Heart Speaks to Heart
Three Gospel Meditations on Jesus
Heart Speaks to Heart invites readers to accompany Henri J. M. Nouwen on a Holy Week retreat where he sought to deepen his understanding of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. What began as an intellectual pursuit soon became a profoundly personal encounter. Moved by the mystery of God’s love revealed in the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, Nouwen’s focus shifted from studying the Sacred Heart to speaking directly to the heart of Jesus—and listening for his response.
This book gathers the intimate prayers Nouwen wrote during that retreat, offering a window into his faithful yet often painful journey toward greater trust in God amid fear and loneliness. The prologue and epilogue include Nouwen’s reflections on how this collection came to be, inspired by a friend’s deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
A tender companion for personal prayer, Heart Speaks to Heart is the perfect read for Lent or any time of the year. guiding readers more deeply into Christ’s love as they prepare for the Paschal Mystery.
More About this Book
This very short book has its origins in a request from Pauline Vanier (Jean Vanier’s mother) for Nouwen to write a contemporary interpretation of the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Nouwen decides instead to “let the heart of Jesus touch my own heart” and writes, in prayer, three meditations to the heart of Jesus. His inspiration comes from scripture – Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened” John 19:31-37 (“the soldiers pieced his side with a lance”) and John 20:19-20, 24-29 (“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe”). The result is an intimate glimpse into Nouwen’s heart including his struggles with doubt, vulnerability and faithfulness. Nouwen hoped that “all who will pray these prayers will also experience the healing and renewing love that flows from the heart of Jesus.”
Themes: Jesus, Prayer, Suffering, Heart, Trust, Faithfulness, Brokenness, Unity, Love, Wounds, Home, Inner peace, Pauline Vanier, Nouwen’s relationship with Jesus (his inner dialogue)
Ave Maria Press, 1989
Reviews for "Heart Speaks to Heart"
"Nouwen is my devotional Master. I highly recommend reading this short book of prayers as part of your Easter celebration." -Don
"What I found particularly special about the prayers is I saw myself in each of them. That's the wonder of Nouwen's writing: he is able to capture the essence of the "everyman" in his words." -Ian
"Beautiful, simple and so real. For those looking to deepen a relationship with the heart of Christ." -Kathleen
