With grateful hearts, let us invoke the intercession of St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, Doctor of the Church:
Ever-obedient to the voice of conscience, “the aboriginal vicar of Christ,” pray for us.
Schooled in the Fathers of the Church, you found in them “the ladder by which [you] ascended into the Church,”
Convinced, convincing, and eloquent preacher of the Word of God,
Singer of God’s praises in your poems and hymns,
Always eager to exert your “personal influence,”
Slowly but surely moving “ex umbris et imaginibus in veritatem,”
Patient guide of the doubtful and the convert,
Gentle son of the gentle St. Philip Neri,
Zealous promoter of Catholic education,
Devout lover of Our Lady, leading us to be the same,
One who “could attend Masses forever and not be tired,”
Promoter of “an intelligent, well-instructed laity,”
Advocate of the poor and down-trodden,
Ardent apologist,
Second Apostle of England,
Long-suffering at the hands of envious churchmen,
Prophetic voice warning of “the infidelity of the future,”
A priest’s priest,
Lifelong opponent of “liberalism in religion,”
Gathering many around the Chair of Peter,
Unseen Father of the Second Vatican Council,
First cardinal created by Pope Leo XIII,
Doctor of the Church declared by Pope Leo XIV,
Gracious and loving Father, we thank you for the life and witness of your son and servant, John Henry and ask for the grace to be buoyed up by his courageous and holy example. May we all come to appreciate evermore the exhilarating meaning of “Cor ad cor loquitur.” Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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I am a great admirer of Newman. I have read through several books of his meditations and homilies and prayers. He showed a surprising amount of emotion in what he wrote for a man of that era, which is wonderful and touching. His stuff is written on a level that is easy to understand.
He faced a great deal of opposition from former “friends” when he decided to become a Catholic. It didnt stop him. He knew it was the right move. This is a well deserved honor.
As a “promoter of ‘an intelligent, well-instructed laity’,” he was briefly held suspect when he maintained that “the Church would look silly without them.” And, yet, regarding “intelligent” clericalists, he could surely tell the difference between a Church “synod of bishops,” and a “synodal Church” as potentially a backwardist (!) halfway house toward Anglican disintegration. A “via media” today with gnostic secularism.
As the “Father of the Second Vatican Council” Newman would affirm the “hierarchical communion” of the Church (Lumen Gentium, Ch. 3 and the clarifying Prefatory Note) such that the style of an “ecclesial assembly” (Benedict XVI’s later term) need not be confused with nor displace the distinct role, structure, and accountability of the Apostolic Succession.