal relationship with Nouwen and on the ways in which Nouwen "encouraged [him] to grow into a thoughtful person who cares about the essentials of life." Other contributors meditate on Nouwen's influence on their lives as they met him through his books or on his direct influence through their personal relationships with him. Together these reflections are a celebration of the memory of a great teacher whose life was a testimony to his teachings on compassion and faith. June Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Next to Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen--a Dutch Roman Catholic priest who spent most of his life in North America and died in 1996 as chaplain of the L'Arche community in Montreal--is arguably the most influential spiritual writer of the latter half of the 20th century. One of his books was titled The Wounded Healer, and BBC producer Ford's well-written biography reveals just how wounded Nouwen was. While not a tell-all, Ford's book perhaps provides more detail on Nouwen's personal life than many readers will care to know. Still, it does show the human side of a spiritual writer who has touched many people, Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish alike--a restless spirit whose personal crises, which were the substance of his writings, were so much like the personal crises of the ordinary believer. De Vinck, a spiritual writer, has gathered reflections by various people who were touched by Nouwen or his work. Some, like John Mogabgab, Nouwen's research assistant at Yale, knew him well. Others knew him only through his writings but were transformed by them. Given the tremendous popularity of Nouwen's works, both of these volumes should find a place in all but the smallest libraries.--Augustine J. Curley, O.S.B., Newark Abbey, NJ Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.