Henri Nouwen: A Spirituality of Imperfection

By Wil Hernandez (Softcover; Paulist Press, 2006; Pp155)

As a spiritual icon, Henri Nouwen continues to exert a powerful influence on America’s religious landscape. This book synthesizes Nouwen’s integrated approach to spiritual formation—one that weaves spirituality, psychology, ministry, and theology into a seamless whole. It explores Nouwen’s distinct brand of spirituality—a spirituality of imperfection, which he embodied throughout his lived experience—where the journey to perfection is through the realities of imperfection.

“Drawing on Elizabeth O’Connor’s book Journey Inward, Journey Outward, Nouwen understood the spiritual life as a journey inward to the heart and a journey outward in community and mission…Wil Hernandez adds an important element to Nouwen’s journey motif: The spiritual journey is not only a journey inward (via psychology) and a journey outward (in ministry); it also is a journey upward to God (doing theology) in combining faith and practice.”—Michael J Christensen, from the Foreword

The book is formatted into five chapters as follows:

• ONE: Journey Inward

• TWO: Journey Outward

• THREE: Journey Upward

• FOUR: Spirituality of Imperfection

• FIVE: A Perfect Example of Imperfection

Wil Hernandez, PHD, works for the Leadership Institute in Southern California in partnership with the Denver-based Spiritual Formation Alliance. He also serves as the director of community formation at Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles. In addition, he teaches a course on the spirituality of Henri Nouwen at Fuller Theological Seminary and at the Center for Religion and Spirituality at Loyola Marymount University.

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