Help Celebrate Henri’s Legacy!
In honor of the 30th anniversary of his death on Sept 21st, we are celebrating Henri Nouwen's legacy as a beloved spiritual guide and master. Check back for new links to videos and other ways you can participate in honoring Henri and sharing him with others.
We invite you to respond to one simple question:
How has Henri Nouwen's life and work continued to bear fruit in your life?
If you'd like a little inspiration, you might begin with one of these simple prompts:
Henri taught me...
Because of Henri...
Thirty years later, Henri's legacy lives on because...
Your response can be either:
A short video (2 minutes or less)
A written reflection (200 words or fewer)
Community Remembrances
“Henri continues to instruct me in God’s way of love and humility. Thank you, Henri. ”
“I started reading Henri Nouwen in college having been a Catholic Youth Minister and transitioning to study and become a Social Worker. Reading Henri invited and invites me to be in the presence of God’s love. He also talked about ways we can struggle and avoid His love and how we can come back to God’s love! I have been reading daily now for the past 30+ years at least and continue to be moved into Love. I have also been moved by his experience working with disabled children. ”
“Henri Nouwen introduces God and the entire community world through himself daily as we continue through his teaching to each other and this society”
“Henri Nouwen is my most favored contemplative. I follow him on his website daily. Thank you for sharing Henri with us. For me, he is the brightest light of my day that I hear from. God bless you and may his prayerful thoughts continue to brighten all of our days.”
“H.N. is very present in my life. I read the daily meditation and reread passages from his various books. Although summarizing his spiritual legacy is not easy, I would say that “we are the beloved sons and daughters of God” is at the heart of his message. ”
“Henri Nouwen’s reflections inspire me daily. His dedication to live his latter years amongst la Communauté de l’Arche in France shows who he really was, dedicated, a lover of God and his fellow men as all of us have disabilities in our lives. May his words continue to inspire many of us to learn to walk in the Master’s footsteps”
“Henry’s thoughts as relayed in the daily emails continue to inspire. Sometimes i have used them in conversations. sometimes in send out inspiring assistance to others. Always quoting Henry. People have responded with gratitude to him. ”
“My first experience with Henri was when I read With Open Hands… He put to words, some things about my relationship with God that I have never been able to do… It made my spiritual experience so much more real and rich…Since then I have enjoyed several of his other books and he continues to walk me closer and closer toward experiencing and living into my belovedness … His honesty and vulnerability are just frosting on the cake to sweeten the message and make it even better.”
“I happened to come across Henri’s “Sabbatical Journey” while wandering through a bookstore in December of 1998. Soon afterwards, my wife Susan had a recurrence of breast cancer, which took her life with a vengeance in March of 1999.
Henri, through this book, became my regular companion that year, helping me grieve, pray, and hope. After that, whenever I walked into a bookstore, I looked for and bought another of his books, which now take up a shelf of my bookcase.
I feel I am one in spirit with Henri. He and I have together walked a path that continues, I believe, to bring me closer to God.
So many of his words resonate with me especially being grateful that Jesus of Nazareth showed us his Father, sent us his Spirit, and dwelt among us; and being consoled remembering that God loved us before we were born, loves us throughout our life, and will continue to love us after our earthly death.
I thank God daily for bringing Henri into my life. It wasn’t by chance, but by providence, that I found Henri’s book 28 years ago and that I have felt Henri’s spirit ever since.”
“Henri is one of the many “living” Christians who has helped me live a happy life and now, at aged 90 dying of cancer, a happy death. Thank God! I am so grateful to him.”
“I can’t remember when I first encountered Henri Nouwen’s works, but felt an immediate connection. Since I have copied out and saved countless passages from his writings that have struck a chord and a heart’s response. His writings come from a life of struggle, searching, and opening his heart to God’s leading and purpose for his life. I love the humble, down to earth, full of heart and rich in life’s experiences he is able to share his thoughts. It wasn’t easy to pick out one passage from the many that I have collected but I love this:
”The great conversation in our life is to recognize and believe that the many unexpected events are not just disturbing interruptions in our projects, but the way in which God molds our hearts and prepares us for His return. When we believe that patience and faith can make our expectations grow, then fate can be converted into a vocation, wounds into a call for deeper understanding, and sadness into a birthplace of joy.”
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“Dear friends, my stay at Day Break and the intense time spent at Henri’s grave have awakened in me a reverent understanding of his ministry and strengthened my personal faith!”
“I have read eight Henri Nouwen books. My favorite thing that he said over and over was, “You are the Beloved”. He backed those words up in every book he wrote. He spoke often of becoming the Beloved. This truth has continued to heal my broken life. I grew up with abuse as a child and Henri taught me that I am lovable and loved. I am the Beloved of God.
As I continue to become the beloved with Henri’s help my life has become a light for Jesus. People now see Jesus in me - and I can share with them that they too are “The Beloved of God” ”
“Yearly we organize a Henri Nouwen lecture at his birthday. Harry was a friend of my youth: same school, same scouting. He married me and baptized my daughter. He came always to my home when in Holland. I pray to him every day.”
“I hear the constant reminder we are loved, and the constant reminders that He loved us first and wants our love back. He constantly challenges us to keep our hearts pure so that our lives reflect His Love.”
“Because of reading Henri Nouwen’s many books over many years I have come to believe that I am truly “the beloved”. God loves me not because I am good but because God is good.
My whole image and relationship with a loving God is vastly different than the God of my childhood.
Thank you Henri. ”
“In my daily pursuit for Christ, I am constantly blessed with and certainly challenged by Henri Nouwen’s preaching, his books (especially “Here and Now”), and by the daily devotions sent to my inboxes. His messages and his life are great reminders of the two greatest commandments of our Lord - to Love the Lord and to love His people... Thank you!!!”
“I was serving on the staff of Sojourners Ministry in Washington DC, a ministry well known to Henri Nouwen, and a community of friends in Henri’s spirit, when I learned of Henri’s death on the way back to my home in Alexandria, VA from Washington DC in the Fall of 1996.
I needed to pull over onto an overpass on the GW Parkway and simply rest in silence and in tears—of both intense grief and gratitude. Henri Nouwen was, and still is so much of the heart of my spiritual journey.
I first encountered his work in my Clinical Pastoral Education training at Walter Reed in DC, with the Wounded Healer as a true spiritual guide with the ministry of solidarity, simple presence and accompanying those living with suffering—with the promise that becoming fully human with another in Christ’s spirit was more than enough.
Over decades of ministry as a pastor, social worker, and spiritual director, Henri Nouwen has been a trusted spiritual mentor and true friend in the spirit.
Whether with a parishioner, patient, loved one, friend, or spiritual friend, I always rest in his wise counsel and assurance of God’s unconditional and first love as life’s center.
The Holy Spirit truly touched my life in the life and work of Henri Nouwen.”
“As I write at my desk, I’m looking up at my bookshelf and count 31 books by Henri Nouwen. As I look, I think of the contribution each has made to my friendship with Jesus. In the Name of Jesus to my leadership identity...Out of Solitude and The Way of the Heart to my commitment to a Day of Solitude a month with Jesus...The Genesee Diary and from Henri’s meeting with John Eudes realizing that every talk was another opportunity to Be Henri Nouwen - such pressure - instead of being current with Jesus and just speaking out of that currency. That changed my talk preparation. And, of course, The Life of the Beloved and The Return of The Prodigal truly impacting my growing into Jesus’ Love and My Belovedness as the truist thing about me. I’m so very grateful.”
“Henri’s biggest influence on my life was making me understand that I am “beloved”. Just the way I am, exactly where I am in my life and my faith journey ❤️”
“I have been reminded each day by Henri of the earthy ness of God and how simply God teaches us to be his also how God wants to be close to us. Also about love.”
“31 yrs ago I was introduced to Henri Nouwen with his book The Wounded Healer. During the years, I’ve read some of his books and reread almost all of it. I learned something new in every book I’ve read.
Recently I got Flying Falling, Cathcing and as everyone of the other books, it touched me very deeply.
I think what had the biggest impact on my life, was when Henri helped me realize that God loved me long before my birth and that this unconditional love will last for eternities to come.
I truly am the Beloved of God and for knowing this with all my heart, I thank Henri Nouwen. ”
“I was confirmed as a Catholic during the Easter Vigil at the Boston Paulist Center in 1984 at age 30. Our small group formation was led by Henri who had a life-long influence on all of us. Henri was and continues to be instrumental in my faith development. My spouse of 50+ years and I remember Gracias as our favorite book by Henri. It led us to prepare for a volunteer opportunity in Korea, until God came up with a different plan with the long-awaited birth of our first of four children. The desire to serve as planted in us by Henri led to multiple life changing experiences in Mexico and pro bono environmental remediation projects in Africa, Brazil and Mexico addressing lead contamination that resulted in the deaths of many children. Henri continues to inspire.”
“This week I’ve launched Women of Spirit: claiming our ultimate power, a book that has taken 28 years to come to fruition. Women of Spirit shares my journey to move from the temporal desires and pitfalls of life into the eternal life of fulfillment. My hope is that Women of Spirit will help women successfully navigate the cultural and organizational frameworks in which we work to fully embrace God’s purpose for their lives.
Henri Nouwen has walked alongside me throughout my journey, centering me with his desire to “…focus on the eternal that lights up in the midst of the temporal. I yearn to create space where it can be seen and celebrated” (Waiting in Expectation). His wisdom, humility and love for others have deeply me touched me. I know that I am a beloved child of God and hope to spend my life imbuing the truth and joy to others.”
“Henri came into my life 30 years ago during a time when I needed him most. I was recovering from a long period of church trauma that rattled my faith and left me lost and confused. I don’t remember exactly how I was introduced to Henri but I do remember believing that it was Divine intervention. God knew how much I needed him. Henri’s reassurances and affirmations that I was a beloved child of God no matter how much I doubted carried me through this difficult time. He became my spiritual guide and has remained so to this day. At 71 years of age, I still receive the daily reflections and continue to re-read the books of his that have become treasured possessions. Most recently, still working through my own anguish and confusion I journaled once again through his beautiful “The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom”. Henri’s vulnerable and authentic reflections were healing and transformative. To know that even he struggled with doubts about being loved and trusting God reminded me ... that I was not alone and that I was loved unconditionally through all the leaving and returning. … I am eternally grateful to have had Henri as my traveling companion and guide through all the phases of my life and still now in my old age.”
“In everything Henri wrote he gave me a part of himself ... and that part came from his, wisdom, his heart and his life ... the brokenness, the pain, the joy, enthusiasm and the hope ... all there ... speaking to me ... brother to brother, spirit to spirt! thank you Henri ... ”
“About 50 years ago, my late wife and I attended a presentation by Henri in Montclair, New Jersey, sat directly in front of him, and had a chance to chat later.
Out of Solitude had just been released, and he emphasized how care is the precondition of cure in a community. That message never left me.
I now have quite a library of his books and still use a few for daily meditations. His words helped me through the loss of my wife.
I recently discovered that a close friend, originally from the Netherlands, is also an admirer of Henri’s works and words. This shared interest has renewed my devotion to this exceptional theologian, and my library has expanded.
Henri continues to be a part of my life.”
“I was introduced to Henri Nouwen when I became a Christian. One of his books has had a profound effect on me - The Return of the Prodigal Son. Every Christian should read (and re-read!) this book. I have read it 3 times and each time see something deeper in his words and reflections. I receive a daily email from the HN Society and it starts my day off well. Thanks to the Society who continue to keep his word alive many years after his death.”
“Henri’s daily online reflections nourish my gentle soul. It is such a delight to connect to his words every morning. I am grateful to be called « Beloved ». ”
“I got to know the Henri Nouwen through Pen Pal Ministry, where I volunteered to exhnage letters with inmates so the coordinator of the program would send us the exchanged letters with an attached Henri Nouwen meditation of the day. At that time, I was struggling with my faith, I believed that anything with the Holy Trinity is possible but I didn’t believe I was worthy for any grace or mercy. Reading through the daily meditations picked me up, strengthened me and rekindled my relationship with God. They are daily reminders for me to keep going. I like to share them with my friends. They are comfort words to any troubled soul.
There is one that I always go back to:
From: With Open Hands
Dear Lord,
Speak gently in my silence. When the loud outer noises of my surroundings and the loud inner noises of my fears keep pulling me away from you, help me to trust that you are still there even when I am unable to hear you. Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying: “Come to me, you who are overburdened, and I will give you rest ….. for I am gentle and humble of heart.” Let that loving voice be my guide. Amen.
I do not know how to express the safety I find the daily meditations, it is like He is talking to me, encouraging me and reminding me that His love is endless.”
“Henri taught me that I am the beloved of God. That truth became central to my doctoral dissertation, in which I used Henri as a theological pillar to help support the idea that belonging is central to faithful community. Henri deeply believed in community and the centrality of community, partly due to his trinitarian theology. At the heart of that theology is that not only was Jesus beloved, but all God’s children are the beloved of God. This foundational truth allowed me to build a solid base for my theology within my research. This truth also helped me personally as I have lived through circumstances that made me question my worth and my relationship with God. Because of Henri I was not only able to complete my dissertation and graduate, but have been able to know and understand my identity in relation to God first, above all else, knowing I am the beloved of God.”
“Henri Nouwen’s experience at L’arche with Adam and the impact that had on him. Connecting with someone with those challenges is an unbelievably rich experience. Henri wrote about how that changed him. I have experienced that with the homeless. Find your true self by losing yourself in service to others. Like Henri it came to me late in life.”
“These daily missives are sometimes the only thing between me and spirals of depression. Thank you for sharing these, even all these years later. They really do help give me focus. The ones that land particularly hard I file away in an email folder and the others I screenshot and send to friends.”
“The Life of the Beloved was my first book from Henri Nouwen, which I read. It was 26 years ago, when my father died and I was in a lot of pain. I made a confession one day and the priest said to me that I should read this book. And so I did. I was crying when I read it , and the pain was a little easier to carry. Then I orderd some more of his books (I am from Slovenia, Europe) and I was reading books - especially his meditations and a book, The Return of the Prodigal Son. I was studyind Theology in Slovenia and at the end of my study I made a final paper about Henri Nouwen and his work. For me - reading his books was spiritual healing after my father passd away. I am very grateful for his life and for his work. When it will be possible I woud like to come to Henri Nouwen Sociaty one day to meet people who are also so inspired by Henri’s life work.”
“I look forward each morning to the reflection of Fr Henri. It is to the point, simple to embrace and deep in its meaning in just a few words. I’ve been a priest for 56 years. Henri has been a good daily companion. Eternal Rest be yours, Henri. And thank you so much. ”
“The Life of the Beloved was my first book from Henri Nouwen, which I read. It was 26 years ago, when my father died and I was in a lot of pain. I made a confession one day and the priest said to me that I should read this book. And so I did. I was crying when I read it , and the pain was a little easier to carry. Then I orderd some more of his books (I am from Slovenia, Europe) and I was reading books - especially his meditations and a book, The Return of the Prodigal Son. I was studyind Theology in Slovenia and at the end of my study I made a final paper about Henri Nouwen and his work. For me - reading his books was spiritual healing after my father passd away. I am very grateful for his life and for his work. When it will be possible I woud like to come to Henri Nouwen Sociaty one day to meet people who are also so inspired by Henri’s life work.”
Upcoming events
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Listening With the Heart: The Way of Prayer
Discover the transformative practice of prayer through the wisdom of Henri Nouwen in this three-part online video series. Watch new sessions at your own pace on September 5, 12, and 19, then join us for a live Zoom gathering on Monday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
Whether you are new to contemplative prayer or seeking to deepen your practice, this series offers a welcoming space for reflection, renewal, and spiritual growth.
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Spiritual Reading Group: The Return of the Prodigal Son
This October, the Henri Nouwen Society Spiritual Reading Group will gather to reflect on one of Henri’s most beloved and transformative works: The Return of the Prodigal Son. Inspired by Rembrandt’s painting of the same name, Henri invites us to enter deeply into the biblical story of forgiveness, reconciliation, and unconditional love.
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Book Club: Letters to Marc About Jesus
This November, the Henri Nouwen Society Book Club will turn to Letters to Marc About Jesus, a deeply personal and heartfelt collection of reflections in which Henri shares his insights on following Christ with honesty, courage, and love. Written as letters to his dear friend Marc, these pages offer gentle guidance on encountering Jesus in everyday life and responding to God’s call with openness and trust.