Walking with the Saints Podcast | Feast of St. John Henry Newman, Patron Saint of Journalism and Ecumenism | October 9

Walking with the Saints Podcast | Feast of St. John Henry Newman, Patron Saint of Journalism and Ecumenism | October 9     Today’s saint was a former member of the Anglican Church (Church of England), who converted to Catholicism at the age of 44, after reading the truths about the Catholic Church. He was canonized two years ago, perceived as future patron saint of journalism and ecumenism (unity of all Christian Churches). He is none other than St. John Henry Newman, the author of many books and of the famous “Lead Kindly Light”, a, poem fondly quoted by millions. St. John Henry Newman was born in London on February 21, 1801, the eldest of three sons and three daughters. His father was a banker and his mother descended from the noble family of Huguenots. He experienced many trials in life but was able to overcome all difficulties. As a student at Oxford Trinity College, he became a famous writer and editor of magazines. While pursuing a priestly career, he and his friends founded the Oxford Movement which was set to revitalize the Church in England. Yet, in his readings about Catholicism, he discovered that the Catholic Church is the closest in continuity with the Church established by Jesus Christ. He converted, became a Catholic priest, two years later, to the disappointment of most of his countrymen. He lost his job, his reputation, his friends and even family members, who never spoke to him again. For the next 45 years, side by side with his work as a Catholic priest, he worked for social changes in England and at the time of his death on August 12, 1890, it had already become acceptable to convert to Catholicism. In fact, famous celebrities like Oscar Wilde, Ronald Knox, Evelyn Waugh, G.K. Chesterton and others followed him. As a priest in Birmingham, he was a pastor for 40 years. He took care of all his parishioners, not only spiritually, psychologically, but also materially.  He visited the sick, the imprisoned, fed the hungry, gave counselling, even helped financially those in difficulty. In the area of ecumenism he believed that people with different faith can work together for greater unity, preserving their own traditional faith and practices, respecting each other’s beliefs, while considering the historical sources of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ. He was extraordinarily remarkable a pastor, a holy priest, a great preacher that Pope Leo XIII made him a Cardinal in 1879. The people of his parish and his acquaintances loved Cardinal Newman so much that when he died 15,000 people took to the streets to view his mortal remains and accompany it to his resting place. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI beatified him in London. The two miracles that qualified him for sainthood were two immediate and complete healings: the cure of a man’s spinal disease and of a pregnant woman’s unstoppable bleeding. At his canonization by Pope Francis on October 13, 2019, 20,000 people came to witness the ceremony.  Among them were English dignitaries, including Prince Charles, who spoke after the canonization rite. His feast day is celebrated on October 9.   Virtue: holiness, truthfulness, moderation, altruism, empathy, hard work     Prayer: Let us pray with St. John Henry Newman: “Lord shine on me that I may be a light to others, but it will be you shining on others through me.” ·        Reflection: Do I respect those who do not belong to my religion?