false 918917 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 918917 4 903988 1992 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation total:46|5:15|4:23|3:6|2:2|1:0| 46 189 68 3 4837 4.22 5090 696 45948136 1993826 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 4 0 false Tue Feb 10 11:49:47 -0800 2009 Tue Feb 10 11:50:01 -0800 2009 35964495 1635363 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 0 0 false Wed Oct 22 14:11:06 -0700 2008 Wed Oct 22 14:11:30 -0700 2008 28969234 1387340 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 0 0 false Fri Aug 01 07:26:51 -0700 2008 Fri Aug 01 07:26:59 -0700 2008 81091671 3044436 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 0 0 false Tue Dec 15 10:06:23 -0800 2009 Tue Dec 15 10:06:23 -0800 2009 81054520 3043237 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 5 0 false Mon Dec 14 22:50:44 -0800 2009 Mon Dec 14 22:50:44 -0800 2009 80855643 3039086 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 5 0 false Sun Dec 13 09:48:31 -0800 2009 Sun Dec 13 09:48:31 -0800 2009 79045184 2983088 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 0 0 false Thu Nov 26 09:01:06 -0800 2009 Thu Nov 26 09:04:27 -0800 2009 78470770 1680621 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 4 0 false Fri Nov 20 15:51:26 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 20 15:51:26 -0800 2009 78080200 2953497 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 0 0 false Tue Nov 17 08:52:29 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 17 08:52:29 -0800 2009 77641372 522435 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 0 0 false Fri Nov 13 07:27:14 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 13 07:27:14 -0800 2009 77634536 2933373 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 0 0 false Fri Nov 13 05:45:55 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 13 05:45:55 -0800 2009 77568759 2936454 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 3 0 false Thu Nov 12 12:34:29 -0800 2009 Thu Nov 12 12:34:29 -0800 2009 77389903 18520 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 5 0 false Tue Nov 10 19:24:04 -0800 2009 Wed Nov 11 05:05:59 -0800 2009 76729690 852972 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 4 0 false Wed Nov 04 14:06:14 -0800 2009 Wed Nov 04 14:06:14 -0800 2009 76392259 2857790 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 4 0 false Sun Nov 01 13:48:43 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 01 13:48:43 -0800 2009 75989795 2594313 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 5 0 false Wed Oct 28 06:27:05 -0700 2009 Wed Oct 28 06:27:05 -0700 2009 74983977 1260909 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 4 0 false Sun Oct 18 20:56:03 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 18 20:56:06 -0700 2009 74792613 1163670 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 3 0 false Fri Oct 16 21:39:02 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 16 21:39:02 -0700 2009 72591857 173119 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 0 0 false Sat Sep 26 16:37:39 -0700 2009 Sat Sep 26 16:37:39 -0700 2009 66675962 61805 918917 038549999X 9780385499996 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129m/918917.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179449129s/918917.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/918917.Clowning_in_Rome_Reflections_on_Solitude_Celibacy_Prayer_and_Contemplation 4.11 46 Clowning in Rome: Reflections on Solitude, Celibacy, Prayer, and Contemplation collects four lectures given by the Catholic priest Henri Nouwen at the North American College in Rome in the 1970s. The lectures, which explore each of the topics named in the book's subtitle, are direct, pragmatic, and delightful. Nouwen's views on these weighty subjects are suffused with a lightness inspired by the clowns whose street performances captured his imagination during a visit to the Holy City. He describes these clowns as "awkward, out of balance and left-handed," and sees them as reminders of human weakness whose fumbles offer important lessons about the holiness of play. "Whenever the clowns appear we are reminded that what really counts is something other than the spectacular and the sensational," Nouwen writes. "Clowns remind us of what happens between the scenes. The clowns show us by their 'useless' behavior not simply that many of our preoccupations, worries, tensions, and anxieties need a smile, but that we too have white on our faces and that we too are called to clown a little." --Michael Joseph Gross ]]> 1992 5 0 false Sat Aug 08 15:23:02 -0700 2009 Sat Aug 08 15:23:02 -0700 2009 8 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=918917