A Spirituality of Caregiving

The responsibility of taking care of someone’s physical needs every day can be exhausting and overwhelming. Yet the relationship between caregiver and care receiver has the power to transform each person, Henri Nouwen believes. “At the heart of this human exchange of caring and being cared for,” he writes, “is the opportunity to more fully claim our most precious identity as beloved daughters and sons of God.”

In A Spirituality of Caregiving, Nouwen shares insights from his own and others’ experiences of giving and receiving care. He communicates heartfelt warmth, respect, and understanding for both persons in the caregiving relationship. This book encourages caregivers and helps them deal with the many emotions that arise as they perform their daily tasks.

In this book, John Mogabgab, editor, has gathered the spiritual treasures of Henri Nouwen on the wisdom of caregiving. These Nouwen insights were greatly influenced by his experience with a L’Arche community in Canada and most specifically by his personal acts of caregiving for Adam, a community member.