Mere Spirituality: The Spiritual Life According to Henri Nouwen

by Wil Hernandez PhD, Obl, OSB, Ronald Rolheiser (Foreword by)

Overview

Discover Henri Nouwen's authentic, spacious spirituality of being deeply beloved.

"When we are at one with our self, it becomes effortless for us to welcome and embrace the same self where God resides, the self that God loves with the fi rst love, preceding all human love. With Nouwen, we are able to carry our own beautiful, deeply loved self in our heart."
—from the Introduction

Henri Nouwen’s compelling spirituality of the heart is at once simple and complex, accessible but deeply profound. For this beloved Catholic theologian, whose ecumenical writings continue to inspire Christians of all denominations and levels of involvement, spirituality is, at its most basic, simply “attention to the life of the spirit in us.”

This insightful distillation of Nouwen’s vast literary legacy invites our tender hearts to take courage and be still, creating space for God and our true selves. It is in this place of trust and solitude that we discover our belovedness and our capacity to love God and others.

A scholar and spiritual director intimately acquainted with Nouwen’s understanding of the spiritual life, Wil Hernandez, PhD, Obl. OSB, offers an elegant synthesis of Nouwen’s main themes, inspiring us to embrace the power and vulnerability of mere spirituality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594735868
Publisher:	TURNER PUB CO
Publication date:	10/21/2015
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Wil Hernandez, PhD, Obl. OSB, is a passionate advocate for the work of spiritual formation in individuals and congregations, and he finds great joy in sharing Henri Nouwen's spiritual legacy. He teaches courses on the spirituality of Henri Nouwen at seminaries and universities throughout the U.S. and abroad as a spiritual director and international workshop and retreat leader. He is also author of a Henri Nouwen trilogy, which includes Henri Nouwen and Spiritual Polarities: A Life of Tension, and is founder and executive director of CenterQuest: An Ecumenical Hub for the Study and Practice of Christian Spirituality (www.CQCenterQuest.org).

For more information about Wil Hernandez’s courses, retreats, seminars and workshops on Henri Nouwen, please visit www.nouwenlegacy.com or email Wil at [e-mail].

Ronald Rolheiser, popular ecumenical Catholic theologian and columnist, is author of The Holy Longing and Sacred Fire, among other books.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Ronald Rolheiser
Preface
Introduction: A Heart-Filled Life
By Way of the Heart: An Overview of Henri Nouwen's Life

Part I: Communion—A Life Apart
ONE: Solitude—An Intimate Heart
TWO: Identity—A Centered Heart
THREE: Presence—An Attentive Heart

Part II: Community—A Life Shared
FOUR: Togetherness—A Bonded Heart
FIVE: Mutuality—A Common Heart
SIX: Solidarity—A Connected Heart

Part III: Commission—A Life Given
SEVEN: Service—A Selfless Heart
EIGHT: Compassion—A Caring Heart
NINE: Hospitality—A Spacious Heart

Conclusion: Mere Spirituality
Acknowledgments
A Chronology of Henri Nouwen's Life and Works
Source Abbreviations
Key Works of Henri Nouwen
Credits
Source Index

Editorial Reviews

"Captures Henri Nouwen's 'spirituality of the heart’ while providing readers with a cohesive summary.... A wonderful place for readers to get an overview of the critical components of Nouwen’s authentic spirituality."
—Karen Pascal, executive director, Henri Nouwen Society & Legacy Trust

“A simple yet profound introduction to contemplative practice as a basis for active ministry in the world. Wil Hernandez is an expert interpreter of Nouwen’s life and works.”
—Michael J. Christensen, PhD, director, Shalom Initiative for Prophetic Leadership and Community Development, Drew University; coeditor of the Nouwen trilogy Spiritual Direction, Spiritual Formation and Discernment

“Lays out the brilliant spirituality of Henri Nouwen for the reader and student in the clearest and most useful terms.... This unpretentious but lovely book will quickly become a classic.”
—Roberta C. Bondi, professor emerita, Candler School of Theology, Emory University

“Wil Hernandez is one of the most insightful interpreters of the writings of the late Henri Nouwen.... This vision can re-invigorate a tired Christianity in the Western world.”
—Charles Ringma, theologian and activist; author, Hear the Heartbeat with Henri Nouwen

“Wil Hernandez has provided his readers a way to dive deeply into Nouwen’s timeless wisdom. Mere Spirituality is a treasure.”
—Rev. Jane E. Vennard, spiritual director; author, Fully Awake and Truly Alive and Teaching—The Sacred Art

“A life-giving reminder that spirituality is not a program added to one’s life, but it spills from our heart and from the very core of our being. This book is both an invitation and an essential encouragement.”
—Rev. Terry Hershey, author, Sanctuary: Creating a Space for Grace in Your Life

From the Publisher

Wil Hernandez, a scholar and spiritual director who has studied and taught many courses on the work of Henri Nouwen, set out to write a text that would provide an in-depth look at Nouwen's work on spirituality. Nouwen wrote many books on the theme of Christian spirituality. He intended to appeal to those who are from both ends of the Christian theological spectrum—from the very conservative to the very liberal. He worked hard to create a safe space for all.

Nouwen wrote on the theme of spirituality by dividing it into three primary sections: Communion, Community and Commission. ByCommunion, he meant that humanity is called to a sense of belonging with God and with one another. He added that we are also called to be at home within our own hearts (4–5). He wrote aboutCommunitythat it is "first of all a quality of the heart. It grows from the spiritual knowledge that we are alive not for ourselves but for one another" (41). Nouwen's understanding ofCommissionis that "God’s commission for us is to engage actively in ministry to the world." He added that there is there is a “priority of being over doing … we are called to connect, not so much by what we do, but by who we are” (69–70).

The intended audience for this text would be any person who has an interest either in spirituality in general or in Henri Nouwen in particular. Nouwen wrote more than 40 books in his lifetime, and 49 books are listed in the “Key Works of Nouwen” at the end of this text. The author is able to adeptly structure the main themes of Nouwen’s work so that the organizational pattern makes sense both to new readers and to readers who are familiar with some of Nouwen’s other writing.

The strength of this book is that the reader experiences a mini-retreat. Each chapter includes suggestions for further reading (using other texts by Nouwen), Living It Out exercises (varying from something specific to do, something about which to pray or something on which to reflect, etc.) and finally a written prayer. These exercises deepen the already rich material in the book.

The weakness of the book that I noticed was that the author chose to discuss a personal relationship that caused great pain in Nouwen’s life. I thought that this discussion was not necessary to the topic and likely should have been deleted in editing.

The author definitely met his goal of trying to help a reader to understand a theologian who produced a massive number of theological works in his lifetime. Hernandez has written a book that will provide a chaplain or pastoral counselor some moments of respite and nourishment for the spirit.

Reviewed by Rev. Marcia Marino DMin BCC, minister affiliated with the Church of the Larger Fellowship (Unitarian Universalist), Boston.

Association of Professional Chaplains - Rev. Marcia Marino DMin BCC

Few explorers of the spiritual life have published asprolifically as the Dutch-born Roman Catholic priestHenri Nouwen, whose work produced over forty titlesduring his lifetime and more than a dozenposthumously.This offers blessing and challenge for those interestedin engaging his thoughts. In answerto this challenge, spiritual directorWil Hernandez has sifted throughNouwen's many books to gather histhoughts about the essential features ofthe spiritual life into a coherent whole:"His work capitalizes on this intrinsicshared desire: to know and experiencewhat it means to live out our life inGod in a way that deeply transformsus inside and out" (7–8).

Departing in style from three previousbooks Hernandez published in2006, 2008, and 2012 that employinterpretive analysis of Nouwen, thisnew book allows Nouwen's own voiceto emerge through extensive citationof primary sources. In homage to Nouwen's penchant fororganizing his material into three main points, Hernandezdivides the book into three major sections, "Communion,""Community," and "Commission," inspired by Nouwen'scommentary on Luke 6:12–19,“in which he underscoredthe threefold movement from solitude to community toministry as exemplified by Jesus himself” (9). Suggestionsfor further reading, action, and thematic prayers follow each chapter. A timeline of Nouwen’s life and publicationsprovides additional context.

Hernandez employs Nouwen’s understanding of the“heart” as going beyond feeling to represent the fullembodiment of our lived spirituality. “Put simply, it is inand from our heart that we come to know both our trueGod and our true self when we dare enter into its depthsmore trustingly. In the same depths we are bound todiscover the dynamics of what I refer to as tripolar love—love of God, love of others, love of our self—profoundlyemerging from and operating within our hearts. This isthe same unified love that the Bible emphasizes relentlesslyas the ultimate yardstick of authentic spirituality” (14).Each of the nine chapters illuminates an aspect of “heart,”such as “Solitude: An Intimate Heart,” “Mutuality: ACommon Heart,” and “Hospitality: A Spacious Heart.”

Shaped by his acute intellectual capacity and a pastor’scompassionate concern for the human condition,Nouwen’s writing has appealed to a diverse audiencethat speaks with particular relevance to our contemporaryfractured political and religiouslandscape. His perspective reflects acareer that included teaching in theUnited States at the University ofNotre Dame, Yale University, Harvard
University, and temporary residencieswith Trappist monks at the Abbey ofthe Genesee in upstate New York. Hisconcern for the disenfranchised andoppressed led him to spend time inMexico and Peru, to travel extensivelyin Central America, and spend the lastten years of his life as pastor to adultswith intellectual disabilities at L’ArcheDaybreak Community in Toronto,Ontario, Canada. Hernandez’s skillfulpresentation of a cross-section ofNouwen’s work increases accessibility to the writings andthe profound faith journey that inspired them.

Longtime admirers of Nouwen will appreciate thisresource for summarizing and distilling key themes fromnumerous primary texts. Newcomers will be rewardedby directly encountering Nouwen’s thoughts in a single,manageable format that will assist the selection of furtherreading. Altogether, this new volume offers solid footingfor navigating a treasure trove of insight from one ofthe brightest stars among the constellations of spiritualguides.

Presence Journal - Amelia Stratton-Smith