Henri Nouwen Quotes

A collection of quotes by Henri Nouwen.

Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) was a Dutch-born Catholic priest, theologian, and writer known for his contemplative spirituality and profound reflections on the human condition. Born in Nijkerk, Netherlands, Nouwen studied psychology and theology, earning a doctorate in psychology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen.

Nouwen taught at various institutions, including the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas, and the University of Notre Dame. However, he eventually felt called to live among and serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the L'Arche Daybreak community in Toronto, Canada. This experience deeply influenced his understanding of vulnerability, compassion, and the inherent worth of every person.

Throughout his life, Nouwen authored numerous books, addressing topics such as spirituality, loneliness, and the pursuit of God's love. Some of his notable works include "The Wounded Healer," "The Return of the Prodigal Son," and "The Inner Voice of Love." Nouwen's writing often combined profound insights with accessible language and deeply resonated with readers searching for spiritual guidance and solace.

Henri Nouwen's legacy lives on through his writings, which continue to inspire countless individuals seeking to connect with their spirituality and deepen their understanding of the human experience. His profound compassion, vulnerability, and dedication to serving others have made him a beloved and influential figure in contemporary spiritual literature.

If fear is the great enemy of intimacy, love is its true fri

If fear is the great enemy of intimacy, love is its true friend.

Friendship has always belonged to the core of my spiritual j

Friendship has always belonged to the core of my spiritual journey.

The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair

The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares.

Much violence is based on the illusion that life is a proper

Much violence is based on the illusion that life is a property to be defended and not to be shared.

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mea

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.

In their poverty, the mentally handicapped reveal God to us

In their poverty, the mentally handicapped reveal God to us and hold us close to the gospel.

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mea

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.

Prayer is first of all listening to God. It's openness. God

Prayer is first of all listening to God. It's openness. God is always speaking; he's always doing something. Prayer is to enter into that activity. ... Convert your thoughts into prayer. As we are involved in unceasing thinking, so we are called to unceasing prayer. The difference is not that prayer is thinking about other things, but that prayer is thinking in dialogue, ... a conversation with God.

Praying is no easy matter. It demands a relationship in whic

Praying is no easy matter. It demands a relationship in which you allow someone other than yourself to enter into the very center of your person, to see there what you would rather leave in darkness, and to touch there what you would rather leave untouched.

Let us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate.

Let us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate. Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to the place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken. But this is not our spontaneous response to suffering. What we desire most is to do away with suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick cure for it. As busy, active, relevant ministers, we want to earn our bread by making a real contribution. This means first and foremost doing something to show that our presence makes a difference. And so we ignore our greatest gift, which is our ability to enter into solidarity with those who suffer. Those who can sit in silence with their fellowman, not knowing what to say but knowing that they should be there, can bring new life in a dying heart. Those who are not afraid to hold a hand in gratitude, to shed tears in grief and to let a sigh of distress arise straight from the heart can break through paralyzing boundaries and witness the birth of a new fellowship, the fellowship of the broken.

Ministry is the least important thing. You cannot not minist

Ministry is the least important thing. You cannot not minister if you are in communion with God and live in community.

The world is waiting ... for new saints, ecstatic men and wo

The world is waiting ... for new saints, ecstatic men and women who are so deeply rooted in the love of God that they are free to imagine a new international order.

Jesus didn't say, 'Blessed are those who care for the poor.'

Jesus didn't say, 'Blessed are those who care for the poor.' He said, 'Blessed are we where we are poor, where we are broken.' It is there that God loves us deeply and pulls us into deeper communion with himself.