Ven. John Henry Newman

Born this day, February 21, 1801.

Today is the 202nd anniversary of the birth of Cardinal Newman, one of God's greatest gifts to the Catholic Church.

Here are my brief biography of Newman, and Fr. John McCloskey's reflection on the 150th anniversary of Newman's conversion.

And here is John Henry Newman: Portraits, my scans of a book of contemporary portraits.

Bob Elder has been plugging away for years building his monumental Newman Reader.

Of Newman's Parochial and Plain Sermons, these two are generally considered to be the finest: Love, the One Thing Needful and The Cross of Christ the Measure of the World.

The publication of Tract 90 marked a critical juncture in his life.

Newman's bitingly satirical — sometimes outright hilarious — Lectures on the Present Position of Catholics in England is one of my favorite works.

The Second Spring, preached during the First Provincial Synod of Westminster, is surely one of the most moving sermons ever delivered. Similarly, Christ Upon the Waters, which is not nearly as well known.

I blogged "I Have a Part in This Great Work" on New Year's Day. And here is my blog for last October's anniversary.

Thrice bless'd are they, who feel their loneliness;
   To whom nor voice of friends nor pleasant scene
   Brings aught on which the sadden'd heart can lean;
Yea, the rich earth, garb'd in her daintiest dress
Of light and joy, doth but the more oppress,
   Claiming responsive smiles and rapture high;
   Till, sick at heart, beyond the veil they fly,
Seeking His Presence, who alone can bless.
Such, in strange days, the weapons of Heaven's grace;
When, passing o'er the high-born Hebrew line,
He moulds the vessel of His vast design;
Fatherless, homeless, reft of age and place,
Sever'd from earth, and careless of its wreck,
Born through long woe His rare Melchizedek.

(JHN, "Melchizedek", Verses on Various Occasions LV, January 5, 1833.)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Fri. 02/21/03 08:23:45 AM
Categorized as Historical & Most Notable & Religious.