This book of meditations by Henri Nouwen, inspired by a series of drawings by Sr. Helen David, represents traditional Stations of the Cross through the passion and suffering of the world's poor. A political prisoner behind bars, a peasant burdened by a load of wood, an abandoned child, a mother grieving for her murdered son, an exhausted farmer, four martyred churchwomen . . . In these images Nouwen sees the ongoing passion of Christ.
Sr. Helen's drawings are stark and moving, but they do not lead to despair. Rather, they "help us unite our own broken humanity with the humanity of the men, women, and children portrayed . . . This union becomes possible through the suffering and risen body of Jesus. In and through Jesus, our world can become one because in this divine love he embraces all of us, and desire that we all be one as he and his father are one."
Biographical Note:
The late Henri Nouwen (1932-1996), a Dutch-born priest, remains one of the most popular spiritual writers in the world. He spoke and taught around the globe, including at Yale and Harvard, and spent the latter part of his life as a member of the L'Arche Daybreak Community in Toronto, Canada. His many books include Adam: God's Beloved, With Burning Hearts: Meditations on the Eucharistic Life, and The Selfless Way of Christ.
Sister Helen David Brancato, IHM, lives and works in Philadelphia, PA.
Marc Notes:
Inspired by the drawings of Sister Helen David, Henri Nouwen sees in these images the ongoing passion of Christ in our world today. Stark and moving, her drawings still do not lead us to despair. Rather, as Nouwen notes, they 'help us unite our own broken humanity with the humanity of the men, women, and children portrayed ... This union became possible through the suffering and risen body of Jesus. In and through Jesus, our world can become one because in this divine love he embraces all of us, and desires that we all be one, as he and his father are one..
