The Wounded Healer

Ministry in Contemporary Society

By: Henri J. M. Nouwen

Narrated by: Dan Anderson O.F.M.

Length: 3 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

In this hope-filled book, Nouwen offers a fresh interpretation of modern ministry. Here he offers inspiration to men and women who want to be of service in their Church or community but who have found the traditional ways of ministry alienating and ineffective. According to Nouwen, "the minister is called to recognize the sufferings of his time in his own heart and make that recognition the starting point of his service."

©1972 Henri J.M. Nouwen (P)2006 St. Anthony Messenger Press

Critic reviews

"One's overall response to this book has to be 'Yes.' Yes, this describes a style of ministry desperately needed by all of us." ( The Christian Century)

I had to focus but am so glad I did!

This was a inspiring! I am accustomed with audiobooks to be able to keep busy while half listening. This one required for me to go back and really listen at key points. I am so glad I did. It was life changing!

Emotional Spiritual Maturity

Your heart and mind must be open to the move of God while listening to this book. It's all relevant information just hard to wrap your carnal mind around so you must listen with your spiritual ears through your heart. When you tell God you are available it also means to love the unlovable. NOT opening your heart and mind to unconditionally love spiritually will only allow your flesh to continue to run your body. God is calling for us as believers to go from faith to faith and glory to glory. This books will quicken your spirit to mature to another level og glory if you are totally committed to surrendering yourself to submit to the will of God for your life. The only way your going to enjoy walking by faith and implementing what this book has to offer is to let go and let God have His way by allowing God's holy spirit to convict you: GOD'S LOVE IS THE ONLY LOVE TO COMFORT THE WOUNDED HEART....INSIDE OF YOU TO COMFORTTHE WOUNDED HEART INSIDE OF OTHERS IN ORDER TO START LIVING IN A NEW WORLD ORDER TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY!!! Ultimately it's all about giving God the glory in everything we do. The book is only for those looking or ready to go to another level of Glory.

Emphasized solidarity, but lacked hope of Jesus

This book was highly recommended, and I'm glad that the author put an emphasis on the minister entering into his own suffering and the suffering of his people. The author also had some good analysis of our current western culture.

However the book consistently under emphasized the implications of the fact that Christ did this for us. While listening to this book, I felt as if a weight was being placed on me - the weight of having to carry my own sufferings and add to that the sufferings of others. But Christ has born all our sufferings, and it is not by my power that I continue on, but by the power of Jesus worthing in me through the HS. I will fall, but he will pick me back up, and will lead me and others to a day where we are free from suffering and will be with him.

I was waiting for the author to get to this point of explaining our freedom and our source of hope and strength, and how it impacts the way we counsel others, but unfortunately that point in the book never came.

Profound, Transcendent, and Timeless truths

Profound truths to live by today. Transforming reading for those seeking to minister to a hurting world.

Should be read by every Ministers

Nouwen's commentary on the human context, condition, and cure is a relevant today, perhaps even more so, as when it was first written. Audible version well read and easy to listen to.

Wonderfully written and very powerful

Very provocative read. Definitely something you have to meditate on. I highly recommend reading it several times to fully grasp

enjoyed the insights from this book about faith

loved it. helpful but simple ministry insights. Henri Nouwen continues to help me understand humanity and spirituality.

From our own loneliness to common human nature

Henri Nouwen is really a sober writer. He sees through our respective sorrowful or lonely feelings and teaches us to gaze the common human nature that we all share. And from that very start, to sympathize, to be together, and to love.

Retreating into the service of our Lord

What calls us to desire to serve the Lord by serving others? This book makes it clear to me. To pass this book by is a blessing not received.

It's Henri Nouwen... It's amazing.

This book serves as a timeless guide for how to minister to a secular world. It offers practical, and somewhat atypical advice on approaching people where they are. Definitely a must read.