Befriending Death: Henri Nouwen and a Spirituality of Dying

By Michelle O'Rourke, foreword by Sue Mosteller

What is the meaning of death? How can we see it not just as an inevitable fate but as an act of fulfillment? Can our death be fruitful, a profoundly human gift to those we love? These are some of the questions that Henri Nouwen addressed in his later writings. In the years since his own sudden death in 1996, Nouwen's influence as a spiritual mentor and companion has continued to grow. His writings on prayer, ministry, and the spiritual life have affected countless people of all faiths. But in this work, and largely through his own words, Michelle O'Rourke concentrates on his reflections on death and dying - a theme that stands out as one of the unifying threads in all his books, and one that may turn out to be among his most important contributions.

Befriending Death is published by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY. 160 pp., pb. Release date: November 2009

Michelle O'Rourke is a nurse and has served as a lay pastoral minister in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. She currently is a Lay Ecclesial Ministry Specialist for the Diocese of London. Michelle can be contacted through www.selahresources.ca

Click here to watch excerpts from a talk Michelle O'Rourke gave on "Befriending Death" in Michigan during Lent 2010.

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