Cardinal Newman

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 15, 29 April 1925, Page 13

Cardinal Newman

(By James R. Skehan, Melbourne.)

Among Catholic men of letters in the English-speaking world, John Henry Newman is an outstanding figure. Catholics in . all countries have followed his career with keen interest: Australian Catholics have - learnt to know and to love his name: our seat of learning within the University of Melbourne stands as a monument to his memory. .- v .' , • ■"_ .'- >;;. -'- ■'•. ; , ;.' ;.■ : It was in the home of a London banker, ■"' on February 21, 180.1, that John Henry yNewman first saw the light. ;J/ A cultured .; mother gave him his first impressions of life ; and religion. \ w " r .- ' '-'-■ t**.' At. the early age of fifteen years, he. en-'. rolled at Oxford to prepare for Holy Orders, and in 1822 "he was elected a Fellow of one of its colleges. .In 1824 he was ordained to the ministry of the Church of England: He was associated with Dr. Whatley, as VicePrincipal^ of ; St. \ Mary's Hall, and; -in 1826 he became a tutor of Oriel, his much loved ■ college." The latter - year then, may: be said --y to have made Newman's recognition f as a

[Read before the Ozanam Club on October 7, 1924.1

celebrity. In 1828, when Sir Robert Peelstood for election as a member of the Council of the University of Oxford, Newman; strongly opposed him because he favored the emancipation of Catholics. : . v . - v : '■- Newman was a thinker among thinkers, and one of the'most powerful minds in seven centuries. * He possessed not only extraordinary clarity, of -thought and breadth of vision, but, also, the power of simple and lucid expression. Whether .by voice or by pen, he succeeded in expressing his deepest thought, and ; most intimate experiences in a manner suitable to all. He was ■influenced by the men of his circle,' with whom he lived in perfect sympathy, while «hey, in turn, were attracted by his singularly sweet - disposition and his vast intellectual ■ researches. The work of these thinkers of Newman's day at Oxford exercised an influence over the religious spirit of England that is almost beyond o\ir conception.- \ Deeply conscious of ! the Spirit of God, Newman was ever looking

:.; for 'a larger and belter understanding and r* knowledge of Him. • * ;.;.':.- .'-""'/-• I ; v As an Anglican, ! " itis mission was a relentless war against that --.liberalism in thought which was fast destroy-. - ing supernatural religion. He and his colleagues endeavored to 'strengthen. and renew . the links • which bound the Church of Eng--land to the* True Church, and aimed at the ;return v of the Anglican people to the Faith.He was a man who devoted his talents un-sparingly-to the task of combating the enemies of siiperriatural-seligions, a man who /., looked into the dark, complex soul of Eternity,; arid who wrote down his findings with * "the clearness of a log-book"; and further, a man who /triumphed river modern thought by a complete" victory within himself. .--;./: -Picture Newman as the dreamer, with visions of his own English Church, cleared of , error and once more the mirror of all that '',' Christ, wished His followers to be; picture \ that growing-original mind discovering truths that upset, one by one, all his earthly beliefs; a man who.looked.upon, the Middle ; Ages as a.vista of perfection and who saw; ' all the faults and shortcomings of the Creed .'as -lie was" taught it. Medieval times did ; not keep the light of Faith burning through __ v a troublesome epoch, but they proved to earnest students—the beauty, and; harmony ;■■'•"■. of Catholicism. Newman and his followers '/battled with modern thought; taught in the "f/ schools. The lives of men like Sir Thomas ;;: More, who visioned all the evils which were to come over England and whose life was ~. saddened; by this knowledge, were not given / in vain. /". --■■. .-.- .- ' : "■ .' " : "'/. ••■'»- . '■ ~' • .. ■ -*^_'. : -*v/. To Newman, the Middle Ages Were // ';'//'-■; . ' / ,'. An Inspiration, : </ • and ;the peace of Catholicity hung, like'. a - vision, ever before his sight. He looked ■ : upon the practical side of, religionthe re- .; ligion of Creator and creature. He lived for .;/ the saving ,of souls, no labor seeming -too v great, no path too hard to tread for his purpose. One must know this phase of New-sman's-character to value him at his true '■/ ;• M 7 <jrth. /- ~~ ."•."'' '"'' ' ■** '/' •/' -* y ' " '■' Picture, him slowly awakening and emoig- ./ "irigfrohi' his idealistic dream, weighing his convictions and explaining them in the form ■£■■■■'- ,of sermons "to - which men, listened -with '/bated breath. Englishmen had heard noth- ;,-;. ing like them for centuries. These sermons ;~" were delivered when Newman was one of the preachers of Oxford.; As a good critic says: "The vigor of his personality was.compelling, .his influence was immeasurable upon , all who listened to him." It was during this >-" period of • his career that he defended the ./Catholic • doctrine- -of the Communion "of ' .' Saints. v ' ' - \ The universal broadness of his mind, guid- : ed by an, Apostolic . mission, gave him the ,^o wer to.read, the souls of men as easily . he knew his own. . •. r ■'■'■;. /' •>/ Newman's Thoughts Were Now Turning i ~""V • • : "Romewards," '.'•:.- ; v '■•"■"■"' . and a terrible battle of conflict- was ;taking : place /within himself, which' would fit him later with a powerful insight into the minds of.'otheis. He /had found his talents and

he strove to use them unstintedly. in his Apostoi'c cause. He seemed always; aware of;;God's scrutiny, and acted accordingly/ In his labors to discover the certainty of .' the Apostolic Church, he spared no effort. He delved far into the history of the Arians in search of • well defined }. truth. In his'.-■■ search, he found that history was »»ut repeating itself in, his own time. The great Protestant y tradition forbade him to look into the heart of 'Rome' for the truth hat would set him free. Born in an age steeped with "anti-Romanism, in an age when his countrymen were taught from babyhood innumerable falsehoods concerning Catholicism, need we marvel that Newman found the path difficult? All the influences that formed lie minds of men, the schools, the universities, confirmed by legislation, tended to strengthen the belief that Catholics were idolators, their sacraments absurd, and their dogmas "vain things, foolishly invented." Newman started life with an exalted idea of everything Anglican, and an erroneous idea of everything Catholic; with.ridicule for the honor' given . to God's Holy Mother and His saints. The literary world of his time was saturated 'with British Propaganda against Rome. Prejudice was'instilled, nursed and nourished in his mind, as it was in the minds of his fellow-countrymen. Most men, even those renowned for their criticisms, took all told to them as facts. It needed great minds like Ivenelm Digby; Manning, and the master mind of Newman to question these traditional teachings. '+ On September 9, 1833, Newman first lanuched his speech, making "Tracts for the Times." It is said, that by this step, Newman commenced his Apostolic career. He now became conscious of divine leadership in the "renovation" of the English Church. Even though an apostle, s he had not yet realised the full' error of the Church to which he belonged, nor, had he conceived what Wiseman concisely: calls "the living concrete institution which represents on earth the majesty of God." Conscious that unity was impossible, he suggested a middle course. "///// :","//... ;V ';/ _ ■ ': : .;/.. . Newman ,} was, unconsciously, preaching Catholicity from the Catholic point of view. This was pointed out to him by far-seeing scholars his own communion and the "Tracts" were discontinued, by order of the bishops. These blows fell* so heavily upon Newman, that he saw, quite clearly, he could preach at Oxford no longer. "His house of cards, had fallen about his ears'." British tradition soon recovered from the stunning effect of th^-shock of Newman's change of front. This recovery, strengthened by his great prestige, caused men to come ', forward who denounced him and who, also, /accused him of hypocrisy, of error, and of dishonesty. Such attacks pierced him to the •rheart ;and almost made his work appear a . failure; but his knowledge and-love of God %. and of the souls of men, triumphed over all. With a single purpose, the saving of souls, ,with extraordinary qualities of leadership, . with a ' wholeness of thought and of character, Newman remained still Newman, a man- of marked,individual mind and character, upon whom Catholicism in Englant

was largely to depend. Professor Sinister ; says • "We haue only to consider the amazing. • betterment in the position of English- Catholicism, during the last generation, to realise - how much was accomplished by «the man who stirred Oxford." It will, perhaps, take Australia 50 years or more to achieve as much. < It has become fashionable in England to become a Catholic!. Not so, here in Australia, and not likely to be so unless the members of Newman, of Ozanam, and other Catholic literary societies follow the lead and speed Sjd the day with voice and with pen. ' In December, 1832, Newman, with Hurrell Froude, journeyed to >' Italy. These two patient and painstaking scholars, working together, began the Lyra Apostolica, and sent monthly contributions. to the British-Magazine; Newman became K ill and returned to England, carrying back \ with him, deep and lasting impressions of Italy and of Rome in particular. Rome stirred his soul as no other city had done. 'He is said to have "envied Roman Catholics Rome and its history," and to have wished that "it existed in England." . Soon after Newman's return to England,. .John Keble delivered his historic sermon, "National Apostacy." Keeble and others had > sought by different means to oppose liberal-?: ism and to neutralise the tendencies Rome- - wards. It was about this time that Newman / wrote his "Via Media" and also a short % article on the Real Presence. It is interesting to note, that, though Newman wasattacked because of his exposition/of this dogma, the view expounded by him has been •adopted and is almost imiversaly held by theologians to-day. This article resulted in a storm of controversy, but Newman was"-: able for it all, and he easily vanquished his many opponents. But when the eloquent Dr. Wiseman came ' into the controversial arena, Newman met and recognised his master, as far as his Anglican belief was concerned.__ Dr. Wiseman wrote his sermons§ on "The Anglican Claim," which cleared ail 1 the arguments of the "Via Media" and New-'/ man stood convinced, that it must be either; Catholicism or ""■ Protestantism. . He still| clung to/his; Protestant faith until the Church of England allied itself with heretical bodies in ' the East. He protested loudly against this and it is said that, this was "his last interference with the destiny of the Church of England." With all his arguments against Rome crumbled about him, he sought for further information, and during his correspondence with the Rev. Dr. Russell, of Maynooth, he formally retracted .all his'' utterance against the Church.? This was in the year 1834 arid; • towards the end of this year he resigned his| office and went to live at Littlemore. Here ■ he lived in retirement, putting all his doubts before himself arid proceeding to find answers for them./ The result of this concentration^| and work was his Development of -Christian Doctrine, a volume said, by many to be ,the; supreme product of his thought. The Call, to Rome for Guidance Came to ._ ~~ -', Newman.,- '.--'■'. "■ \:~/ '.-/ He resisted strongly ;: doubt and prejudice made resistance; doubly strong. Time, "with! tears of anguish and terrific battles with self,

;• and; with conventions, was needed to make victory complete. -■ -• ; '■-'- r^ ■■Y) 'Seated one ! day, finishing his . essay on "Doctrinal Development,": the^ shadow that the light of his ? - vision v .was , sud- | Eerily" cleared, ' the "weary struggle'- was - sit .; an end."' He -then quoted : "Nunc dimittis j: servum ilium, Domiiie secundum verbum in pace quia viderunt oqiili tnei salutate tutim." ;?£ He. dropped the phrase "Roman Catholics" : ; arid simply used" "Catholics," he resolved to be received into the "One fold' of Christ." The Doctrine .of Development was begun be- : fore he entered "the: Church. It was finished /and., published by Father Dominic, who belonged to the Passionists and whom Newman 'described as "a simple, holy man, gifted with remarkable power." To Father t ; Dominic • was given the privilege of receiving Newman into ; the Church. ; This -took:place on October-8, 1845. Two years later, on May 13, he was ordained a priest of God's /Holy Church. He now became a man with ./a settled mind, he had the. advantage of 'being able to look at things from the point .of view—firstly, the - unbeliever in Catholicl ism, secondly, the enquirer, and lastly, the believer. He had lived intensly the life of each and having done .so,, he was full of sympathy for all. He left no stone unturned that would serve to help others towards the goal lie prized beyond all, else. He looked with eyes that had seen, he looked on men as images. of their Creator, and loved them because of it. He yearned 'to .make easy the path he had trod to that haven of peace—God's Holy Church. ; His loss was keenly felt, at Oxford. Dr. Sharpe describes ■ the stillness followed ! his retirement in the following eloquent words: "It was as

when, to one travelling by night, in the silence of some vast cathedral, the great bell tolling overhead has suddenly gone still." Once a Catholic his work became decisive. He attacked Anglicanism in his clear-sighted, out-spoken way, yet withal, with, what deference he treated the followers of the faith to which he had .belonged!, ; His controversy was always full of courtesy and loveonly a genius could have handled it as he did. Broadly and courteously he conducted the controversy between Catholics arid Anglicans, deftly and lovingly.: meeting those who had opposed his Views, ; /'_ /'..;•■':: 4 |" Newman's First Labors for the Church. were setJh Birmingham, where the Oratory of Philip Neri; was opened in 1848. Pius IX constituted. Newman Superior of. the first English congregation of St. Philip. Closely watched by trained theologians and dismayed with the knowledge of many heretical, "revolutionary teachings, Newman's struggles were .'Bard and ■ long. ' Despite this "almost superhuman effort, he gave himself utterly to the apostolic missionary work that lay near his hand, realising that he must aim at the conversion of the individual to' fight the opposing efforts' of the organisation to which he had belonged. '<"' ■-■ - ~■■" ■>

Newman, after many bitter failures’ was asked -to - establish . a University in -Ireland. ■ This gave' him new hope; that the . great work of his life was at hand— help strengthen and educate Christian minds, to make them

capable 7. of resisting ;' infidel and pagan . ) thought. He fought hard and long. He i aimed at big results, and thought; that with." 1 / Rome at - his back, 'he con Id accomplish al- .; most a superhuman task. He was doomed;; to -'disappointment arid failure but, though it shook hope and left him an old man, '■■...} his wonderful faith carried him through. ] This effort might have . been considered.*•/a .: failure, but born or it is that beautiful edu- . .cational- classic, '-The; Idea of a University. This book is at present being used .at:the [ Melbourne. University as a text book. ■" ■ Newman missed no opportunity by. voice : or by pen to give the assistance to' others, ; that he had found so valuable during his own I struggle."* -' : ' I *~.\-\ He took many notable men with him along j the path to Rome, among whom were: Wil- ' frid George Ward, who afterwards published Newman's letters, himself, like Newman, a 1 literary man and one time editor of the Dublin Review; Father. Frederick Faber, . 'a nother literary associate who joined the Church in 1845 T. W. -Allies, journalist; ■' Father Dalgairn.s, Lady Herbert, Kegan Paul, Father Martineau, and many others, who, like Newman saw the,value of writing Catholic Truth. He had a brilliant adviser in Archbishop. Ullathorne (also a writer), of interest to us, having worked for the saving of souls in Australia. - ■■■[% Newman Stands as our Historian. ' -: his remarkable conception of the culture'of Rome, held and defended by the Church, during the fall of that Empire, was beyond any mind of his day. He has been described as,the "Apostle rifling the wardrobe of the unbeliever." He is 'claimed to belong to the history of religion first arid then to literature. The Grammar of /Assent and the Apologia are his most brilliant pieces of literature, from the point 'of view of style. One is intensely interested in the word analogy and the " "bubbling over" of the good cause. : . ' - . . ' \. ._ _. The Apologia Pro Vita Sua, ;■'//■;/ full, of can-dor and conviction, written in

defence cf himself } : narrating the doubts 1 that assailed- him, his perseverance in quest of truth, #nd his- final victory and complete happiness of mind, must ever 'live as a complete literary gem. His prose in-/the Apologia :'. stands, out _ "clear •; as crystal,'.'simple, concise, carrying conviction and full of enthusiasm. _.. . - , : %& :' AIL his reasonings and thoughts were but .a mirror of his beautiful personality?" Hisl wonderful choice of * words, which, try- as cue will, "^one' cannot replace, -express the' greatness of his genius. '" '■'•"" "■'-".'•"' '■-■■■. I- ; / A petition of the leaders of the Church in England, - asking for the 'recognition /of./ Newman's work and guidance, and that the | Dignity of , Cardinal be -bestowed upon him, was sent to the Holy ; See. The hand" of; God, Who had tried and tested Newman severely, was, through the - agency of His enlightened Leo XIII," placed upon/ the head of Newman. He was consecrated Cardinal - at Rome on May 12, 1879. Birmingham claimed him until his deaths oil August 11, 1890. : '/.. ,;^";/" : : .."- v ?^l'; f -': . . }-/y^ Men like Newman,' Manning, ijllathonuv and Wiseman, who found time to write -and; who -brought the Catholic ; Spirit forward in English literature, form a record of glory which we can never cherish too deeplywe; must ever.see the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, manifestedly working in these men as we see it in the works of the Apostles. It would serve to make us : see the value of writing, if God has bestowed" that gift upon us. If I have gone over familiar ground, in this paper and have only given some of Newman's, life and work, I hope it has proved interesting. I. can only say with Father- Herbert I. Lucas, S.J. "that no small portion of Newman's life's work may be said to have con-" sisted in the providing of a wonderful object; lesson in religious earnestness, , and in the fulfillment of the 'ardoiis 1 task of ""blazing the trail" others might more easily' follow/ that leads from the cul-de-sac of the "Via. Media"- to.: the Kind's highway of Catholic • Truth/' -.,„:-.■; :;;;:-;:.-;;. v : -,:^ ; >.-.^^' = ';-- :: '"