Henri Nouwen Biography and Quotes
Born: January 24th, 1932
Commemoration: September 21st, 1996
Nationality: Dutch
64
Years Old
Famously Known For
Henri was a renowned priest and writer whose contributions touched thousands of people across the world. He spread a message of hope and spirituality and encouraged people to find their inner self and individuality.
Early Life
Henri was born in the Netherlands on January 24, 1932. He was the firstborn, and he had three more siblings. Henri’s father worked as a lawyer while his mother was a book keeper.
His brother was a businessman while his uncle was a Roman Catholic priest. Henri Nouwen attended the Jesuit Aloysius College at the Hague, where he undertook a priesthood course.
Personal Life
Despite being a priest, Nouwen struggled with sexuality, where he was always in doubt with himself. He directly talked about his homosexuality with those close to him, and he mentioned it in his private journals and letters.
Some of these events were captured in his book The Return of the Prodigal Son. Although he lived a priestly life, he was keen to note how he longed for a life of intimacy outside that of a priest.
Career
Henri was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1957. He immediately enrolled for a course in Psychology, where he was eager to learn more about himself. He graduated with a Doctorate degree in 1964.
From 1966 to 1968 Henri worked as a professor at the University of Notre Dame. He also lectured at the University of Utrecht where he taught psychology and spiritual studies. He was later awarded a doctorate in theology in 1971.
Henri spent some time at the Abbey of Genesee. From 1981 he traveled across South America and visited countries such as Bolivia and Peru. He returned to America in 1983 and got appointed at the Havard Divinity School to work as a professor.
Death
Henri Nouwen died on September 21, 1996, from a cardiac arrest. At the time of his passing, he was living in the Netherlands.
