Twenty-two years ago today, Henri Nouwen passed away from a sudden heart attack at the age of 64. He remains one of the most beloved spiritual writers of our time.  Here, we share some resources from Salt + Light and across the web to celebrate the legacy of this remarkable man.

1. Catholic Focus: Way of the Heart – Remembering Henri Nouwen

2. WITNESS – Sr. Sue Mosteller, SSJ (friend of Henri Nouwen and literary executrix of his estate)

3. SLHour radio show on Henri

https://saltandlighttv.org/blogfeed/getpost.php?id=74015

4. A blog from Joseph Sinasac, Publishing Director of Novalis Publishing

https://saltandlighttv.org/blogfeed/getpost.php?id=71977

5. Sr. Sue Mosteller’s talk “A painting, a parable, and my friend, Henri Nouwen”

6. The Abiding Together podcast series on Nouwen’s book Life of the Beloved

https://media.ascensionpress.com/podcast/book-study-intro-and-prologue/

7. A one-man show based on Nouwen’s letters, at the Isabel Bader Theatre in downtown Toronto on October 17.

8. Two beautiful prayers Nouwen wrote:

[Dear Lord], why do I keep relating to you as one of my many relationships, instead of my only relationship, in which all other ones are grounded? Why do I keep looking for popularity, respect from others, success, acclaim, and sensual pleasures? Why, Lord, is it so hard for me to make you the only one ? Why do i keep hesitating to surrender myself totally to you? Help me, O Lord, to let my old self die, to let die the thousand big and small ways in which i am still building up my false self and trying to cling to my false desires. Let me be reborn in you and see through you the world in the right way, so that all my actions, words, thoughts can become a hymn of praise to you. I need your loving grace to travel on this hard road that leads to the death of my old self and to a new life in and for you. I know and trust that this is the road to freedom. Lord, dispel my mistrust and help me become a trusting friend. Amen.

• from A Cry For Mercy: Prayers from the Genesee

  “Dear God, I am so afraid to open my clenched fists! Who will I be when I have nothing left to hold on to? Who will I be when I stand before you with empty hands? Please help me to gradually open my hands and to discover that I am not what I own, but what you want to give me.”

• from The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life