Preface to the Special Commemorative Edition: To Immerse Yourself Deeply in a Text and Live Out What You Contemplate

Volume 1_The Prodigal Son's Return

The story of two sons and their father
Prologue_ Captivated at First Encounter
Opening remarks: The younger son, the older son, and the father

Part 1_The Younger Son
Chapter 1: Rembrandt and the Younger Son
Chapter 2: The Younger Son Leaves Home
Chapter 3 The Younger Son, Back Home

Part 2_Eldest Son
Chapter 4: Rembrandt and his eldest son
Chapter 5: The Eldest Son Leaves Home
Chapter 6: The Eldest Son Returns Home

Part 3_Father
Chapter 7 Rembrandt and the Father
Chapter 8: The Father Who Welcomes Us
Chapter 9: Father Throws a Feast

Conclusion_Becoming a Father
Epilogue_Living a Painting with Your Body
A Letter of Gratitude_A Gift of Friendship and Love
Note

Volume 2_The Way Home

Introduction_Are you going to be home tonight?
Prologue_Shall we dive into the story together?

Part 1: Running away from home and returning home
Chapter 1: From Loneliness to L'Arche
Chapter 2 The Younger Son
Chapter 3 From L'Arche to the Second Loneliness

Part 2: Resentment, Invisible Exile
Chapter 4: The Eldest Son
Chapter 5: Invisible Exile
Chapter 6: Returning Home, to a House Called Gratitude

Part 3: Home, a space for giving and receiving love
Chapter 7: Primal and Important Relationships
Chapter 8: Touching and Bestowing Grace
Chapter 9: Unconditional Love

Epilogue_Letter to Henri Nouwen
Note

Appendix 1_ List of Henri Nouwen's Writings
Appendix 2_Henry Nouwen Chronology

Translator's Note: Wandering between the lines of one's own and one's own children

The story of the 'Prodigal Son' in the New Testament, an inspiring painting by Rembrandt,
And a masterpiece created by the profound insight of Henri Nouwen.

This book is a special commemorative edition published to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the publication of 『The Return of the Prodigal Son』, a representative work of Henri Nouwen (1932-1996), who left us with an outstanding spiritual legacy, and to mark the 20th anniversary of his death. It combines 『The Return of the Prodigal Son』 and 『The Way Home』 into one volume.


"The Return of the Prodigal Son" is a book that clearly shows the trajectory of his spiritual life. Inspired by Rembrandt's painting that faithfully portrays the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 of the New Testament, it delves deeply into the series of movements that lead to the younger son's prodigal life and return, the older son's deep sense of loss and anger, and the father's forgiveness and hospitality.
Analyzing the work within its biblical, historical, and psychological contexts, his writings demonstrate that all people are on a spiritual journey home, challenging us to move from the position of son to that of father.
Ultimately, it persuasively shows that the Christian life is a process of moving from a younger son kneeling in shabby clothes to a father standing crookedly, from a place of 'receiving blessings' to a place of 'bestowing grace.'


It was in 1983 that Henri Nouwen, a priest and university professor, first encountered Rembrandt's painting, The Return of the Prodigal Son.
At the time, he had just returned from a grueling speaking tour across the United States, preaching the message that Christian communities must do whatever they can to end the violence and wars taking place in Central America.
I had been staying for several months at the L'Arche community in Trozzily, France, which provides a warm home for people with intellectual disabilities.
One day, I visited a friend's office within the community and discovered a large poster posted on the door. This was our first meeting.
“I couldn’t take my eyes off it.
“I felt drawn into the warm intimacy flowing between them, the gentle tone of the red cloak, the golden light reflecting off the boy’s outer garment, and the mysterious glow that enveloped them both at once” (p. 19).
That's how the 'long pilgrimage of the soul' began.
Three years later, I had the opportunity to visit Russia and encounter the original work.
Then, shortly after, Nouwen resigned from his professorship and chose a completely different path.
He gave up his professorship at Harvard University to join a community for people with intellectual disabilities.
The Prodigal Son's Return was published in 1992.
In 1996, ten years after moving, while preparing to visit the Hermitage for a television special on The Return of the Prodigal Son, he suffered a heart attack and was carried back to the "arms of his father" that he had longed for.


"The Way Home" is his posthumous work, compiled from the recordings of a workshop he held with L'Arche Daybreak volunteers three years before he wrote "The Return of the Prodigal Son," where he meditated and reflected on Rembrandt's "The Return of the Prodigal Son" and the parable of Luke 15 after suffering from a nervous breakdown and entering a life of seclusion to heal his mind and body.
The author, who went from Yale to Harvard and lived a successful life as a priest and psychologist, reveals his inner struggle with loneliness and his constant yearning for intimacy in his relationships with others. At the same time, he candidly shares his inner story, including the conflict he had to face in his relationship with his father, the resulting resentment and sense of loss, and his desire to run away from home and live freely in a place where no one knew him.
On the other hand, it encourages readers to put into practice the three-step spiritual discipline of listening, journaling, and meditating as they follow the workshop process.
At the end of each chapter, helpful tips are provided to highlight points that pilgrims returning to the 'House of the Spirit' should not miss.

The 'Special Commemorative Edition' includes a new foreword by James Martin and a bibliography and chronology by Henri Nouwen.