File 104 - Letters from Carol Plantinga Mead

0.4 cm of textual records

File consists of eight postcards from Nouwen to Carol Plantinga Mead, one postcard from Nouwen to Mead and Andy Deeter, and one letter to Andy Plantinga. Postcards and letter were written while Nouwen was abroad. File also contains two blank postcards featuring drawings of two churches in Geysteren, Limburg, Netherlands. Letter contents include the following:

1. Postcard to Carol Plantinga Mead from Henri Nouwen. It is handwritten, and dated March 6, 1986. Nouwen says he is writing from Holland. He thanks Mead for her letter, the royalty statements, and all of her work. He says he is grateful for her work on his finances, and tells her to pay herself $10.00. He concludes by hoping that Florida will give her joy and peace, and says "I could use some sun too!" and says he is writing from Holland, and sends many greetings from his family. Postcard is signed.
2. Postcard to Carol Plantinga Mead from Henri Nouwen. It is handwritten, and dated January 28, 1986. Nouwen is writing from Freiburg. He thanks Mead for her letter, and says he is very grateful to her for all of her hard work, and advises her to pay herself well for it. He hopes she will be able to continue the work when he goes to Canada, but that he will not earn money there, just room and board. He says he will likely retain permanent residence in the United States. He says he loves Freiburg, and is writing a small book on Jesus. He concludes by saying he is happy to go to Canada in September, saying "I am called there to start a spiritual formation center for L'Arche in the Americas and its friends. I hope to see you there!" He sends his love to Allan and Amy, Vic and Andrew. Postcard is signed.
3. Postcard to Carol Plantinga Mead from Henri Nouwen. It is handwritten, and dated November 26, 1985. Nouwen thanks Mead for her letter, and says she has received a gift from Bonnie [last name unknown] about living in the presence. He writes: "God is always were we are. Not in the past (with its disappointments) nor in the future (with its worries) but in the presence where love can touch us. Death is easier to accept when we live our lives in love. Love is stronger than death and takes its "sting" away." He wishes that Mead could see the place at which he is. He thanks her for her financial work, and says he will discuss with Peter [Weiskel] to whom he will give money at Christmas time. He concludes by saying he is curious of what Egbert [last name unknown] has to say about the prodigal son, as he very much wants to write about it. Postcard is signed.
4. Postcard to Carol Plantinga Mead from Henri Nouwen. It is handwritten, and dated July 10, 1985. Nouwen writes that he misses seeing her and being in touch. He says, "This has been such an intense semester that quiet time with friends has been hard to find. But I still hope to visit you before going to France." He concludes by asking her to keep him in her prayers, and that he is teaching a summer course at Boston College, and hopes for some good to happen there. Postcard is signed.
5. Postcard to Carol Plantinga Mead from Henri Nouwen. It is handwritten, and dated September 28, 1984. Nouwen writes that tomorrow he starts a 30 day retreat. He asks her to make Peter [Weiskel] aware of the financial situation regarding Weiskel's salary, so Weiskel will know how much he can spend for secretarial help. Nouwen says he has sent Weiskel a long manuscript. In case of problems, Nouwen says that Weiskel can send a signed contract to Bob Heller so Mead can receive a $10,000 advance, but prefers not to do this as it would give unnecessary pressure to finish the book. He hopes that one day Mead will go there [France] and see the community. Postcard is signed.
6. Postcard to Carol Plantinga Mead from Henri Nouwen. It is handwritten, and dated September 11, 1984. Nouwen writes from L'Arche Trosly Breuil, France. He says he is glad to be back at L'Arche, saying, "it feels like a spiritual homecoming. I have time to pray and write and the whole place breathes God's presence." He says he had a few busy days in Cambridge finishing up the house, but that it is now ready for her. He asks her to stay in touch with Peter, as he likes to stay in contact and will need her advice. He concludes by sending his love to all the friends at Yale Divinity School. Postcard is signed.
7. Postcard to Carol Plantinga Mead from Henri Nouwen. It is handwritten, and dated August 21, 1983. Nouwen writes from Lima. He hopes one day she will be able to visit Lima and meet the wonderful people. He hopes she can stay in touch with the people in Washington and give them advice and information, and concludes by asking her to call him at lunch time when she can. Postcard is signed.
8. Postcard to Carol Plantinga Mead and Andy Deeter, a Yale Divinity School student that was boarding at Mead's home, from Henri Nouwen. It is handwritten, and postmarked October 15, 1982. He hopes that the mosaic on the front of the postcard will bring them closer to each other in prayer (Mosaic is of the Crucifixion from the Great Central Arch at the Basilica di S. Marco in Venice). He asks them to pray for him when they come together for the liturgy of the Hours, and says he joins them from a distance. Postcard is signed.
9. Letter to Andy Plantinga from Henri Nouwen. It is handwritten, 2 pages, and dated October 7, 1982. Nouwen is writing from his family's summer house in Switzerland. He thanks Plantinga for his letter, and says that Grinnell is obviously more of a challenge than Hamden High, and would not be able to do the math that Plantinga must do. He says math was always a struggle for him, and now Plantinga's mother does all the calculations for him. He says he moved to Boston to start teaching at Harvard in the spring. He says he visited New Haven (CT) and visited Plantinga's mother, Carol Plantinga Mead, and she was doing well and was happy to have Andy Deeter, a student, living in the house. He concludes by hoping that the Episcopal church will be a source of spiritual growth for Plantinga, and asks him to keep in touch. Letter is signed.
10. Postcard to Carol Plantinga Mead from Henri Nouwen. It is handwritten and undated. Nouwen asks Mead to ask Ave Maria Press if In Memoriam is still in print and being sold. Nouwen would like to keep it in print, and was worried because the book was not mentioned in the royalty statements. He concludes by thanking Mead for a copy of the statements. Postcard is signed.

Title based on contents of the file

Revised by T Wong, 3 September 2021