Born in Holland, 1932, Nouwen felt called to the priesthood at a very young age, and was ordained in 1957 as a diocesan priest and studied psychology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen. In 1964 he moved to the United States and went on to teach at the University of Notre Dame, and the Divinity Schools of Yale and Harvard. In 1985 he was called to join L’Arche in Trosly, France, the first of over 100 communities founded by Jean Vanier where people with developmental disabilities live with assistants. A year later Nouwen came to make his home at L’Arche Daybreak near Toronto, Canada. 

​Nouwen believed that what is most personal is most universal; he wrote, “By giving words to these intimate experiences I can make my life available to others.” (http://henrinouwen.org/about-henri/)

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Henri Nouwen, The Return of the prodigal son

Through examining Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son, Nouwen identifies the archetypes we may fall into on our spiritual journey: the younger son, elder son, and the father. Nouwen deftly integrates comments on human nature with his own personal experiences, inviting readers to participate fully in the parabolic reflection. He claims that his experiences at Larche Daybreak push him painfully towards change, but also affirm his sense of home. Living at Daybreak helped him learn that “true fatherhood is sharing the poverty of God’s non-demanding love.” (138) 

Nouwen, Henri. The Return of the Prodigal Son. New York: Doubleday, 1992

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Henri Nouwen, Dayspring: In Search of a Vision

In this document, Nouwen makes several convincing arguments for ecumenical living. He says: “In solitude, we are with God alone and challenged to listen to God’s demanding love. In community we are with each other and challenged to listen to each other’s unique way of knowing God.” Through this reflection he invites an interesting dialogue on the role of the individual in serving community. (2)

​Nouwen, Henri. Dayspring: In Search of a Vision, 1987. Series 2007 03 46: Dayspring. L’Arche Daybreak Fonds: Director- Community Files Series. (Box 07, File 46)
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Find item at the University of St. Michael's College, L'Arche Daybreak, Fonds

Henri Nouwen, Becoming poor before god

In this reflection, ​ Nouwen expresses his reverence for the varied ways different Christian groups share in a common meal in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. This illustrates Nouwen's focus on togetherness, even sometimes at the cost of orthodoxy. This sentiment fits well with his desire, ‘I want you to know you are the Beloved.’ In this way, he emphasizes the need for community, and would grow to balance the sacramental rules with achieving ecumenical togetherness.

Nouwen, Henri. Becoming Poor Before God. Series 2007 03 47: Dayspring. . L’Arche Daybreak Fonds: Director- Community Files Series. (Box 07, File 47)

Find item at the University of St. Michael's College, L'Arche Daybreak, Fonds

Henri Nouwen, ​The Challenge of catholic Education

​In this recording for Catholic Educators, Nouwen discusses the goal of Catholic schools to form disciples through the disciplines of contemplative prayer and listening. Through prayer, students can cultivate silence which creates space to hear the voice of God. The voice of God allows the student to know that they are loved by God. When they know they are loved regardless of any of their successes or failures, they are able to approach learning without fear. Thus it is the responsibility of the Catholic teacher to create such an open and vulnerable space where students feel loved. 

​Nouwen, Henri. “Recording of Henri Nouwen on Forming Disciples: The Challenge of Catholic Education.” Recorded in 1988. Henri Nouwen Fonds, Sound Recording Series, University of St. Michael’s College John M. Kelly Special Collections and Archives, Toronto Canada. Box 322, SR81. Audio Cassette. 
 
Find item at the University of St. Michael’s College, discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/recording-of-henri-nouwen-on-forming-disciples-the-challenge-of-catholic-education

Henri Nouwen, The Spirituality of a religion teacher 

In this sound recording, Nouwen reflects on three aspects of spiritual teaching. It must affirm the students search to answer existential questions and be a true giving of oneself in vulnerability to the student. The relationship between teacher and student must transcend them both and reveal God. The religion teacher is “called to help students in the discovery of their own most personal search by entering with them in a common vulnerability so that in the mutual relationship between teacher and student the questioning Lord can be made visible.”

Nouwen, Henri. “The Spirituality of a Religion Teacher.” Recorded in 1976. Henri Nouwen Fonds, Sound Recording Series, University of St. Michael’s College John M. Kelly Special Collections and Archives, Toronto, Canada.  Box 316, SR7. Audio Cassette. 

Find item at the University of St. Michael’s College, https://discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/the-spirituality-of-the-religion-teacher

Henri Nouwen, Moving from Solitude to community to ministry 

​In this article, Nouwen suggests that the Christian call to discipleship can be answered through the disciplines of solitude, community and ministry. In order to hear the voice of God one needs to anchor themselves in solitude and prayer. In solitude one hears that they are loved and are moved to enter a community of common vulnerability, forgiving and celebrating one another. From community follows the discipline of ministry through which one can heal others by their gratitude and compassion. 

Nouwen, Henri. “Moving from Solitude to Community to Ministry.” Australian Ministry Digest 3, no. 1. 1996. Box 299, Item 1826. Henri Nouwen Fonds, University of St. Michael’s College, John M. Kelly Library, Special Collections, Toronto, Canada. 
 
Find item at the University of St. Michael’s College, https://discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/moving-from-solitude-to-community-to-ministry-2
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henri Nouwen, "Fearless Education" in Lecture Notes, handouts and ass reflections or fall 1978 Seminar 

In this essay, Nouwen describes contemporary education as a competitive and individualistic climate dominated by fear. The true task of education is to remove these patterns of fear so that the learner can listen attentively within and without, ask meaningful questions about the world around them, and act responsively in freedom. Removing these patterns of fear within education is the beginning of the student’s fearless relationship with the unknown. 
 
Nouwen, Henri. “Fearless Education” in Lecture Notes, Handouts and Class Reflections for Fall 1978 Seminar. 1978. Henri Nouwen Fonds, University of St. Michael’s College, John M. Kelly Library, Special Collections, Toronto Canada. Box 272, Item 2119.

Find item at the University of St. Michael’s College, https://discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/lecture-notes-handouts-and-class-reflections-for-fall-1978-seminar

Gerard s. twomy and claude pomerleau, remembering henri: the life and legacy of henri nouwen 

Remembering Henri is a collection of memoirs written by friends of Nouwen’s throughout his life, from his time teaching at Harvard, Yale and Notre Dame to his settling at L’Arche Daybreak in Canada. These reflections speak of his desire to foster strong community, his dynamic teaching style, his commitment to peace and social justice, his role as a spiritual guide, prolific writer, lover of the Eucharist, ecumenical champion and wounded healer. Of special interest to this project are memoirs written by those who worked closely with Nouwen during his academic career, including Claude Pomerleau, Michael O’Laughlin, and Peggy Ellsberg.
 
Twomey, Gerald S, and Claude Pomerleau. Remembering Henri: The Life and Legacy of Henri Nouwen. Maryknoll, N.Y: Orbis Books, 2006. Print.
 
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