JOHN HENRY NEWMAN

Last Thursday, together with my Polish confreres we visited the Shrine of Blessed John Henry Newman at the Birmingham Oratory. 

We were given a tour of the Oratory Church and the Shrine and were given the privilege of offering Mass at the altar in the Shrine containing the Relics of Blessed John Henry Newman.

One of my favourite passages from the writings of Cardinal Newman is the following.  I have it on a little pray card with his image and sometimes assign the prayer as a penance for people who come to confession.

'God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments.

Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.”

The picture in this post has been taken from the website of the Birmingham Oratory.