Newman the Priest - Father of Souls

by Gerard Skinner

EVER SINCE HIS DEATH IN 1890, Newman's name has inspired the thinking and the devotion of many. The story of his conversion is legendary and yet, as the future Pope Benedict XVI observed, 'Throughout his entire life, Newman was a person converting, a person being transformed, and thus he always remained and became ever more himself.' Newman's genius and his prolific output of so many types of writing have, in turn, given rise to innumerable books and articles, these most frequently being academic studies of some theme or other of this eminent Victorian's thought. Presenting aspects of the life of Cardinal Newman and letting him speak to us in his own words, Fr Skinner draws from the tens of thousands of pages that this great pastor penned and presents Newman as a priest, 'A Father of Souls'. In a series of easily readable sketches we follow Newman's life from the time when he first realised that God was calling him to the ordained ministry until his last years as a priest and Cardinal in the Birmingham Oratory that he had himself founded. Important themes such as his preaching are seen alongside the means by which he felt he was most sustained and strengthened for his life's not insignificant trials. Seven of Newman's sermons conclude this volume. In the words of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Newman's 'remarkable life, void of sham and ambition, but steeped in a prayerful communion with the Unseen, while it remained alive to the problems of his age in Church and society, continues to inspire, to uplift and to enlighten'. Much attention has rightly been given to Newman's scholarship and to his extensive writings, but it is important to remember that he saw himself first and foremost as a priest. In this Annus Sacerdotalis, I urge you to hold up to your priests his example of dedication to prayer, pastoral sensitivity towards the needs of his flock, and passion for preaching the Gospel. Pope Benedict XVI, Address to the Bishops of England and Wales, 1 February 2010 FR GERARD SKINNER is a priest of the Diocese of Westminster. He was born in Portsmouth and, after studying at the Royal Academy of Music, London, he trained for the priesthood at the Venerable English College in Rome

Genres: Biography

328 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2010

Reviews

[Maximilian Nightingale · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent biography of Blessed John Henry Newman! It extensively quotes from his writings and letters, showing the sources of his vocation, his thoughts on the priesthood, and how he concretely lived it out. The appendix has a nice selection from his sermons as well. I would recommend it to any priest or seminarian.

[Kevin de Ataíde · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classified description of the Cardinal's writings connected to his ministry in both the Anglican Church and as a Catholic priest, followed by a few of his published homilies. Most striking in this book are the priestly character that was evident from the very beginning of Newman's ministry, first as a deacon and then as a priest in east Oxford. Newman is often seen as a high intellectual and university man (as indeed, he was), but here's what emerges as surprising... he loved the ordinary people and parish life and would have given up his position at Oriel for them.

And then there is the agonising soul-searching, as he dragged himself into the Catholic Church, more by a conversion of heart than through the intellect. Very impressive is the literary output. Diaries and missives, books, etc. It seems odd for people who hardly ever write anything or struggle to do so to understand how a man, when he is challenged or simply must unburden his mind, picks up his pen and writes pamphlets and even books within a short period of time.

A very good read, and much recommended. This was one of the most saintly men of nineteenth century England. There is no one whose sophisticated prose I wouldn't struggle more to understand.