The great mystery is not the cures, but the infinite compassion which is their source. A reflection on the christian life by nouwen, mcneill and morrison 1. A reflection on the christian life by nouwen, mcneill and morrison delivers a provocative and. Henri nouwens the return of the prodigal sonaugust. Compassion isa book that says no to a compassion of guilt and failure and yes to a compassionate love that pervades our spirit and moves us to action. For august, the book club considers henri nouwens 1992 book. Henri nouwen in his book the wounded healer laments that most christian leaders are not prepared to be spiritual leadersfor hurting people. Berry recommended number of meetings for this book.
Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears. The wounded healer as a spiritual guide henri nouwen. In this provocative essay on that least understood virtue, compassion, the authors challenge themselves and us with these questions. The henri nouwen society exists so others, who are on a journey of faith, can experience the unconditional love of god that henri nouwen discovered. Henri nouwen, donald mcneill, and douglas morrison have written a moving document on what it means to be a christian in a difficult time. These three scholars published a book on the subject in 1983 titled. Shop online at cokesbury christian bookstore for books, bibles, church supplies, vbs, curriculum, united methodist resources, and more.
Our service will not be perceived as authentic, nouwen warns, unless it comes from a heart wounded by the suffering about which we speak. A provocative essay that places compassion at the heart of christian life as. Compassion is a book that says no to a compassion of guilt and failure and yes to a compassionate love that pervades our spirit and moves us to action. Compassion a reflection on the christian life by henri j. While this book hasnt influenced my daytoday thinking as much as some other nouwen books, i think this says more about my current level of distraction than it. Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to the place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken. Henri nouwen society compassion henri nouwen society. Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. Henri nouwen society online book discussions henri. It speaks directly to the heart of the gospel, an incarnate faith in a life of compassion. It is a slim volume packed with art and insight into divine love. Since it was first published more than twenty years ago, the way of the heart has helped millions of men and women cast off the anger and greed.
660 1436 381 1081 1155 109 355 1004 1104 916 1054 1028 434 820 1356 1007 17 409 246 520 443 51 691 763 230 571 697 731 743 178 98 1102 862 1297 517 297 141 225 546 416 104 1230 717 502 1387 166 154 1062 148