08 October 2019

Why October 9?

Tomorrow is the Feast of Blessed John Henry Newman. Fr H has a thought on why the day is appropriate.  The Beatus will become Saint John Henry Newman this coming Sunday.

From Fr Hunwicke's Mutual Enrichment

A friend once expressed a strong view about the tactlessness of selecting, for the liturgical commemoration of Blessed John Henry, the day of his conversion. I did see what he meant ...

... but here is an alternative reading. October 9 was the only day in Newman's life upon which he was in communion both with the See of Canterbury and with the See of Rome. Neat, yes? I feel quite proud of that. Of course, other days associated with Newman, including his obitus, were already occupied by other Saints.


Incidentally, the new (in 2010) Newman altar at Brompton is a very decent job. The centre of the reredos is a copy of Millais' famous fully frontal portrait of Blessed John Henry. Not bad, but not the original. A shame that a previous duke disposed of it to the Nation (it is back at Arundel with the status of a loan). The original would have been a distinguished addition to the other goodies which make the Oratory so superior to the little museum next door.

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