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The Road to Peace: Writings on Peace and Justice
Throughout his life Henri Nouwen stressed the connection between intimacy with Christ and solidarity with a wounded world.This book includes a previously unpublished manuscript on peacemaking as well as stories of Nouwens participation in the March on Selma in 1965 and at the funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr. In other writings Nouwen reflects on the presence of Christ among the oppressed poor of Latin America, the legacies of Oscar Romero and Thomas Merton, and the lessons of the heart which he learned among his handicapped friends at LArche. The final pieces include a moving talk on compassion in the time of AIDS, and the call to solidarity with the human family.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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193 people want to read
About the author
Henri J.M. Nouwen
453 books2,179 followersHenri Jozef Machiel Nouwen was a Dutch Catholic priest, theologian, psychologist, professor, and spiritual writer whose work profoundly shaped contemporary Christian spirituality. Born in Nijkerk, the Netherlands, in 1932, Nouwen pursued religious studies and was ordained a priest in 1957. His intellectual curiosity led him to study psychology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen and later at the Menninger Clinic in Kansas, where he explored the connection between faith and mental health. Throughout his life, Nouwen remained committed to integrating pastoral care, psychology, and spiritual theology in a way that addressed the emotional and existential needs of believers.
Nouwen held teaching positions at prestigious institutions including the University of Notre Dame, Yale Divinity School, and Harvard Divinity School. He authored over three dozen books and hundreds of articles, with notable works such as The Wounded Healer, The Return of the Prodigal Son, Life of the Beloved, and The Inner Voice of Love. His writing, often rooted in personal vulnerability and spiritual struggle, resonated with readers across denominations. Nouwen openly explored themes of loneliness, identity, intimacy, and the human desire for love and belonging, making his voice especially relatable and influential.
Though he was a gifted academic and popular speaker, Nouwen found his deepest calling later in life through his involvement with L’Arche, a network of communities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After a transformative stay at the original L’Arche community in France, Nouwen accepted an invitation to become the pastor of L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario. There he developed a close bond with Adam Arnett, a core member with severe disabilities, which inspired the book Adam: God’s Beloved. At Daybreak, Nouwen discovered a deep spiritual home and a community that helped him embrace his humanity in profound ways.
Throughout his life, Nouwen wrestled with issues of identity, including his sexuality and his longing for connection, though he remained faithful to his vows. His openness about depression and inner conflict gave depth to his pastoral message, and his ability to turn personal struggle into shared spiritual insight made him one of the most beloved spiritual writers of the 20th century.
Henri Nouwen died in 1996 of a sudden heart attack, but his legacy endures through his writings, the Henri Nouwen Society, and the continued global reach of his message of belovedness, vulnerability, and compassionate community. His books remain bestsellers, widely read in seminaries, churches, and among individuals seeking a more intimate walk with God.
Nouwen held teaching positions at prestigious institutions including the University of Notre Dame, Yale Divinity School, and Harvard Divinity School. He authored over three dozen books and hundreds of articles, with notable works such as The Wounded Healer, The Return of the Prodigal Son, Life of the Beloved, and The Inner Voice of Love. His writing, often rooted in personal vulnerability and spiritual struggle, resonated with readers across denominations. Nouwen openly explored themes of loneliness, identity, intimacy, and the human desire for love and belonging, making his voice especially relatable and influential.
Though he was a gifted academic and popular speaker, Nouwen found his deepest calling later in life through his involvement with L’Arche, a network of communities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After a transformative stay at the original L’Arche community in France, Nouwen accepted an invitation to become the pastor of L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario. There he developed a close bond with Adam Arnett, a core member with severe disabilities, which inspired the book Adam: God’s Beloved. At Daybreak, Nouwen discovered a deep spiritual home and a community that helped him embrace his humanity in profound ways.
Throughout his life, Nouwen wrestled with issues of identity, including his sexuality and his longing for connection, though he remained faithful to his vows. His openness about depression and inner conflict gave depth to his pastoral message, and his ability to turn personal struggle into shared spiritual insight made him one of the most beloved spiritual writers of the 20th century.
Henri Nouwen died in 1996 of a sudden heart attack, but his legacy endures through his writings, the Henri Nouwen Society, and the continued global reach of his message of belovedness, vulnerability, and compassionate community. His books remain bestsellers, widely read in seminaries, churches, and among individuals seeking a more intimate walk with God.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 29, 2024
4.5
trying to write a review in the middle of reading day means this review will be poorly written but WOW what a book. I wish so badly I could TALK TO NOUWEN. Only reason for it not having a full 5 stars is sometimes throughout I wanted to be reading on long consistent thought and not a collection of essays. His writing feels like a conversation so I got sad anytime it switched gears. Also essay collections inevitably involve a lot of repetition of exact phrases which can sometimes be monotonous but in no way reflects Nouwen himself. My only feelings of disappointment are that I can’t TALK TO HIM TO KNOW ALL THAT HES SAYING DEEPER!! I feel like I came away with a billion questions answered and now I’m also entering the world with a billion new questions which is satisfying and lovely!!!
trying to write a review in the middle of reading day means this review will be poorly written but WOW what a book. I wish so badly I could TALK TO NOUWEN. Only reason for it not having a full 5 stars is sometimes throughout I wanted to be reading on long consistent thought and not a collection of essays. His writing feels like a conversation so I got sad anytime it switched gears. Also essay collections inevitably involve a lot of repetition of exact phrases which can sometimes be monotonous but in no way reflects Nouwen himself. My only feelings of disappointment are that I can’t TALK TO HIM TO KNOW ALL THAT HES SAYING DEEPER!! I feel like I came away with a billion questions answered and now I’m also entering the world with a billion new questions which is satisfying and lovely!!!
November 30, 2024
This series of essays went down like a rich dessert. Every word was intentional, every sentence contained deep truth. After each essay, reflection was needed to fully digest the gravity of Nouwen’s words. He presents here a radical vision of what it means to be a follower of Jesus—the kind of radicalism that fits the narrow Way of Christ. Nouwen balances desperate calls for direct action against war, hunger, and oppression with acknowledging time and time again we do not fight to solve “issues,” we get down on the level of the marginalized and see the people beneath the labels. Nouwen goes so far as to argue it is this type of downward mobility that gives us our salvation. Why does God allow suffering? Nouwen would point to the timeless interaction of Jesus and his disciples wherein they ask if the blind man or his parents sinned for his blindness. Jesus disrupts conventional norms when he states his blindness is to display the glory of God. Nouwen takes this story everywhere with him when dealing with the marginalized of the world: he is not there to save them, they are there to save him. It is only through this radical reversal of cultural mores that those of us concerned with social injustice can have the deep rootedness that prevents both saviorism and burnout. Nouwen rightly calls out activists for justice and peace as acting out of guilt rather than love, and becoming what they sought to destroy. Any person who feels overwhelmed by the suffering and injustice in the world needs to read this book. Rather than be bogged down by the injustices, Nouwen advises: do small things with great love. Ask God to show you your own role in perpetuating violence and injustice. It is only through repentance and the recognition of the Oneness of humanity that justice and peace can roll down like mighty waters. If you want to help the world, first get rooted. God will do the rest.
“Why, then, should we act in the civil rights movement? So the whites will be converted by the blacks. Why, then, should we act in the peace movement? So we can discover the source of violence in our own hearts. Why act to alleviate hunger? So we can unmask our own greed. Thus all actions for others can become acts of repentance that bring us to a growing solidarity with our fellow human beings and so establish the basis for all reconciliation.”
“Why, then, should we act in the civil rights movement? So the whites will be converted by the blacks. Why, then, should we act in the peace movement? So we can discover the source of violence in our own hearts. Why act to alleviate hunger? So we can unmask our own greed. Thus all actions for others can become acts of repentance that bring us to a growing solidarity with our fellow human beings and so establish the basis for all reconciliation.”
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January 18, 2024I picked this up because I needed some way to respond emotionally/intellectually/spiritually to news about the bombing of Gaza. This book met the moment, and gave me pragmatic actions and faith practices that feel right in a moment that is so overwhelming and hopeless.
January 11, 2020
This book could have been written about our polarized moment. He offers a lot of insight about how to advocate for justice sanely.
December 5, 2023
I appreciate his message of hope and his reminders to walk in peace with faith & love.
March 4, 2021
Read this along with Lifesigns during my start-of-year personal retreat, though much meatier and reads much more like a commentary series than a meditative sit-by-the-fire that was Lifesigns. The two books blur a bit in theme -- but this one is an edited collection of various Nouwen's writings specifically on peace, justice, or faith in public life, some never published by nouwen himself but gathered posthumously by his friend John Dear.
I never knew the entire story of Nouwen's vocational life -- from his tenure at Harvard/Yale divinity, to his hitting 'spiritual crisis' and burnout there, which leads him to a stint in various Latin American countries, which only leads him back to the US to go on national speaking tours raising consciousness within churches about US's role in driving devastation in its southern neighbors, to joining desegregation efforts, to a life in further and extreme simplicity, of writing and 'wasting time with God' and the disabled, whose greatest accomplishments are bathing or putting on clothes each day, to end out his life.
His reflections at every turn of decision was such a great comfort to me, as I connected so deeply with his journey in finding an answer to a life of both deep spiritual introspection and being active witness/agent in a time of many national movements for justice (his writing spans from the 60s-80s; and touches on his views on (and how he personally chose to engage with) the civil rights movement, war in vietnam, fight for denuclearization, poverty in south america, 'reverse' liberation theology to the west, spiritual wealth among the poor, spiritual crisis in america, its wealthy, and even in higher institutions, etc...). The latter interviews start to get a bit more repetitive, and as a writer/theologian, I recognize his own leanings/gifts were probably more toward the contemplative life of simplicity as opposed to one of, let's say, policymaking or organizing as the primary expression of his faith. But as we're all driven to more anxious action these days in light of everything, his call to reroute, pause, work from a deep well of love, not fear, was much welcomed. Many many many relatable moments to current time...
Particularly interesting to have read this at a Quaker retreat center, where a couple who had dedicated their lives to desegregation earlier on in their lives, then built out and lived in a mostly self-sustaining cabin as pacifists towards the end of their lives, in efforts to tie together both their concern for ecology, equality -- while reflecting on QT passages across Job, Ezekiel, and the Gospels in light of national events and spiritual themes from the year. Some hardhitting reflections to start off the year...
I think probably my favorite christian book addressing faith-driven peace and justice work, so far.
I never knew the entire story of Nouwen's vocational life -- from his tenure at Harvard/Yale divinity, to his hitting 'spiritual crisis' and burnout there, which leads him to a stint in various Latin American countries, which only leads him back to the US to go on national speaking tours raising consciousness within churches about US's role in driving devastation in its southern neighbors, to joining desegregation efforts, to a life in further and extreme simplicity, of writing and 'wasting time with God' and the disabled, whose greatest accomplishments are bathing or putting on clothes each day, to end out his life.
His reflections at every turn of decision was such a great comfort to me, as I connected so deeply with his journey in finding an answer to a life of both deep spiritual introspection and being active witness/agent in a time of many national movements for justice (his writing spans from the 60s-80s; and touches on his views on (and how he personally chose to engage with) the civil rights movement, war in vietnam, fight for denuclearization, poverty in south america, 'reverse' liberation theology to the west, spiritual wealth among the poor, spiritual crisis in america, its wealthy, and even in higher institutions, etc...). The latter interviews start to get a bit more repetitive, and as a writer/theologian, I recognize his own leanings/gifts were probably more toward the contemplative life of simplicity as opposed to one of, let's say, policymaking or organizing as the primary expression of his faith. But as we're all driven to more anxious action these days in light of everything, his call to reroute, pause, work from a deep well of love, not fear, was much welcomed. Many many many relatable moments to current time...
Particularly interesting to have read this at a Quaker retreat center, where a couple who had dedicated their lives to desegregation earlier on in their lives, then built out and lived in a mostly self-sustaining cabin as pacifists towards the end of their lives, in efforts to tie together both their concern for ecology, equality -- while reflecting on QT passages across Job, Ezekiel, and the Gospels in light of national events and spiritual themes from the year. Some hardhitting reflections to start off the year...
I think probably my favorite christian book addressing faith-driven peace and justice work, so far.
May 19, 2008
Many reminders for our daily lives as we try to go about being more "Christ-like," especially in an age where conflict/war seems to be all around us. Nouwen says the call for peace is a call for all people regardless of their many differences, ideologies, ethnic backgrounds, religious connections and social connections. "Peace starts in your heart and in your mind." We're all so quick to judge others and label people and categorize them as good/bad and when we do that, we're essentially playing God--that we somehow stand outside the place where weak, broken, sinful people are. But of course we all are weak and broken and sinful! And when we start playing God, we become like the Devil. It's so frustrating but we're all guilty of this day in and day out... Why are we judgemental--why the constant need to evaluate & criticize others? We're so arrogant and and blind and pretentious to think we're right & perfect and have all the answers. Labeling and judging also prevents us from seeing other people as our fellow "brothers" & sisters" and developing community with them...and we're all worthy of love respect & compassion. Nouwen "A true peacemaker whose heart is anchored in God can look at all humanity--fellow saints and sinners--as men and women who need to be listened to, looked at, and cared for with the love of God. We all belong to the same family."
August 24, 2012
This is a spectacular book, written by an amazing thinker. Henri Nouwen writes about psychology, human services, and social justice from the perspective of a Catholic priest, and about Catholicism from the perspective of a trained psychologist and peace worker. Some of the passages in this book have stayed in the back of my mind since my first reading. Every time I pick it up I find new meaning in phrases I highlighted months ago and have read five times already.
October 12, 2014
Excellent collection of Nouwen's work on peace and justice.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews