Blog Tag - Women of Grace - womenofgrace.com

Is Henri Nouwen Okay to Read?

Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2024 by Susan Brinkmann

Henri Nouwen (1932 - 1996) Photo courtesy of Wikicommons Images. Frank Hamilton, CC BY-SA 3.0

MC writes: "What do you think of Henri Noumen? Are his books safe to read?"

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Lenten Journey Through the Sorrows of Mary: Bruised and beaten by the rod

Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2021 by Women of Grace Staff

March 18

Christ she saw, for our salvation,

Scourged with cruel acclamation,

Bruised and beaten by the rod.

For Reflection:

Henri Nouwen also tells us that waiting is active, not passive. It requires the gift of receptivity, an openess to that which God is doing in the midst of the waiting.

Meditate on the words “Christ she saw…” As this verse says, Mary’s eyes surely saw her Son’s physical condition while she gazed upon Him. But what else might Mary have been seeing as she held vigil at the foot of the Cross? What might she have seen God doing in the midst of this holocaust? What might He be doing as you “hold vigil” in your current waiting period?

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

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Lenten Journey Through the Sorrows of Mary: The Virgin's grief

Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 by Women of Grace Staff

March 17

Who, that sorrow contemplating,

On that passion meditating,

Would not share the Virgin's grief?

For Reflection:

Henri Nouwen says that waiting is patient. He tells us that “The word ‘patience’ means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us…Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there.”

With comprehension and concentration, slowly read today’s GraceLine a second time. It is an invitation into Mary’s suffering – to share the Virgin’s grief. Ask Our Lady to take you into her Immaculate Heart and wait there with her. Wait with patience until what is hidden there manifests itself to you. Then journal about your insights.

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

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Lenten Journey Through the Sorrows of Mary: Ever-patient in her yearning

Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 by Women of Grace Staff

March 16

Ever-patient in her yearning

Though her tear-filled eyes were burning,

Mary gazed upon her Son.

For Reflection:

In his writing, The Spirituality of Waiting, Henri Nouwen gives five characteristics of waiting. He tells us waiting is a movement. “People who wait have received a promise that allows them to wait. … They have received something that is a work in them, like a seed that has started to grow… So waiting is never a movement from nothing to something. It is always a movement from something to something more.”

How is this truth depicted in the stanza above? Consider Mary’s gaze. What might have been transpiring in her heart as Mary looked upon her Son and as He gazed upon her? What promise(s) had she received and what might be the “something more” still yet to come?

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

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How to Deal with Scandal Caused by Some Catholic Writers

Posted on Tuesday, August 04, 2020 by Susan Brinkmann

BB writes: “One thing that really puzzles me is that both the well-loved Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen were also known for their study and openness to some Eastern religion practices. How do you perceive their teachings?

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