Meditations and Devotions

by John Henry Newman

To pray is to be a Christian, to be a Saint is to have prayed often. John Henry Cardinal Newman was a man of prayer and this book contains the culmination of his prayers and devotions, divided into three sections. The first and second parts contain the vocal prayers he wrote for public use, the litanies the Stations of the Cross and short meditations. The long meditations in the third part of the book are intended for private use, which draw one into a deeper sense of intimacy with Our Lord. The prayers are also a testament to his particular devotion to Our Lady with moving commentaries on her several titles from the Litany of Loreto. These are tender and profound, yet without any trace of sentimentality. Newman s meditations are full of doctrine. Doctrine is the expression of Truth, and above all things, Newman longed to bear witness to the Truth. It is from the Scriptures, the Church Fathers and the living Church that Newman drew his doctrine, and in his meditations he made it his own.

Genres: Religion, Spirituality, Catholic, Devotional, Christianity, Theology, Prayer

448 pages, Leather Bound

First published January 1, 1893

About the author

Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman was an important figure in the religious history of England in the 19th century. He was known nationally by the mid-1830s.
Originally an evangelical Oxford University academic and priest in the Church of England, Newman then became drawn to the high-church tradition of Anglicanism. He became known as a leader of, and an able polemicist for, the Oxford Movement, an influential and controversial grouping of Anglicans who wished to return to the Church of England many Catholic beliefs and liturgical rituals from before the English Reformation. In this the movement had some success. However, in 1845 Newman, joined by some but not all of his followers, left the Church of England and his teaching post at Oxford University and was received into the Catholic Church. He was quickly ordained as a priest and continued as an influential religious leader, based in Birmingham. In 1879, he was created a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII in recognition of his services to the cause of the Catholic Church in England. He was instrumental in the founding of the Catholic University of Ireland, which evolved into University College Dublin, today the largest university in Ireland.

Newman was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 September 2010 during his visit to the United Kingdom. He was then canonised by Pope Francis on 13 October 2019.

Newman was also a literary figure of note: his major writings including the Tracts for the Times (1833–1841), his autobiography Apologia Pro Vita Sua (1865–66), the Grammar of Assent (1870), and the poem The Dream of Gerontius (1865),[6] which was set to music in 1900 by Edward Elgar. He wrote the popular hymns "Lead, Kindly Light" and "Praise to the Holiest in the Height" (taken from Gerontius).

Reviews

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little book that is both an introduction to Newman's spirituality and a great devotional in its own right. Some highlights:

• Meditations on the Litany of Loreto - Newman is deeply Marian and it shows through here.
• The Short Road to perfection - do all of the tasks of the day well, receive the sacraments, pray devoutly, make a good examination of conscience daily, and you're on your way.
• Meditations on sin, many of the important mysteries of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit, how the Passion gives us hope, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

In sum: epic book

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book into which I keep dipping and have done so for the last 40 years or so. I found a very old copy (and incredibly dusty) evidently unread for years and years while scrounging around the library of a monastery . I was offended for the little fellow (how bad could it be?), and decided to read a portion, just to see why it would go unread for so long. I never figured that out for it is tour de force of thought, prayer, submission, celebration, strength and humility. Here is an abbreviated excerpt, from just one day in this magical diary of sorts.... (the whole passage is in my highlights).

....”I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good. I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve him in my calling ......I am born to serve Thee, to be Thine, to be Thy instrument. Let me be Thy blind instrument. I ask not to see - I ask not to know- I ask simply to be used” (March 7, 1848)

I have never been able to get through the entire meditation, without stopping. The book is dense. It is similar to reading Donne’s sermons for me. Or perhaps more apropos, it is like reading Stephan Mitchell’s poetry ... I must read carefully and I must mine every line. I treasure my hard copy and my kindle versions.... I have of only a handful of books in both formats...the most important ones.

[John Doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an avid fan of Newman and his writings, I was initially quite excited to read this posthumous book of his. Sadly, I was not very impressed; the book lacks the style and editing of a polished work of Newman. I feel that the composer, despite his good intentions, did a disservice to the great Christian apologist by stuffing together many disconnected and personal thoughts of Newman that were not either intended for or ready for publication. With that said, the reader may still glean many wonderful truths of the Christian faith from this book and here and there chance upon a quote that may serve to enlighten or motivate the spiritual life.

[Pedro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflexões sobre a Santíssima Virgem, com este nome, na tradução brasileira, saiu este pequeno livro do cardeal Newman sobre a Virgem Maria. Ele reflete sobre as invocações da ladainha. Recomendo vivamente.

[Marydove · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little gem of a book, and good way to introduce yourself to Newman’s writings