St John Henry Newman

Today is the Feast of St John Henry Newman. The date was selected as it is the anniversary of his reception into the Catholic Church by Bl. Dominic Barberi in The College at Littlemore in 1845.

The Newman Canonisation Resource has an illustrated biography with a fine selection of quotations from his writings at About Newman — Saint John Henry

St John Henry Newman about the time of his reception into the Catholic Church.

The original drawing was done in 1844 by George Richmond. After Newman joined Oratory in 1848 this engraved version was produced showing him with an Oratorian collar. It is said that Richmond persuaded him to remove his spectacles so that as an artist he could capture this image, presenting a Newman slightly idealised as a spiritual man, a man with a mission.

Image: Maryvale Institute

Of the writing of books about Newman there seems to be no end, aided in part by the great volume of his writings, both for publication and as private correspondence. His wide ranging intellect and his scholarly method resulted in a treasure trove of Catholic thought and spirituality. Whilst his literary style is, naturally, that of his time it is also elegant and, in that sense, classical English prose, easy to follow in its lucidity, but enriching in its profundity. His writings, like his whole life, were a blending of a very English, Oxford education with deep personal faith that led him on this day 179 years ago, into the Catholic Church, and his embrace of its vast spiritual treasury. A man of the English nineteenth century he developed into one of universal interest and appeal.

A late photograph of St John Henry in his robes as a Cardinal. In reality he very rarely wore them.

Image:Reddit

St John Henry Newman Pray for us