Happy Anniversary to Cardinal Newman!

Ven. John Henry Newman was received into full communion with the Catholic Church 157 years ago today, October 9, 1845.

Gerard Serafin has, of course, already noted the occasion.

Here is the immediate sequence of events (from a little book I am writing fitfully):

In letters to relatives and friends, Newman would occasionally mention that he was busy with a book. By late September, the first parts of An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine were in the hands of the printer. But not until early October could he finally see his way clear. Once he could, though, he immediately ceased writing, ceased waiting. On the third, he resigned his Fellowship at Oriel College; by the seventh, he was already informing his closest friends of his decision to join the Catholic Church; on the eighth, he asked Dalgairns to give a message to the missionary priest who had received him and Ambrose St. John into the Church a few weeks earlier: Newman himself now wanted to come in. Fr. Dominic Barberi received John Henry Newman into the Catholic Church, Thursday, October 9, 1845.

Do visit Bob Elder's monumental Newman Reader, especially An Essay on Development of Christian Doctrine, by which Newman "wrote" himself into the Catholic Church, and Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Newman's own "history" of his "religious opinions". And here is the chapter from Ward's biography recounting the event: Last Days at Littlemore (1845-1846).

You may also be interested in these, at Catholicity @ ELCore.Net:

• Passages from Newman's Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine
• John Henry Newman: His Developing Faith, His Life as a Catholic by ELC
• Laity, Priests, and Holiness by Rev. C. John McCloskey III
• John Henry Newman: Portraits

Here are the front and back of a holy card I have:

In all circumstances of joy or sorrow, hope or fear, let us aim at having CHRIST in our inmost heart.

The first duty of charity is to try and enter into the mind and feelings of others.

VENERABLE JOHN HENRY NEWMAN was born in London, 21 February 1801, and died in Birmingham, II August 1890. As Vicar of St. Mary's Oxford he exerted a profound spiritual influence on the Church of England. Joining the Catholic Church in 1845 he founded Oratories of St. Philip Neri in Birmingham and London, was the first Rector of the Catholic University in Dublin, and was made Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII in 1879. Through his published writings and private correspondence he created a greater understanding of the Catholic Church and its teachings, helping many persons with their religious difficulties. At his death he was praised for his unworldliness, humility, and prayerful contact with the invisible world. He was declared Venerable on 22 January 1991.

Please report any favours received to:

IMPRIMATUR:
+ Maurice Couve de Murville
Archbishop of Birmingham
November 11th, 1991

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Wed. 10/09/02 01:42:58 PM
Categorized as Most Notable & Religious.