Gracias: A Latin American Journal

by Henri J.M. Nouwen

*Adavnce Praise and Reviews*
"Nouwen puts his inexhaustible curiosity and hunger for religious experience gladly at the service of a worldwide audience."-The Boston Globe In this journal of his travels in Bolivia and Peru, Nouwen ponders the presence of God in the poor, the challenge of a persecuted church, the relation between faith and justice, and his own struggle to discern the path along which God is calling him. This edition includes a preface in which Nouwen reflects on the meaning and challenge of the Latin American church both for himself and for North American Christians. As he writes, "I fervently hope and pray that those who read this journal will find in these pages new hope, new confidence and new courage to keep faithful to the task God has given them."

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Christian, Theology, Memoir, Travel, Christianity

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen was a Dutch Catholic priest, theologian, psychologist, professor, and spiritual writer whose work profoundly shaped contemporary Christian spirituality. Born in Nijkerk, the Netherlands, in 1932, Nouwen pursued religious studies and was ordained a priest in 1957. His intellectual curiosity led him to study psychology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen and later at the Menninger Clinic in Kansas, where he explored the connection between faith and mental health. Throughout his life, Nouwen remained committed to integrating pastoral care, psychology, and spiritual theology in a way that addressed the emotional and existential needs of believers.
Nouwen held teaching positions at prestigious institutions including the University of Notre Dame, Yale Divinity School, and Harvard Divinity School. He authored over three dozen books and hundreds of articles, with notable works such as The Wounded Healer, The Return of the Prodigal Son, Life of the Beloved, and The Inner Voice of Love. His writing, often rooted in personal vulnerability and spiritual struggle, resonated with readers across denominations. Nouwen openly explored themes of loneliness, identity, intimacy, and the human desire for love and belonging, making his voice especially relatable and influential.
Though he was a gifted academic and popular speaker, Nouwen found his deepest calling later in life through his involvement with L’Arche, a network of communities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After a transformative stay at the original L’Arche community in France, Nouwen accepted an invitation to become the pastor of L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario. There he developed a close bond with Adam Arnett, a core member with severe disabilities, which inspired the book Adam: God’s Beloved. At Daybreak, Nouwen discovered a deep spiritual home and a community that helped him embrace his humanity in profound ways.
Throughout his life, Nouwen wrestled with issues of identity, including his sexuality and his longing for connection, though he remained faithful to his vows. His openness about depression and inner conflict gave depth to his pastoral message, and his ability to turn personal struggle into shared spiritual insight made him one of the most beloved spiritual writers of the 20th century.
Henri Nouwen died in 1996 of a sudden heart attack, but his legacy endures through his writings, the Henri Nouwen Society, and the continued global reach of his message of belovedness, vulnerability, and compassionate community. His books remain bestsellers, widely read in seminaries, churches, and among individuals seeking a more intimate walk with God.

Reviews

[Joshua Steen]

This was the right book at the right time. Nouwen wrestles with his call to relocate to be among the oppressed and seek God's face in the suffering, while being an outsider to the community. Can one ever truly share in the sufferings? How much should/can a privileged person integrate into a suffering community? How does one follow the call of God to the impoverished without engaging in spiritual colonization? What lessons can be learned from the poor?
All privileged people who are called by God to enter into the journey of downward mobility and share in the sufferings of the marginalized should read this honest account of what it's like. I have resonated with many of his experiences and learned from his approach to a theology of liberation. After this, I am more motivated to really delve into the contours of liberation theology, which highly influenced Nouwen's writings and teachings.
What I am taking away most from this book is the need to measure the success of doing justice work among the poor not by the standards of the world, but by spiritual standards of love received and given. One may never see the poverty and suffering of a community dissipate, or even improve. This does not mean Christ was not active in the work.

[Jonah Pavlik]

This was a really good book, definitely a larger Nouwen book than the ones I've read previously, but still on the short side. It is basically a journal of Nouwen's time in Bolivia and Peru, where he dwelt with the people in those countries and really lived and served for them and with them. He learned a lot about the different ways of life and what we can learn from Christians in different positions of life and in different countries and cultures. In some ways this is a challenging book to read, as it challenged a few assumptions I had about the world in general as well as how we serve people in places that are not as well off as us, whether that is on the streets in our own town or another country where the people are oppressed by their own governments and kept in poverty.

Another thing that really challenged me and made me think was the occasional reference to Ronald Reagan (who was president of the USA in the 80s). The references were not exactly positive, and sometimes even were a bit antagonistic (one time comparing a Peruvian Liberation Theologian to David and Reagan to Goliath). While I felt like especially this example felt a bit more antagonistic and wrong than merely critical it did make me think. Ronald Reagan has been a model for me, and although I definitely don't agree with all of his policies and everything he did during his presidency, I do think he did a lot of good among some of the bad. More than his political life, however, I believe Reagan was a good man who held political views because he believed he could better people around the world, and this love he had for people stemmed from his devotion to the Lord from his youth to his death. Obviously, he had some blind spots, and I think that after reading this book it shows that, even if his intentions were good, the way his policies effected Latin America shows a big blind spot. As I read this book, I was tempted to put down some of the criticisms and antagonisms against Ronald Reagan based on what I knew of him, but I tried really hard to pause and consider them honestly.

I have grown to understand that almost everyone believes what they do for a reason (although there is the occasional lunatic or devil's advocate). Whether or not the conclusion or belief they hold is True or Good, there is almost always some truth behind their reasons and experiences, and it is complete foolishness to shut them down completely just for believing something else. It doesn't mean we don't compromise our own beliefs, but we certainly are able to love people well if we listen to them and talk TO them rather than interrupt them with "facts" and talk AT them. And this book made me think and realize that not only do all people fail and have blind spots, but all CHRISTIANS fail and have blind spots. That's the whole point of the Gospel! Did Ronald Reagan have blind spots and make mistakes that hurt people? Certainly! Did he also do some good in the world? I'm no expert, but based off of what I know, I'm inclined to believe he did a lot of good in the world.

What I discovered in this book as well as the point for my longwinded rambling is this: First of all, that often in more wealthy societies such as America often have a temptation to ignore the poor in our own country, not to mention the poor in other countries (it's changed a lot since the 80s and a lot of us are a lot poorer than we were then, but the point still holds). This hasn't always been the case, and America has in its history probably been one of the most generous nations to poorer countries in recent history (this unlimited generosity also had some negative effects, but that's not the point of this review). Because of this overall temptation to ignore the poor, we often forget what Jesus and the Early Church lived for, as well as what Jesus told us in regard to helping the poor and needy: that by helping them we help Him, and that by being among the poor is one of the clearest ways to see God moving in the world. The second thing I discovered in this book was mostly proof that everyone, including and especially Christians, have made mistakes. If we didn't, we wouldn't be Christians, would we? When people think of us and our lives, there will be people who saw God's light shining through and also people who will only recall our mistakes and see the hurt we've caused them. God gives grace for all of this, whether it is grace that allows us to be a light and grace for when we have failed to be lights.

This has been a longer review than intended, but this book was one of the more challenging Nouwen books I've read, and I'd like to end with the same point that Nouwen tried to drive home, and which he used for the title of his book. Nouwen learned that even in the poor and oppressed countries of Peru, Bolivia, and most other countries in Latin America in the 8os (and probably now as well, although I'm not very read on the subject so don't stone me!) the people, due to their culture as well as their faith, managed to be content in all things, both the good and the bad, and that the thankful lifestyle they lived and that I think all Christians could learn from and live is in the end summed up in one word: "¡Gracias!"

[Dawn McWilly]

There is so much insight in this book. One moment I was thinking how much wisdom Nouwen had, the next how he doubted and questioned just like me. I gained much from this book and would highly recommend it.

[Marlise]

I’ve loved Henri Nouwen’s writing from the first day I discovered it, but this book is such an insight into his early, pre-l’Arche days and shows proof that he was a man ahead of his time - in thought, ideals, and action.

[Anna]

The best companion in this season.

[Lee Nienhuis]

I love Nouwen. This was a fascinating and spiritually reflective, honest look at missions in Latin America.

[R. Allain]

Unexpectedly stumbling on a book from a favorite writer, however old, is often a source of great joy. Such was the case recently when Henri J.M. Nouwen's book from 1983, Gracias!: A Latin American Journal appeared in my local library's free section. And for any seeker intent on exploring the vibrant heart of modern Christianity, this book is a real keeper. Some may be puzzled how a book penned over three decades ago can still be relevant. Well, like Gil Scott Herron's resounding jazz classic, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," one of the most exciting upheavals in religious thinking and practice, liberation theology, has generally been kept from prime time. And perhaps this is largely because of Its Latin American roots; and too, its seminal figure, Peruvian author Gustavo Guttierez - and his transformative ideas, are hardly explored at most local pulpits. So what's a true seeker to do? Simply leave one's comfort zone, learn Spanish and immerse oneself in Peruvian and Bolivian culture where one can learn from the people (largely poor) and Fr. Gutierrez himself. If that seems like a huge undertaking, it is. But Nouwen's authenticity, conveyed here with five months of revealing daily entries, create an intriguing mosaic of a land and writer grappling with both formidable challenges and stubborn hope. Near the book's close, for example, Nouwen shares an epiphany. Overhearing "the monotone voice of a priest saying Mass, I would never feel at home any more in this traditional Church, but will I ever in the Church of the "lucha" (struggle)?" But what struggle is Nouwen referring to? It is largely the profound clash between a Christianity that refuses to side with an unjust status quo and the oppressive forces it encounters. On the impetus for this religious movement, the author again cites Gutierrez's work. His genius, Nouwen writes, is that "he simply reclaimed the basic Christian truth that God became human to bring good news to the poor, new light to the blind, and liberty to the captives." Living such faith, of course, is difficult - especially with its inherent risks. And Nouwen's final sentence summarizes the essence of his trip: "I sit here and wonder if going north still means going home." And in the end, isn't this the germ of religious calling - being ready to be remade when God's Word and face appear in fresh, and even uncomfortable, ways?

[Bridget Mooney]

It took me 7 years to read this book. Not because it is bad, but because it is dense. It is to be read a few pages at a time, not as a page turner. If I were to write down favorites quotes, it would take days.

[Ana Mahomar]

Loved Nouwen's spirituality! Perfect for ministry related trips!

[Deborah-Ruth]

!Gracias¡ (By: Henri J.M. Nouwen) (COUNTRIES REPRESENTED: Bolivia/Peru)

Like any good L'Archie I have read my fair share of Henri Nouwen. In fact, Henri Nouwen's book "In the Name of Jesus" is the very reason I got into L'Arche in the first place. Yet, I had no idea of this other part of Nouwen's life (lodged in between his rigorous academic studies/time spent as a professor and his journey at L'Arche Daybreak). In this book, Nouwen takes 6 months out to travel to Bolivia (where he engages in extensive Spanish language training) and Peru (where he does ministry amongst the poor primarily in Lima). Like he does in other books, he wrestles with calling, with depression, with loneliness, and with his feelings of restlessness and inferiority. This book is a journal and describes some of his high and low times. It describes the poverty he saw and experienced in Latin America, some of the theological issues he wrestled with (particularly in his liberation theology course with Gustavo Gutiérrez) and the daily happenings in his parish, in the streets, and with his host family. Some interesting insights are given not just about Catholicism in this part of the world or about the socio-political climate of the day, but also about his personal life (I had no idea that he had a niece who had down syndrome - this may have contributed to his interest in L'Arche) and also some new ways of looking at things theologically. In particular 2 aspects I appreciated were: 1) his question how much can the church truly engage with politics before it somehow inadvertently affects the spiritual nature of the gathering? 2) Description of liberation theology:

"What makes liberation theology so original, challenging, and radical is not so much its conceptual content as its method of working. A true liberation theologian is not just someone who thinks about liberation, but someone whose thought grows out of life of solidarity with those who are poor and oppressed. The most impressive aspect of the Centro Bartolome de las Casas is that those who come and work there are men and women whose knowledge has grown from an intimate participation in the daily life of people who struggle for freedom. Thus the centre reveals one of the oldest truths: that theologia is not primarily a way of thinking, but a way of living. Liberation theologians do not think themselves into a new way of living, but live themselves into a new way of thinking.

[Erwin Thomas]

Henri J.M. Nouwen’s Gracias wrote as a Roman Catholic priest on a pilgrimage to Bolivia and Peru. This Dutch priest was on a visit to Latin America for six months in order to discern if he was meant to be a missionary to this region for an extended period of time. What resulted was a memoir and spiritual journal of exploration about his experiences.
Notably Nouwwen was blown away by the poverty he encountered, the warmth of the families he lived with, and the dedication of Catholic missionaries in this land. But first the author had to brush up on his Spanish to have an in-depth experience in the culture. This he did in Bolivia at a language institute that lasted some six weeks. During this time he had opportunities to interact with Bolivians, see the social disparities in this environment, attend lectures, and learn about Latin America’s martyrs. Nouwen commented sympathetically on the role of the Catholic Church in this region, conducted Mass at churches, visited prisons, and infirmaries for the handicapped.
The author was impressed by the purveyors of the liberation theology, had praise for their work with the poor people, commented on the work, dust storms in the people’s daily lives, and he participated in local festivals. Despite spiritual enriching experiences Nouwen still felt that he was alone, at times depressed, and had a hard time finding his niche. But before his visit came to an end, this former Yale Divinity professor felt that all he could really do was to be grateful for the many people and conditions that impacted him. He thought that his mission made him understand that he was transformed by the people he came to serve. It was these harsh experiences that taught him that Latin Americans were missionaries to him. These were the gifts that he was to bring back to his monastery in the United States.

[melody]

"As I was trying to find an answer to the question: 'Does God call me to live and work in Latin America?' I gradually realized that the word “gracias” that came from the lips of the people contained the answer. After many centuries of missionary work during which we, the people of the north, tried to give them, the people of the south, what we felt they needed, we have now come to realize that our very first vocation is to receive their gifts to us and say thanks. A treasure lies hidden in the soul of Latin America, a spiritual treasure to be recognized as a gift for us who live in the illusion of power and self-control. It is the treasure of gratitude that can help us to break through the walls of our individual and collective self-righteousness and can prevent us from destroying ourselves and our planet in the futile attempt to hold onto what we consider our own. If I have any vocation in Latin America, it is the vocation to receive from the people the gifts they have to offer us and to bring these gifts back up north for our own conversion and healing." (Nouwen 187)

[Emily]

Absolute must-read for anoyone planning to spend time in a foreign context, particularly if that context is marked by poverty, political upheaval, or conflict of any kind. This book is grounded in the day to day realities of Henri Nouwen's life in South America, during which he searches for God among the poor in Bolivia and Peru. The book explores the ideas of calling, home, and God's goodess despite the injustice of local and global poverty-reproducing systems. Highly recommend this book as a devotional or a field guide for time abroad.

[Paul F]

I've lived in Mexico for five years now. Culturally and social-economically conditions are quite different for me than what Nouwen describes in his book, some thirty-five years earlier. So, what really spoke to me were moments when Nouwen grappled with his own limits and his abilities - I can how see these moments were part of the road that led to Daybreak. They also help feed me a journey to where God only knows.

[Nicholas]

With great love and respect for Nouwen, this one is, admittedly, a bit dated. Still, while its fitness for spiritual reading may depend on whether the reader can relate to Nouwen's innocent shock over the existence of material poverty and systemic injustice, the book does work as a fairly engrossing historical document of a time when theologians and pastoral ministers of the Northern Hemisphere were first discovering the concerns of the Global South and liberation theology.

[Christopher Pokorny]

A journal of Nouwen’s journey of vocational discernment about living in Latin America as a Catholic missionary priest. A helpful companion to those discerning their own religious vocation, to be used in conjunction with a spiritual director/vocations director. Also helpful for peering into the cultural reality of Latin America, through the eyes of a remarkable Catholic priest.

[Joy Matteson]

If every missions major at every Christian college in America read this book before going on a "mission"--this world, and the kingdom of God--would be a much better place. Such humility and grace, to be taught by the poor--it should be required reading. Humbling and beautiful. May we all strive for a spirit like Henri's.

[Emma Grace]

Hands down one of the best things I’ve read/consumed in a long time. Transformational and sooooo timely. Nouwen gives words and ideas to thoughts about living among the poor that I have only ever vaguely grasped at. It also reads wonderfully as it is broken up into journal entries. This is one I will come back to and is changing the way I think about life, theology, faith, and prayer!

[Erika Filer Everest]

Henri Nouwen articulated the feelings of being in a new place, leaning a new language, and struggling to love and walk alongside the marginalized so simply and so well. An incredible encouragement to read during my own time in a new cultural and language context - Nouwen constantly points back to God's goodness and presence in every joy and struggle that he experiences.

[Mike Field]

A ministry of presence

I love the collection of Henri Nouwen’s everyday notes expressing gratitude for those around him. I love how he communicates the desire to slow down and sink into the lives of real people. I love the unspoken challenge for us to follow his lead to deny our own desires of greatness, fame, or grandeur for the sake of a simple live spent with others.

[Evelyn Fu]

If you have a love for South America and a heart for missions in this hemisphere of the world, this book is for you. I love how Nouwen has a knack for writing about deep theological concepts in a personable and anecdotal prose, and draws you into his world and experiences. He has a wonderful way of bringing the reader into God’s presence.

[Michelle]

A humble, honest, and at times profound in its simple observations, journal of Nouwen’s time in Latin America discerning a potential call to the people of Peru. A journey observing place, people, spiritual life and calling. I especially loved his December/ advent writings.

[David]

I enjoyed reading this journal from the life of Henri Nouwen. It is a look into the discernment process he traveled through as he looked to a new place to minister. Very well written and easy to read as are all his writings. Very glad I read it.

[Carol Atkins]

Skim read this to find a quote for an essay but kept finding bits I loved and had to stop and underline them! So much wisdom in this book about ministry, especially ministry amongst the poor. Very inspiring. Need to go back and read it properly when I don’t have another essay to write!

[Lela Plankeel]

Henri Nouwen is AMAZING. His careful listening for the Lord’s guidance and his sensitivity to his cultural, physical, and political surroundings inspires me, as well as his attentiveness to the people around him, their needs and feelings. Lovveee

[Pjnugent]

Excellent journal by one of the greatest modern spiritual writers.

[Charlene Hios]

A daily journal of the author's travels to Peru. Insightfulness into the missions and the Catholic church

[Rissa]

rich, life-changing, applicable for all season of life

[J.M. Daniel]

Re-read from undergraduate, so good.

[DD]

Muy honesto sobre sus experiencias, anhelos y aprendizajes.