The Catholic Sermon Notes of Saint John Henry Newman: Arranged According to the Calendar of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite

St. John Henry Newman (1801-1890) has been praised as the greatest English Catholic theologian. His conversion from Anglicanism to Catholicism in 1845 is one of the most celebrated conversion stories in the history of Christianity. Ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1846, he became a Cardinal in 1879. His writings, noted for their combination of gentle warmth and firm conviction, have helped innumerable non-Catholics overcome their fears and objections in order to embrace the Catholic faith. Cardinal Newman has been largely known as a great preacher from his “Parochial and Plain Sermons”, which come from his Anglican days. His sermons as a Catholic priest were generally not written down, but many of his notes for these have been preserved. These notes were collected by the Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory, which Newman founded, and were originally published more than a century ago. Largely forgotten for many decades, these notes have now been rearranged according to the liturgical calendar of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite by the current Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory and published in the present volume to mark Newman’s canonisation. Cardinal Newman’s Sermon Notes reveal his deeply Biblical approach to homiletics, combined with reflections of a theological, ascetical and apologetic character. As a guide to the liturgical year or as a book for meditation and sermon talking points, it will be of great help to priests wanting to preach in the spirit of its illustrious author, who may one day join the ranks of Doctors of the Church.

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