Baptised in the Church of England, Newman became
a Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford in 1822, an Anglican clergyman
in 1825 and Vicar of the Oxford University Church in 1828.The
Anglican Newman was a pastor of souls, a University teacher, and
a student of Christian history and theology. His studies were
never purely theoretical. Informed by pastoral experience, they
were above all shaped by his insight into the needs of the present.
At school he experienced the attractions of atheism, and all his
life showed unusual sympathy with religious doubt. But also at
school he underwent a conversion granting him an abiding sense
of God’s presence. At the same time, Newman acquired the conviction
that Christianity is a doctrinal religion, and that doctrine and
religious experience are in harmony, not opposed. In Christianity,
Newman believed, mind and heart, dogma and experience, come together.
With the doctrinal and sacramental faith unfolding in him from
his conversion, Newman desired to revive Christianity for a culture
descending into unbelief.
In the Tracts For The Times (1833-1841), Newman and his friends
in the ‘Oxford Movement’ addressed the Church of England in the
hope that it could be renewed in the Apostolic Faith. Gradually,
it dawned on Newman that this was impossible. The Church of England
could not embrace the truth Newman taught.
1842-5 were his ‘wilderness’ years, out of the public eye, secluded
in prayer and study. Living at Littlemore, outside Oxford, he
finally embraced the Catholic Church as the ‘One Fold of Christ’
and was received at Littlemore by Blessed Dominic Barberi on 9th
October 1845.
An Oratorian
Ordained a Catholic priest in Rome in 1847, Newman
returned to England with a mission from the Pope to found Oratories
of St Philip Neri, in Birmingham (where he lived until his death)
and then in London. As an Oratorian Newman founded a Catholic
University in Dublin (1851) and a Catholic School in Birmingham
(1859). Working tirelessly, especially for the poor parishioners
of the Birmingham Oratory, Newman also conducted an enormous correspondence,
helping people all over the world with their religious difficulties.
Pastorally and educationally, in his published writings and in
his correspondence, Newman’s aim was to describe and arouse the
Christian mind. His vocation was to help modern people realise
the demands of thinking and acting with the mind of Christ and
His Church. In 1879 he was made a Cardinal.
Move towards canonization.
The possibility of formal canonization was mooted
several times at Newman’s death. However it was not until 1986,
that the task of gathering the necessary proofs was completed.
In January 1991 Pope John Paul II declared that John Henry Newman
had exercised all of the Christian virtues to a heroic degree,
and was henceforth to be known as ‘Venerable’.
For Newman to be declared Blessed, a miracle
ascribed to his intercession must be recognised by the Church.
On 3 July 2009 Pope Benedict XVI recognized, in fulfillment of
this requirement, the healing of Deacon Jack Sullivan in 2001.
This decision meant that Newman's beatification could at last
take place.
John Henry Newman was beatified by Pope Benedict
XVI on 19 September 2010 during his State Visit to the UK.
