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Letters to Marc About Jesus: Living a Spiritual Life in a Material World – Profound Wisdom from a Renowned Christian Writer
“[We] read Nouwen…to discover new possibilities in our faith.” — New Review of Books and Religion
A profound and beautiful collection of intimate writings, Henry J.M. Nouwen’s Letters to Marc About Jesus recalls the author’s correspondences with his teenage nephew, a boy struggling with issues of faith and spirituality in an apathetic age. The much-beloved author of The Wounded Healer and With Open Hands —named alongside such notables as C.S. Lewis and Thomas Merton as one of the most important Christian writers of the 20 th century—Nouwen writes from the heart in the deeply personal Letters to Marc About Jesus , as he imparts a powerful wisdom born of an unassailable faith.
A profound and beautiful collection of intimate writings, Henry J.M. Nouwen’s Letters to Marc About Jesus recalls the author’s correspondences with his teenage nephew, a boy struggling with issues of faith and spirituality in an apathetic age. The much-beloved author of The Wounded Healer and With Open Hands —named alongside such notables as C.S. Lewis and Thomas Merton as one of the most important Christian writers of the 20 th century—Nouwen writes from the heart in the deeply personal Letters to Marc About Jesus , as he imparts a powerful wisdom born of an unassailable faith.
96 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 1998
36 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Henri J.M. Nouwen
450 books2,114 followersHenri 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 2, 2021
Excellent!
Henri Nouwen never disappoints those who are seeking a deeper relationship with God. In this book of letters to Marc, the way to life in Him is practically presented in a way that points to the benefits, albeit difficult, and joys of trust in God.
Henri Nouwen never disappoints those who are seeking a deeper relationship with God. In this book of letters to Marc, the way to life in Him is practically presented in a way that points to the benefits, albeit difficult, and joys of trust in God.
September 11, 2025
absolutely beautiful read.
I was recommended this book by my priest and it sure did live up to the claims. I felt like I was underlining almost every second line.
Nouwen writes so intimately, honestly and vulnerably that you can feel the love of Jesus emanating out of him and through the page. Although addressed to Marc, you feel as if Nouwen was also a family member addressing letters to you. His exploration of the different facets of Jesus is so detailed, descriptive and beautiful. He manages to take very large and complex topics of the faith and relate them to contemporary contexts.
they are laid out in the perfect, bite-size digestible chunks that give you time to process but also leave you wanting more.
Would highly highly recommend for anyone wanting to know more about the faith.
I was recommended this book by my priest and it sure did live up to the claims. I felt like I was underlining almost every second line.
Nouwen writes so intimately, honestly and vulnerably that you can feel the love of Jesus emanating out of him and through the page. Although addressed to Marc, you feel as if Nouwen was also a family member addressing letters to you. His exploration of the different facets of Jesus is so detailed, descriptive and beautiful. He manages to take very large and complex topics of the faith and relate them to contemporary contexts.
they are laid out in the perfect, bite-size digestible chunks that give you time to process but also leave you wanting more.
Would highly highly recommend for anyone wanting to know more about the faith.
January 15, 2019
Still maintain that Henri Nouwen is basically the Mr. Rogers of spiritual writers. His love and attention and intimacy with Jesus are all over this very brief but profound book of letters written to his nephew Marc around 1986.
Marc appears to be exploring ideas about Jesus and taking an interest in the spiritual life, and Nouwen gently explores Jesus' compassion, love, resistance to fame, and centrality in the Christian life while graciously inviting Marc into the "great adventure" of living with Jesus. It seems like these were written with the intent of publication, so the style is going to reflect that more than a natural correspondence would, but the encouragement in this tiny book runs deep.
(Read Harder 2019: An epistolary Novel or Collection of Letters)
Marc appears to be exploring ideas about Jesus and taking an interest in the spiritual life, and Nouwen gently explores Jesus' compassion, love, resistance to fame, and centrality in the Christian life while graciously inviting Marc into the "great adventure" of living with Jesus. It seems like these were written with the intent of publication, so the style is going to reflect that more than a natural correspondence would, but the encouragement in this tiny book runs deep.
(Read Harder 2019: An epistolary Novel or Collection of Letters)
January 10, 2020
Inspiring and concrete advice
Very inspiring and concrete advice from Henry Nouwen, his spirituality is sincere and in this book has been wrote during the year when he took the decision to join The Arch.
Very inspiring and concrete advice from Henry Nouwen, his spirituality is sincere and in this book has been wrote during the year when he took the decision to join The Arch.
June 16, 2024
Needed this sweet lil book/reset
September 21, 2024
there are some serious golden nuggets in here
March 14, 2013
Henri Nouwen has a different way of thinking. His decision to leave his career as a university professor in favor of working with the mentally handicapped is, perhaps, the best illustration to paint a picture of this intriguing man.
He was, it seems, a man who sought after God, and for that alone it is worth giving his words an opportunity to help inform us on our own journey. He saw life through a lens of beauty that I have an easier time admiring than emulating, but it is for this very reason that reading his work has been important to me. Anytime I can find an author that connects with my soul and at the same time offers perspective and qualities that I do not yet possess I am compelled to give them room to teach me.
This book is a small collection of letter that Nouwen wrote to his nephew, Marc. They are easy to read, easy to understand, and it seems that they actually chronicle his journey from his professorship to choosing to work full time with Jean Vanier's L'Arche community (which is worth looking up itself).
The content, as the title would suggest, is all about Jesus. He leans heavily on his travels and experiences to flavor the letters, and also he makes numerous pleas for the place of the Eucharist as an inextricable part of the life of a vibrant follower of Christ. It's not that he says you cannot pursue Christ apart from regularly partaking of the Lord's Supper, he merely suggests his opinion that you if you deeply desire Christ you will be drawn to the elements and process of Communion.
I would highly recommend this book for someone who is unfamiliar with Nouwen's work. Though it isn't my favorite in his collection, it is very accessible and gives some direct insight into his heart.
"It is so easy to spend your whole time being preoccupied with urgent matters and never starting to live, really to live."
"What I personally find so fascinating is that this spiritual freedom is something quite different from a spiritualized freedom. The freedom Jesus gives doesn't imply that oppressors can go on oppressing, that the poor can stay poor, and the hungry stay hungry, since we are now, in a spiritual respect, free. A true spiritual freedom that touches the heart of our being in all its humanity must take effect in every sphere: physical, emotional, social, and global. It is meant to be everywhere visible; but the core of this spiritual freedom doesn't depend on the manner in which it is made visible."
He was, it seems, a man who sought after God, and for that alone it is worth giving his words an opportunity to help inform us on our own journey. He saw life through a lens of beauty that I have an easier time admiring than emulating, but it is for this very reason that reading his work has been important to me. Anytime I can find an author that connects with my soul and at the same time offers perspective and qualities that I do not yet possess I am compelled to give them room to teach me.
This book is a small collection of letter that Nouwen wrote to his nephew, Marc. They are easy to read, easy to understand, and it seems that they actually chronicle his journey from his professorship to choosing to work full time with Jean Vanier's L'Arche community (which is worth looking up itself).
The content, as the title would suggest, is all about Jesus. He leans heavily on his travels and experiences to flavor the letters, and also he makes numerous pleas for the place of the Eucharist as an inextricable part of the life of a vibrant follower of Christ. It's not that he says you cannot pursue Christ apart from regularly partaking of the Lord's Supper, he merely suggests his opinion that you if you deeply desire Christ you will be drawn to the elements and process of Communion.
I would highly recommend this book for someone who is unfamiliar with Nouwen's work. Though it isn't my favorite in his collection, it is very accessible and gives some direct insight into his heart.
"It is so easy to spend your whole time being preoccupied with urgent matters and never starting to live, really to live."
"What I personally find so fascinating is that this spiritual freedom is something quite different from a spiritualized freedom. The freedom Jesus gives doesn't imply that oppressors can go on oppressing, that the poor can stay poor, and the hungry stay hungry, since we are now, in a spiritual respect, free. A true spiritual freedom that touches the heart of our being in all its humanity must take effect in every sphere: physical, emotional, social, and global. It is meant to be everywhere visible; but the core of this spiritual freedom doesn't depend on the manner in which it is made visible."
January 24, 2023
Near the end of this book, Nouwen gives this advice:
"The challenge, however, is not to read a 'spiritual' book as a source of interesting information, but rather to listen to it as to a voice that addresses you directly. It isn’t easy to let a text 'read' you. Your thirst for knowledge and information often makes you desire to own the word, instead of letting the word own you. Even so, you will learn the most by listening carefully to the Word that seeks admission to your heart."
These series of letters make it easier to speak directly to your heart - to let the book read you. Rich and deep and full of insights, these letters on Jesus can speak to someone with no familiarity with him or to someone who had been walking a long journey with him. Truly a gift.
"The challenge, however, is not to read a 'spiritual' book as a source of interesting information, but rather to listen to it as to a voice that addresses you directly. It isn’t easy to let a text 'read' you. Your thirst for knowledge and information often makes you desire to own the word, instead of letting the word own you. Even so, you will learn the most by listening carefully to the Word that seeks admission to your heart."
These series of letters make it easier to speak directly to your heart - to let the book read you. Rich and deep and full of insights, these letters on Jesus can speak to someone with no familiarity with him or to someone who had been walking a long journey with him. Truly a gift.
September 22, 2015
I loved this book. When Nouwen writes about Jesus there is a deeply felt intimacy. Nouwen's words about Jesus come from the heart. Nouwen is someone who follows Jesus with deep devotion and this comes through in the text. I like that these are actual letters in a mentoring relationship. We need more mentors like Nouwen to steer us toward the liberating inclusive love of the sacred heart of God (Jesus).
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)
April 21, 2022
No surprise that what drew me to this book was the title. And while that intrigued me for obvious reasons, I must say that with the exception of the fifth letter this is not one of Henri's better efforts. The aforementioned letter #5 which emphasizes the infinite, unconditional love of God for each of us is amplified in Nouwen's later works (e.g. Life of the Beloved, The Return of the Prodigal Son) which are my favorite things he wrote.
January 16, 2012
Nouwen's literally style didn't blow me away, but his intimate reconstruction of the most pivotal aspects of Christianity through letters to his nephew was enlightening. Nouwen clearly has an intimacy with the Holy Spirit and a deep friendship with the Son of Man. These letters reflect his continued search for Christ and his encouragement of his nephew to do the same.
July 5, 2014
This is one of the most simple book I ever read from Henry Nouwen. Well, it is a collection of letters and for this reason doesn't have the structure of a book, nevertheless it is a book of love for Christ and for Henry's nephew. There are some very interesting spiritual points to learn and apply.
January 7, 2019
Wonderful little book where Nouwen attempts to explain a relationship with Jesus to his non-believing nephew. The more I read Henri Nouwen, the more I appreciate his faith and his ability to articulate it. [4/5 stars]
September 29, 2019
Nouwen writes a series of seven letters to his young nephew. This text his a helpful reflection on Christian spirituality, and could be a meaningful gift to a graduate or person who is new to Christianity.
May 13, 2025
I have no words. Nouwen always speaks to me but this book is easily his best work. He talks about reading books that will help and change your spiritual life, and I wonder if he ever imagined that his books would be that for so many people, especially me.
April 16, 2024
Superb Nouwen…series of letters to his 19-year old nephew on Jesus.
“It’s about Jesus, above all, that I want to you in these letters, and I want to do so in a personal way. I don’t want to lecture you about Jesus, but to tell you about him as I have come to know him.”
“It’s about Jesus, above all, that I want to you in these letters, and I want to do so in a personal way. I don’t want to lecture you about Jesus, but to tell you about him as I have come to know him.”
April 6, 2015
The Eucharist. The power of prayer.
September 5, 2015
A nice, short read. Nouwen is a good author and a really great thinker; brings lots of interesting points to light. Would definitely recommend this book.
May 4, 2017
Great stuff. Simply presented personal insight into the character of Christ. Re-read for sure.
Read
May 13, 2017Oh, Henri. I love you so!
January 24, 2018
I enjoyed his perspective, and look forward to reading his more traditionally written books.
January 29, 2019
Quite enjoyable spiritually. Several places in this short 96 page book felt as though Henri was speaking directly to me.
January 30, 2022
Really short but full of Nouwens wise and tender thoughts!
February 19, 2023
Anything by Nouwent gets high marks from me.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews