Nouwens books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold upwards of seven million. Nouwen probes the several movements of the parable. Petersburg, russia, is a truly astounding work of sacred art. Jul 16, 2012 a painting, a parable, and my friend, henri nouwen presented by sue mosteller, csj duration. The first edition of the novel was published in 1991, and was written by henri j. The main characters of this christian, spirituality story are prodigal son. Nouwen pdf ogf 20161 nouwen the return of the prodigal son 1 word ogf 20161 nouwen the return of the prodigal son 1 the story of two sons and their father. This time, the story is touchingly retold in a fresh new way alongside a famous painting of the same parable. Here he shares the deeply personal and resonant meditation that led him to. This lent course, which has been adapted from the book, helps us to. This is henri nouwens own personal favorite book, based on nouwens reflections on a rembrandt painting called prodigal son, which hangs in the hermitage in st.
Until a contemplative mystic priest named henri nouwen ruined it for me. The beloved spiritual writer meditates on the parable of the prodigal son s return a powerful drama of fatherhood, filial duty, rivalry, and anger between brothers and its enduring lessons for christianity. Henri nouwen was a dutchborn catholic priest, professor, and pastor, who gained international renown as the author of over 30 books on the spiritual life, including such classics as the wounded healer, the inner voice of love, and reaching out. A painting, a parable, and my friend, henri nouwen presented by sue mosteller, csj duration. His interests were rooted primarily in psychology, pastoral ministry, spirituality, social justice and community. It is his thesis in the book that the christian journeys, ideally, through being each of these characters. The return of the prodigal son is an oil painting by rembrandt. On the return of the prodigal son, you will learn how a chance encounter with a painting by rembrandt led this beloved dutch priest and writer on the last great spiritual adventure of his life. The beloved spiritual writer meditates on the parable of the prodigal sons return a powerful drama of fatherhood, filial duty, rivalry, and anger between brothers and its enduring lessons for christianity.
The return of the prodigal son synod resource center. Depicting the moment of the prodigal sons return to his father in the biblical parable, it is a renowned work described by art historian kenneth clark as a picture which those who have seen the original in st. The return of the prodigal son 9780385473071 by henri j. The return of the prodigal son will transform your reading of the parable and the way you understand your life story. It is a slim volume packed with art and insight into divine love. Home tonight follows the path of henri nouwens spiritual homecoming. Ogf 12016 nouwen the return of the prodigal son the return of the prodigal son henri j.
Take this opportunity to join henri as he leads the wayward prodigal and judgmental sibling who reside within each of us towards the openhanded, overwhelming. Henri nouwen on the return of the prodigal son pdf slideshow. As a result, nouwen divides his discussion of the parable into three sections devoted to the three main figures of the parable and of the painting. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the return of the prodigal son. Rembrandt painting called prodigal son, which hangs in the hermitage. Nouwen, a famous spiritual writer of our times, as a. There is a famous painting by rembrandt which hangs in st. College of saint benedict and saint johns university digital commons 44,416 views 1.
The hands of the father as ive written on the about page, the return of the prodigal son, a book by henri nouwen in which he writes his profound extended meditation on the painting of that name by rembrandt, was the inspiration for the creation of this blog. Nouwen was a dutch roman catholic priest who left a highly acclaimed academic career to share his life with people with mental disabilities as pastor of larche daybreak community, toronto, canada. Nov 11, 2016 as a result, nouwen divides his discussion of the parable into three sections devoted to the three main figures of the parable and of the painting. Here he shares the deeply personal and resonant meditation that led him to discover the place within where god has chosen to dwell. The book will be published by paraclete press on may 12, 2020. A chance encounter with a reproduction of rembrandts the return of the prodigal son catapulted henri nouwen on an unforgettable spiritual adventure. Nouwens books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold upwards of seven million copies. Henri nouwen has a great ability to reflect deeply and put language to the ways i have felt for years but have been unable to describe. A chance encounter with a poster depicting a detail of rembrandts the return of the prodigal son set in motion a chain of events that enabled nouwen to redefine and claim his vocation late in his life. Henri nouwens the return of the prodigal sonaugust. Return of the prodigal son ebook 9780804152129 by henri j.
Jan 31, 2000 nouwen probes the several movements of the parable. Henri nouwen used his experiences and feelings surrounding the rembrandt painting return of the prodigal son coupled with time as the father at a group home for the severely handicapped as a back drop for this book. Father nouwen, a dutch catholic priest who passed away in 1996, offers insightful commentary not only on the parable but the famous depiction of it by. For august, the book club considers henri nouwen s 1992 book. Oct 31, 2015 the return of the prodigal son is an oil painting by rembrandt. It is among the dutch masters final works, likely completed within two years of his death in 1669. A story of homecoming is a spiritual adventure story. In seizing the inspiration that came to him through rembrandts depiction of the powerful gospel story, henri.
Celebrated as the author of many books on contemporary spiritual life, nouwen spent his final years ministering to handicapped adults before he died. Henri nouwens the return of the prodigal son is an in depth examination of the parable of the prodigal son, as featured in the gospel of st. The making of a spiritual classic by nouwen scholar gabrielle earnshaw, the founding archivist for the henri j. This is henri nouwens own personal favorite book, based on nouwens reflections on a. Reflecting on his chance encounter with a reproduction of rembrandts powerful masterpiece, nouwen began a spiritual journey that would help him understand the. In his highlyacclaimed book of the same title, he shares the deeply personal meditation that led him to discover the place within which god has chosen to dwell. More than three years prior to writing his great classic, the return of the prodigal son.
Depicting the moment of the prodigal son s return to his father in the biblical parable, it is a renowned work described by art historian kenneth clark as a picture which those who have seen the original in st. Quite often, artists of the protestant side in the first few centuries after the reformation. A chance encounter with a reproduction of rembrandts painting, the return of the prodigal son, catapulted henri nouwen into a long spiritual adventure. The return of the prodigal son is nouwens masterwork, a vivid and beautiful reflection on rembrandts painting of the return of the prodigal son 1669. He says rembrandt at a young age had all the characteristics of the prodigal son. In the return of the prodigal son henri nouwen narrates. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 160 pages and is available in paperback format. The return of the prodigal son rembrandt wikipedia. The themes of homecoming, affirmation, and reconciliation will be newly discovered by all who have known loneliness, dejection, jealousy, or anger. Nouwen just a tip before you start reading youll notice that the inside front cover of this book opens up to reveal a print of the rembrandt painting that is identical to the one on the cover.
The return of the prodigal son is a homecoming story that is as old as the hills and familiar to most. Henri jozef machiel nouwen january 24, 1932 september 21, 1996 was a dutch catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian. Jun 02, 2018 henri nouwens the return of the prodigal son is an in depth examination of the parable of the prodigal son, as featured in the gospel of st. For august, the book club considers henri nouwens 1992 book. Henri nouwen on the return of the prodigal son how different is the fathers right hand. Like the leap of faith always means loving without expecting to be loved in return, giving without wanting to receive, inviting. One friend asked how it might compare to the classic 1992 book by the late catholic priest and devotional writer, henri nouwen, return of the prodigal son.
When henri nouwen stumbled across a poster of rembrandts return of the prodigal son he began a spiritual journey that would help him understand the biblical parable as well as the story of his own life. With a forward from new york times bestselling author, james martin, sj, comes a special two in one anniversary gift edition of henri nouwen s spiritual classic, the return of the prodigal son and its companion and prequel, home tonight. A chance encounter with a reproduction of rembrandts the return of the prodigal son catapulted henri nouwen on a long spiritual adventure. The return of the prodigal son henri nouwen society. The return of the prodigal son a study guide developed by lee magness henri nouwen 19321996 was a renowned dutch priest and psychologist, whose sermons, lectures, and numerous books explored the nature of christian spirituality. Henri writes about the most famous person in the story. His many books include the wounded healer, the return of the prodigal son, the selfless way of christ and show me the way all dlt. Further reflections on the parable of the prodigal son. It is a line of thought i almost pursued in that post, but it seemed a bit much. We are sometimes the prodigal son, having squandered our dignity in a. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Return of the prodigal son, nouwen tells a story about. Our addiction make us cling to what the world proclaims as the keys to selffulfillment. The fingers are close to each other and they have an elegant quality. When we allow these encounters to speak to us, challenge us, change us, then we are truly human, created anew over and over by gods transforming power through the created world. Petersburg russia called the return of the prodigal son. Nouwen was a dutchborn catholic priest, professor, and pastor, who gained international renown as the author of over 30 books on the spiritual life, including such classics as the wounded healer, the inner voice of love, and reaching out. Over the course of his life, nouwen was heavily influenced by the work of anton boisen, thomas merton, rembrandt, vincent van gogh, and. Whenever i express my complaints in the hope of evoking pity and receiving the satisfaction i so much desire, the result is always the opposite of what i tried to get. Nouwen archives and chief archivist for the henri nouwen legacy trust. For most of my life i have struggled to find god, to know god, to love god. The return of the prodigal son, anniversary edition2.
Henri nouwen states, probably correctly, that more than any other story in the gospels, the parable of the prodigal son expresses the boundlessness of gods. Back in 1992 henri nouwen received permission to visit the museum which houses the masterpiece, and during the night after the. Free download or read online the return of the prodigal son. Nouwens absorption in the story and the painting is so complete that the. In this book, which interweaves elements of art history, memoir, midrash, and selfhelp, nouwen. Henri nouwen 19321996 was a renowned dutch priest and psychologist, whose sermons, lectures, and numerous books explored the nature of christian spirituality. We will read and discuss the new book henri nouwen and the return of the prodigal son. The artist earned a lot, spent a lot, and lost a lot. Back in 1992 henri nouwen received permission to visit the museum which. Henri nouwen the return of the prodigal son a study guide developed by lee magness. It is in essence a story about the breadth, depth, and height of a fathers love.
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