The enduring legacy of the world’s bestselling spiritual writer.

Eleven years after his death in 1996, the influence of Henri Nouwen—one of the bestselling spiritual writers of our time—continues to grow. With an appeal that crosses religious and denominational boundaries, Nouwen’s work touches an ever-widening audience of students, ministers, and spiritual seekers. Henri Nouwen Societies have been established in several countries and scores of retreats and conferences have focused on his spiritual insights.

The essays gathered here were presented at a recent conference in Toronto marking the anniversary of his death. They include contributions from members of Nouwen’s family, companions and colleagues from the L’Arche community, friends, scholars, and notable writers including Mary Jo Leddy, Michael Higgins, Michael O’Laughlin, and Sue Mosteller. Together they assess the reasons for Nouwen’s extraordinary popularity and the relevance of his spiritual message today.