More than seven million books by Henri Nouwen have been sold worldwide and they have been translated into 30 languages. One of the many reasons he is so popular is his ability to honestly share his heartfelt feelings of failure, vulnerability, and loss. He had a gift for being both personal and universal in his writings about the spiritual life.
Wil Hernandez has been teaching and leading classes and retreats on Henri Nouwen's spirituality for ten years. We reap the benefit as the author shares quotations from 40 books by the Catholic writer — this decision to let Nouwen speak for himself is a wise one. There are abundant snatches of spiritual wisdom in Mere Spirituality, each identified by source and page number.
In introducing his organization of the material, Hernandez explains that Nouwen "underscored the threefold movement from solitude to community to ministry as exemplified by Jesus himself. To me, the spiritual constructs of solitude, community, and ministry -- which I am recasting into communion, community, and commission – sum up for us what an authentic spiritual life looks like: a life apart in solitude with self and communion with God; a life shared in community with other kindred hearts; and a life given for others in ministry." This leads to a heart-filled life.
In chapters devoted to the themes of solitude, identity, presence, togetherness, mutuality, solidarity, service, compassion, and hospitality, Hernandez outlines Nouwen's key insights, points to further focused reading, and suggests simple practices for "Living It Out." Each chapter also includes a "Prayer of the Heart." He rounds out the book with an overview of Nouwen's life, a chronology of his life and works, and a list of key works.
Mere Spirituality delivers heart-to-heart messages that contemporary spiritual seekers need to hear. It is a great resource for personal or group retreats.
