Henri Nouwen and the Return of the Prodigal Son: The Making of a Spiritual Classic

by Gabrielle Earnshaw

Overview

The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming is Henri Nouwen’s most popular book, selling over one million copies since its publication in 1992. What accounts for its ongoing popularity as a spiritual classic? Drawing from extensive research in Nouwen’s archives, author and Chief Archivist for the Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust, Gabrielle Earnshaw, provides a detailed account of how the book came to be written, shedding light on Nouwen’s writing process and aspects of his life experience that influenced his insights and ideas. Earnshaw examines Nouwen’s intellectual formation as well as the impact of his family and friends on the shape of the book. Letters, many published here for the first time, give us a privileged look at Henri’s world during the nine years he took to complete the book. Earnshaw considers how it compares to other books published at the same time to place the work and its author in a historical, cultural and religious/spiritual context. Finally, she explores how Nouwen himself was changed by the book and why twenty-three later it continues to touch the hearts and minds of 21st century readers. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640601697
Publisher:	Paraclete Press
Publication date:	05/01/2020
Pages:	178
Sales rank:	505,965
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.41(d)

About the Author

Gabrielle Earnshaw is the founding archivist of the Henri J.M. Nouwen Archives and Research Collection at the University of St. Michael’s College, a position she held from 2000 to 2016. She holds a BA (hons.) in History from Queen’s University and a Master’s of Archival Science from the University of British Columbia. Prior to her work as Nouwen Archivist, Gabrielle held positions with the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Children’s Own Museum (Toronto). Currently, she is Chief Archivist for the Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. She is co-editor of Turning the Wheel: Henri Nouwen and Our Search for God (Orbis Books, 2007), editor of Love, Henri: Letters on the Spiritual Life (Random House, 2016), You are the Beloved: Daily Meditations for Spiritual Living (Random House, 2017) and Following Jesus: Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety (Random House, 2019). 

Table of Contents

Introduction 5

A Note About Sources 13

Chapter 1 The Collapse, November 1983 17

Chapter 2 Intellectual Antecedents 35

Chapter 3 The Writing Process 61

Chapter 4 Response to The Return to the Prodigal Son 103

Chapter 5 Living the Painting 119

Chapter 6 The Enduring Power of The Return of the Prodigal Son 135

Notes 149

Bibliography 163

Acknowledgments 175

Editorial Reviews

Very few spiritual books have had the impact that Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son has had. But books of this depth emerge only from a particular state of soul. Gabrielle Earnshaw, Nouwen’s long-standing archivist, traces out for us Nouwen’s state of soul as he gave birth to this precious book. You will understand Nouwen more deeply after you read Earnshaw. This is a new and wonderful contribution.” —Ronald Rolheiser, author of Domestic Monastery and many other books

"Having read all of Henri Nouwen’s published over the years and two biographies, J. Beumer’s Henri Nouwen: A Restless Seeking for God (1997) and M. Ford’s Wounded Prophet: A Portrait of Henri J. M. Nouwen (1999), I did not think that I would learn a lot from this new book on Nouwen. I was pleasantly surprised. I felt the book not only had many unique features that I will elaborate on a little later, but I gained a deeper understanding of what we may call the later Nouwen who had joined the L’Arche Daybreak Community in Toronto, Canada. This insight into Nouwen is deeply related to the writing and publishing of his most popular book The Return of the Prodigal Son based on a painting by Rembrandt. Let me first of all highlight some of the unique features and themes, before engaging the profound spirituality that animates these pages and that makes Gabrielle Earnshaw’s writing so winsome. First, the book is immensely enriched by Earnshaw’s access to Nouwen’s extensive personal correspondence and other archival material. Second, the book illustrates how much of Nouwen’s writing is communal in that it engages others in discussion and feedback. Third, the inclusion of Nouwen’s doctoral work under Anton Boison, who advocated that one may use one’s “personal pathology” in order to become a “companion” to others, is a master-stroke of the book (p. 54). It highlights the fundamental modus operandi of Nouwen. As Earnshaw points out: “Nouwen used himself as ‘the living human document’” that Boison advocates (p. 51). Fourthly, placing the publication of The Return of the Prodigal Son in the context of other important publications around the same time gives the reader a birds-eye view of what is viewed as important in a particular historical moment. Sixthly, the book gives attention to the importance of the relationship between art and writing and art and spirituality. And finally, there is an encouraging section in the book of snippets from readers blessed by reading this book. So, this is a book about a book. But the book is so much more. A very rich spirituality vibrates in Earnshaw’s writing. There is the challenging discussion of celibacy as being “a vacancy for God” with the implication that various forms of self-denial or asceticism are “essential” to all forms “of the Christian life” (p. 29). There is the important reference that Nouwen “saw his life as part of a larger story – God’s story” (p. 41) which meant that Nouwen’s orientation, while psychological, was most basically theological and rooted in the grand narrative of God’s healing embrace of humanity. And everywhere the book pulsates with questions of home-coming, dealing with power issues, the reality of personal insecurities, and the search for fulfilment. Earnshaw refers to the two voices in Nouwen’s head: “be popular, relevant and successful” and “keep Jesus the centre” (p. 102). And in this tension-filled life we see that we are both the prodigal son and the self-righteous older brother, but are called to become the all-embracing father. As Nouwen states: “becoming the Father I am called to be” (p. 123). The overall thrust of this book reflects a vulnerable and searching spirituality. One wonders whether more attention needs to be given not only to Nouwen’s “homecoming” to Daybreak, but how he found “home” in the life and sacraments of the church and in his engagement particularly with the Gospels. One also wonders whether the emphasis on Sonship and Fatherhood needs to be linked to the “Go Between God” – the Holy Spirit. And finally, I wonder whether Nouwen needs to be framed more dialectically rather than developmentally: Fatherhood and childlikeness, home-coming and searching, contemplation and action, work and Sabbath, and personhood and community. The list here is endless. But thank you Gabrielle. Your book is such a blessing." —Charles Ringma, Emeritus Prof. Regent College, Vancouver, Canada; author of Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen (Albatross/Pinon) and The Seeking Heart: A Journey with Henri Nouwen (Paraclete)

 

From the Publisher

05/01/2020

Henri Nouwen (1932–96) was a renowned Catholic priest and theologian who was also a prolific and influential author. In this work, Earnshaw (founding archivist, Henri J.M. Nouwen Archives and Research Collection at University of St. Michael's College; editor, Love, Henri: Letters on the Spiritual Life) looks at both Nouwen's impetus for writing his most popular book, The Return of the Prodigal Son, as well as it's ongoing legacy. Influenced by Rembrandt's masterpiece The Return of the Prodigal Son, Nouwen was struck by the deep meanings of the painting, and how it resonated with his own spiritual journey and his relationship with God. With this expertise, Earnshaw shows how the readership of The Return of the Prodigal Son has steadily grown over the years; the book has sold more than one million copies worldwide. Earnshaw examines why the book's themes continue to resonate in a secular age; she argues that this speaks to our continued search for divinity. VERDICT This exhaustive examination will appeal to readers who are fond of Nouwen's life and writings, or those hoping to learn more.—Brian Renvall, Mesalands Community Coll., Tucumcari, NM

Library Journal