Catholics, Anglicans welcome news
of Card. Newman’s canonization date
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| Cardinal Newman in his younger days |
The day of the canonization of Cardinal John Newman and four
others has been fixed for Sunday, October 13, 2019. Catholics and Anglicans
have welcomed the news.
By Robin Gomes
Catholics and Anglicans have welcomed Monday’s announcement
that Pope Francis will declare English Cardinal John Henry Newman a saint on
Sunday, October 13, at a Mass in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
The day of canonization was established on July 1, as the
Pope held an Ordinary Public Consistory of cardinals to formally approve the
canonization of Card. Newman along with four others: Giuseppina Vannini, Mariam
Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan, Irmã Dulce Pontes and Marguerite Bays.
Newman, a former Anglican priest who became a Roman Catholic
in 1845 and eventually a Cardinal, is regarded as one of the most influential
figures from his era for both Anglicanism and Roman Catholicism, noted the
Church of England in a press release on July 1.
“The canonization of Blessed John Henry Newman is very good
news for the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and we give thanks with them
for this recognition of a holy life formed in both our communions that
continues to be an inspiration for us all,” remarked Anglican Bishop Christopher
Foster of Portsmouth, Co-Chair of the English and Welsh Anglican–Roman
Catholic Committee, on hearing about the canonization date.
“Both as an Anglican and as a Catholic, his contribution to
theology, to education and to the modelling of holiness resonates to this day
around the world and across the churches,” he said.
Born in London on 21 February 1801 and died in Edgbaston on
11 August 1890, Card. Newman was a noted theologian and poet. He
was one of the leading figures of the Oxford Movement that originated at Oxford
University in 1833, which sought to link the Anglican Church more closely to
the Roman Catholic Church.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of
Westminster, regarded the news of the date of the canonization as a “moment of
great pride”. “John Henry Newman is known for many great qualities, but
we remember him particularly for the kindness and compassion of his ministry to
the people of Birmingham,” wrote the cardinal who is president of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of England Wales.
The British Ambassador to the Holy See, Sally
Axworthy also expressed delight at the announcement of the
canonization date.
The 54-year-old diplomat noted that “Cardinal Newman had a
major impact on Catholic theology and on education worldwide, making him a
truly global Briton”. “He brought his experience from the Anglican
Church to his work as a Catholic, bridging the two traditions,” she said.
“The canonization will be an important moment for Britain,
and for UK-Holy See relations,” she said, adding she was eagerly looking
forward to the celebrations. “An important theologian-preacher and pastor in
his years as an Anglican priest,” Axworthy said, “he was one of the key leaders
of the Oxford Movement that heralded a revival in the life of the Victorian
Church of England that spread around the Anglican Communion.”
Card. Newman, who was declared Blessed by Pope Benedict XVI
on 19 September 2010 in Birmingham, England, is also commemorated in the
calendar of the Church of England on the date of his death – 11 August.
As a Catholic priest, he founded the Oratory of St. Philip
Neri in Edgbaston, England, in 1849.
Fr Ignatius Harrison, Provost of the Oratory said that
“Newman's lifelong success in bringing others to Christ shows us that the
apostolate of Christian friendship achieves much more by attracting people
to the Lord than by aggressive polemic.” “Newman's long and incremental
spiritual pilgrimage,” he said, “shows us that God leads us to Himself step by
step, in ways that He customizes to our individual needs, and in His own good
time.”
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