The Broken Body: Journey to Wholeness

by Jean Vanier

minor shelf wear only

Genres: Spirituality, Christian, Theology, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Jean Vanier was educated in England and Canada, entered the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, England in 1942. He went to sea in 1945 in the Royal Navy and in 1947 transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy. He resigned from the Royal Canadian Navy in 1950 while serving H.M.C.S. Magnificent. He then went to France to work in a students' community outside of Paris. He studied philosophy and theology and obtained a Doctorate from the Catholic Institute in Paris.

At various times in his life, Vanier has been a(n)
author-
traveler-
founder-
humanitarian-
peacemaker-

Reviews

[Tweedledum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Body: Journey to Wholeness is a book of profound meditations written by Jean Vanier as a result of his lifelong development of L'Arche communities. Communities in which disabled and able bodied live together as a family giving succour, worth and respect to each in a community of faith and love.

Anyone who works with disability should be encouraged to dip into this book. Those who have no faith may decide to reject Vanier's meditations but surely cannot fail to be challenged by the underlying truth. Viz We are all part of one family and have no right to judge those who are less 'able' or deem them to have nothing to offer to us that we value or want and threfore valueless. in a society where "compassion" is increasingly monitored and regulated and professionalised those most in need are pushed ever closer to the margins and find it harder than ever to find their place in a natural loving and supportive community.

L'Arche communities challenge us to think again about all our ideas about supported living or care homes and consider why are we doing what we are doing? Who is benefitting from it? And what do human beings really need?

[Alyssa Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, poetic collection of insights from Vanier. This book has fewer quotable moments than some of his other works. It is quiet kind of profound, especially in its reflections on the incarnational life of Jesus. I can see myself picking this up each Advent season as a reminder of the smallness and tenderness of the infant Christ, and how that must lead me to worship by loving the poor and the least of these who are all around me.

[Deborah-Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our world is filled with brokeness, confusion and loss, but how does the Christian reconcile this? In short, almost poetically style, Vanier addresses the inner wounds of a person through the context of L'Arche communities. It talks about a journey from woundedness into wholeness and restoration looking primarily at the life of Jesus. I love everything that Vanier writes, so this was another great example of his intellect and authorship.

[Nelleke Plouffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Jean Vanier explores this idea, this Christian life, in his own unique style. I was happily surprised by this book. "Poetic prose" has been known to annoy me, but this shone with truth and sincere love. Vanier is Catholic (I am not), but I was still able to value his wisdom.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jean Vanier writes like someone who knows himself and knows God. Short, but very touching book. Gets more into the depth behind L'Arche and why he does what he does than the other books of his that I've read.

[Vali Archip Stefan]

my first english book!