From Brokenness to Community (Harold M. Wit Lectures) [Paperback]

Jean Vanier (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Wit Lectures | Publication Date: May 1992

The lectures in this volume witness the importance of the meeting between the university of the learned and the university of the poor. From them a deep understanding of true discipleship emerges.

Editorial Reviews

Review

All who are part of our culture of success will be challenged by Vanier's vision of life in community. -- Weavings

About the Author

After years of studying and teaching philosophy, Jean Vanier founded L'Arche, named after Noah's ark, a network of more than one hundred communities in thirty countries, inhabited by people with disabilities and their caregivers. Vanier is the son of former governor general of Canada Georges Vanier. Jean Vanier is also co-founder, with Marie-Hélène Mathieu, of Faith and Light, which brings together people with disabilities and their family and friends. There are now 1,300 Faith and Light communities in seventy-five countries.

Product Details

• Paperback: 56 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Pr (May 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809133415
• ISBN-13: 978-0809133413
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Catholicism > Roman Catholicism
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Clergy > Church Institutions & Organizations
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Clergy > Ministry

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I often give this book as a gift., September 10, 2008

By 

Jack Bender "Author of Disregarded, mediator,... (Zeeland, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Brokenness to Community (Harold M. Wit Lectures) (Paperback)

Vanier is a rare, authentic individual. I don't know of a smaller book that is so large on wisdom. If you ask those that have been through a formation program for the gem of their experience, it often comes in the form of "embrace your shadow." From Brokenness to Community makes the same point.

Vulnerable, we become approachable. Community is possible.
Aware of our shadow, we become less judgmental. Community is possible.

The residents of Vanier's community have severe physical and mental handicaps which soon test the souls of "regular" community members who support them. Once anger, jealousy, rivalry and impatience is exposed, it can be acknowledged and dealt with. The "evil" is not so much in the community as it is in ME. Contact with the handicapped residents is healing, transformational. People become "real." Community results from the relationship established among authentic people.

"Elitism is the sickness of us all...Healing takes place at the bottom of the ladder, not at the top."

-Jack H. Bender, author of Disregarded: Transforming the School and Workplace through Deep Respect and Courage

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vanier's Insight, October 13, 2007

By 

Ian R. Lynch - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Brokenness to Community (Harold M. Wit Lectures) (Paperback)

After nearly 20 years, Vanier's words still ring true. His insights are at the heart of the gospel. One of his more powerful observations is that Jesus came to bring good news to the poor, not those who serve the poor. We all need to attend the "university of the poor" to learn of our own brokenness and so enter into community.

This book takes only couple of hours to read, but will take years of living to digest.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blown Away, December 18, 2010

By 

S. J. Young - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: From Brokenness to Community (Harold M. Wit Lectures) (Paperback)

This book will blow your doors off if you let it.

The book is so simple - two lectures delivered just around 1990. Less than 50 pages (43 total) and in a small framework. Yet, it is arguable the best and most powerful $6 purchase one might ever make. Twenty years after these lectures it rings as true as ever because it gets at the core of Christlikeness - humility toward self, exaltation of the lowly, the poor, the rejected and marginalized (though Vanier's focus is on the mentally handicapped - a great work that he does - it applies to every person marginalized by a culture; even those within churches! But, especially the poor and rejected).

I am mindful of Luke 14, Mt. 25 & 1 Cor. 12 as I read this.

My advice: buy it; read it; meditate on it; ingest it; pray for insight and sacrifice and humility (above all) to find ways to reach the downtrodden in this world. Then, recommend it to your friends.