When Nouwen was asked by a secular Jewish friend to explain his faith in simple language, he responded with his greatest legacy, Life of the Beloved, which shows that all people, believers and nonbelievers, are beloved by God unconditionally.

“All I want to say to you is, ​‘You are the Beloved, ’ and all I hope is that you can hear these words as spoken to you with all the tenderness and force that love can hold. My only desire is to make these words reverberate in every corner of your being — ​‘You are the Beloved.’ ” This personal witness to a God who calls us the Beloved is the fruit of a long friendship between journalist-writer Fred Bratman and Henri Nouwen. Henri is trying to respond to Fred’s concern to live a spiritual life in the midst of a very secular world. A remarkable aspect of this book is that while Henri writes to a personal friend, he in fact found a language that speaks clearly and convincingly to all who search for the Spirit of God in the world. Here is a ringing affirmation that everyone is loved by God and can enjoy ​“the life of the beloved”. It reveals the wonders of the spiritual journey and renews the fire of faith.

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