A towering figure in the Church, Newman shaped the faith journeys of great Christian thinkers like G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, and Pope Benedict XVI. His writings—profound, poetic, and deeply personal—offer powerful guidance for navigating faith in a secular world. He speaks to the heart as much as to the intellect, weaving together reason, imagination, and experience to illuminate the beauty of the Christian life.
Newman’s prayers are more than words; they are heartfelt cries to God, filled with devotion and longing. His meditations explore essential themes such as the Trinity, the Passion, the Resurrection, the Eucharist, Mary, and the saints, offering timeless insights that still resonate today.
Reflecting on his own mission, Newman once wrote, “God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. . . . He has not created me for naught.”
Let St. John Henry Newman’s words inspire you to embrace your own divine calling.
St. John Henry Newman (1801–1890) was an influential Anglican churchman, a dedicated scholar, and a famous British convert to the Catholic Church. After his conversion to Catholicism, he was influential in the founding of the Birmingham Oratory and served as rector of the Catholic University of Ireland. In 1879, he was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Leo XIII.Newman was canonized on October 13, 2019, by Pope Francis.
Jennifer Newsome Martin is an associate professor in the program of liberal studies and the department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame.
Cyril O’Regan is the Huisking Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame and is well known for his work in systematic and historical theology. His published work includes numerous articles on John Henry Newman and Hans Urs von Balthasar.