File 176 - Letters from Patricia Ostrander, OSB

4 cm of textual records

File consists of two folders. The first folder contains correspondence from Nouwen to Sister Patricia (Connie) Ostrander from 1984 to 1988, inscribed typescripts by Nouwen, and a reflection paper on Nouwen. Nouwen met Ostrander when he stayed at the St. Bede Monastery in Wisconsin for a month when Ostrander was Prioress of the community. Correspondence is handwritten and typed consisting of 2 letters, 1 card, and 4 postcards. File includes 7 article drafts including two that were published posthumously in "Road to Peace" and a theology student's letter to Henri Nouwen by Donna Vande Kieft from 2001. Details on typescripts as follows:

• "Resistance: No longer a child" - annotated, published posthumously in Road to Peace
• "Saying 'Yes': Do not combat the demons directly" - annotated, published posthumously in Road to Peace
• "The Icon of the Descent of the Holy Spirit: A Community of Faith" - inscribed, published in Behold the Beauty of the Lord
• "The Icon of the Virgin of Vladimir: An invitation to belong to god" - inscribed, published in Behold the Beauty of the Lord, February 3, 1985
• "A New Life Among the Handicapped: Farewell to Harvard" - inscribed, September 1986
• "Rublev's Icon of the Trinity: A reflection on the spiritual life" - inscribed
• "Seeing Christ: A meditation on Andrew Rublev's Savior of Zvenigorod" - image taped to cover page

The second folder consists of 18 letters and postcards from Henri Nouwen, and one letter from [Pascaline] to Sister Connie Ostrander.

1. handwritten letter, dated April 2nd, 1987. Nouwen speaks about the spirit of Jesus and spiritual journeys.
2. typed letter, dated December 17th, 1986. Nouwen gives her support to live a life of discipleship
3. typed form letter, dated April 30th, 1986. Nouwen describes his decision to move to L'Arche Daybreak from Harvard.
4. handwritten letter from [Pascaline] written on a copy of an article by Henri Nouwen, titled "The Primacy of the Heart" (from Expressions, March/April 1987).
5. short typed letter, dated October 10th, 1986. Nouwen is sending greetings.
6. typed letter, dated December 9th, 1986. Nouwen is talking about his Christmas plans.
7. short handwritten letter, undated. Nouwen is sending greetings. Letters 5-7 were together in one envelope.
8. handwritten letter, dated March 8th, 1986. Nouwen describes his call to join the L'Arche Daybreak community and briefly discusses his writing. Also discusses Christ's burden.
9. handwritten postcard, dated April 23rd, 1986. Written from Holland, where he was for a TV interview. Asks her to pray for the Dutch Church.
10. handwritten postcard, dated October 11th, 1985. He advises her to speak much about Jesus and read about several saints. Also includes two postcards, one of which is inscribed.
11. two blank postcards. Envelope postmarked November 16th, 1985.
12. handwritten letter, dated August 14th, 1985. Nouwen discusses teaching at Boston College and travel to France. Nouwen writes, "Now I am back in France to stay for a year of praying, reading and writing. I am very glad to be here. It feels like being freed from a prison of unhealthy busy-ness!" Letter includes a page from a colouring book.
13. short handwritten letter, dated July 3rd, 1985. He asks her to pray for him, particularly through July 8th and 19th, as he is teaching 320 students at Boston College.
14. typed form letter, dated July 6th, 1985. Nouwen describes his move to L'Arche in France for a year and Peter Weiskel's move to Maryknoll.
15. handwritten letter, dated September 16th, 1984. Nouwen discusses reform and renewal. Includes a small card with information about a prayer cross, as well as a photograph of an icon with a note from Henri on the back.
16. handwritten letter, dated August 5th, 1984. Nouwen thanks her for her lovely gifts and sending his greetings to St. Bede Priory.
17. index card with notes of Henri's travel plans, and a blank postcard. Postmarked September 19th, 1984.
18. handwritten postcard to Tessy, undated. Short greetings.
19. handwritten postcard to "all my friends at St. Bede with joyful memories", undated.
    Additionally, the second folder contains:
    1) 1990, May 3: original typed letter written by Nouwen to Ostrander. Daybreak letterhead.
    2) 1984: colour photo of Nouwen sitting at a table with candles. Photo focuses on his hands, and his face is not visible.

Title based on contents of the file.

Added by T Wong, 13 October 2021
Revised by L Whitehead, 14 November 2025