Publisher Description

"On the long road it's good to have Nouwen and his divining rod. Deftly he bends toward the drop of spiritual wisdom caked in the most ordinary things."
—Helen Prejean, C.S.J., author of Dead Man Walking Henry J.M. Nowuen, one of the greatest of all spiritual writers, invites us to search deeply for the well-springs that nourish true ministry in his classic The Way of the Heart. Interweaving the solitude, silence, and prayer of the fifth-century Egyptian Desert Fathers and Mothers with our contemporary search for an authentic spirituality, The Way of the Heart not only leads us to a fuller encounter with God, but to a more creative ministry with our fellow human beings. Here is one of the most profound works from a writer known for his fresh and perceptive insights—and who stands alongside C.S. Lewis and Thomas Merton as an essential Christian scholar and thinker.

Back Cover

The modern classic that interweaves the solitude, silence, and prayer of the fourth- and fifth-century Egyptian Desert Fathers and Mothers with our contemporary search for an authentic spirituality

Author Biography

Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932-1996) is the author of Reaching Out, The Wounded Healer, Making All Things New, The Return of the Prodigal Son, and many other bestsellers. He taught at the universities of Harvard, Yale, and Notre Dame before becoming the senior pastor of L'Arche Daybreak in Toronto, Canada, a community where men and women with intellectual disabilities and their assistants create a home for one another.

Review

"Clear, precise, biblically founded guidance...Skillfully blends knowledge of psychological growth with the great Christian traditions." -- Commonweal"Brings desert spirituality to bear upon the contemporary scene. ... Hauntingly relevant for us today." -- Christianity Today"Gemlike in its clarity." -- The Christian Century"Inspiring, to the point, and eminently practical in his advice about living spiritually in the world of today." -- Spiritual Book News"On the long road it's good to have Nouwen and his divining rod. Deftly he bends toward the drop of spiritual wisdom caked in the most ordinary things." -- Helen Prejean, C.S.J., author of Dead Man Walking

Review Quote

"On the long road it's good to have Nouwen and his divining rod. Deftly he bends toward the drop of spiritual wisdom caked in the most ordinary things."

Description for Teachers/Educators

In The Way of the Heart, author and teacher Henri Nouwen looks to the desert for spiritual inspiration, specifically the text Apophthegmata Patrum, or "Sayings of the Desert Fathers." This was created by a group of Christians who fled to the Egyptian desert in the fourth and fifth centuries CE to avoid conformity to the world. Nouwen explores the ways in which solitude and silence can help modern Christians become closer to God. Nouwen focuses on three simple words that in themselves create a spiritual discipline that can forge a path to the Holy Spirit. They are "flee, be silent, and pray." In his straightforward and easily accessible style, Nouwen helps us to examine our lives and reconnect with what really matters. The Way of the Heart teaches us that a desert is not always a barren place; sometimes it is a paradise of faith and love. Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932-1996) was the author of With Open Hands, Reaching Out, The Wounded Healer, Making All Things New, and many other bestsellers. He was the senior pastor of L'Arche Daybreak in Toronto, Canada, a community where men and women with mental disabilities and their assistants create a home for one another. "Brings desert spirituality to bear upon the contemporary scene ... Hauntingly relevant for us today."- Christianity Today

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