Prayers, Verses, and Devotions

by John Henry Newman, Louis Bouyer (Introduction)

Prayers, Verses, and Devotions by John Henry Cardinal Newman With an introduction by Louis Bouyer A beautifully bound, Bible paper volume of Newman's most profound devotional writings. His meditations on the Litany of Loreto for the month of May, and on the Stations of the Cross are already recognized as classics of Catholic spirituality. And in his meditations on Christian doctrine Newman shows that the source of true piety is sound teaching. His verses on various occasions are profoundly inspiring as are the spiritual hymns and canticles which distill the wisdom of the incomparable Newman. In addition, also included are the devotions of Bishop Lancelot Andrewes, translated by Newman himself and used by him as the primary source of his own spiritual life. Louis Bouyer, the greatest living Newman scholar, says of these: "Newman quite believed that in these exercises of Andrewes he had discovered that form of prayer which springs directly from the word of God and leads to a life fully lived in Christ. Not only as a priest, but later on as a cardinal of the Roman church, he would keep the Preces privatae on his kneeler for his daily preparation and thanksgiving before and after Mass and for his most personal meditations."

Genres: Religion, Catholic

742 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

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

[Christopher Moellering · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tour through this Saint’s mind, development, and faith. It begins with the Meditations and Devotions of Bishop Andrewes, which Newman used for many years. Then we have a section of his own meditations and devotions across many subjects, with special emphasis on Mary and on Lenten subjects. Thee range from fairly short prayers to multi-page reflections.

The final part of the book is 177 “verses on various occasions” which they truly are, from some small works for various people’s birthdays, up to and including his epic, the Dream of Gerontius.

I chose to read the whole thing cover to cover, because Newman is my patron, but this book is very much one you could pick small bits out of as your interest struck. I will certainly be revising many of the sections.

[Tyler Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newman is my confirmation saint so I’m grateful for the collection. Get the version that also has Lancelot Andrew’s devotions – not only were these Anglican prayers critical to Newman, but they’re beautiful PERIOD, and were mentioned in Evangelical is Not Enough (sorry, forgot the author) as he became Anglican (later, Catholic) as an example of the power of written “rote” prayers contra merely “ex tempore” prayers (which of course have their place and great efficacy as well!) However, the paper is ultra thin, and the layout is not great. I think Newman also suffers from a lot of editing decisions which break up his 19th century prose, which can harm the flow.