Parochial and Plain Sermons

by John Henry Newman

— A Classic — Includes Active Table of Contents — Includes Religious Illustrations

STRANGE as it may seem, multitudes called Christians go through life with no effort to obtain a correct knowledge of themselves. They are contented with general and vague impressions concerning their real state; and, if they have more than this, it is merely such accidental information about themselves as the events of life force upon them. But exact systematic knowledge they have none, and do not aim at it.

Aeterna Press

Genres: Theology, Catholic, Religion, Christianity, Christian, Spirituality, Classics

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1987

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

[Martin]

It took me several years to gradually read through this huge collection of sermons - originally published in eight separate volumes - but it was well worth it, and I just can't praise it highly enough. Reading this has been a life-changing experience. Newman's combination of zeal, compassion and profound thought shines on every page.

[booklady]

I have the audio version of "The Catholic Sermons of Blessed John Henry Newman" which will allow me to listen to some of these. As sermons and homilies are meant to be heard, I look forward to listening to those which are recorded ... would that I could get them all!

[Scott]

The best book I have ever read on living as a Christian completely and authentically. Newman roots out many peculiarly modern heresies, and forces his reader to acknowledge the incredible struggles and joys at the heart of Christian orthodoxy.

[Joseph Pearce]

These sermons were written about two hundred years ago and still touch the heart of those who read them with faith. They are still relevant speaking to us today as they originally spoke to those who first heard and read them in Victoria England.

[Bernard]

A gorgeous edition of some of Newman's finest preaching. A classic example of Christian moral and biblical preaching by one of the finest minds of the 19th Century.

[Erik]

Included in the "Catholicism Explained/Theology" section of Fr. John McCloskey's 100-book Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan.