Priest Benefit Fund
Dear Brothers and Sisters, This past winter, we celebrated Funeral Masses for two of our priests, one week apart. Both priests gave long and faithful service to the Church in our Diocese; and both were able to live with security and dignity in their retirement years thanks to the support they received from our Priest Benefit Fund. After the years of a priest's active service, we want to know that he is cared for and can live with the assurance that his needs will be met. The annual parish collection is a primary way for us to ensure that our Priest Benefit Fund is financially sound, able to meet the needs of our senior clergy. I was gratified by your generosity at last year's appeal and heartened to see that it even surpassed previous years. That is a sign of your concern and appreciation for the priests who serve you with such dedication. With your help, we are on track to address the liability in that fund, thus guaranteeing that it will endure in the future and be able to care for the priests of our Diocese as they enter retirement. Our Annual Appeal for the Priest Benefit Fund will take place on Sunday, June 9th, and your envelope may be submitted even after that. Donations may also be made online at our Diocesan website. I am grateful for your ongoing generosity to this appeal which is so crucial to the life of the Church in the Diocese of Peterborough. On behalf of all our priests — retired, preparing for retirement, or still a long way from it — I offer you our sincere thanks and our prayers. Yours in Christ, Bishop Daniel J. Miehm, D.D. |
Prayer to St. Joseph for Vocations
O, Great St Joseph, you were completely obedient to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and accepted God's mysterious plan for your life. Through your intercession obtain God's grace for all those who are called to be Priests and Deacons, religious Sisters and Brothers, and help them embrace their vocation with joy, courage and determination. Pray for them that they may give their lives to Christ wholeheartedly as you did and be with them as they persevere to the end, through all life's joys and sorrows. St Joseph, bring all those called, especially the young, to a deeper knowledge of Christ and his Holy Mother, so that they may more easily reflect in their vocations the self-giving of Jesus and Mary. Share with them your care for the Church whose Universal Patron you are, so that they may share with you one day, your glory in heaven. O Great St Joseph, pray for the Church, pray for Canada, pray for our families, and for our youth, pray for vocations and pray at last for me. Amen |
Catholic Church Teachings/Stand
It makes perfect sense that our Creator, who made us and designed us to work in a certain way, would know what’s best for us. Fortunately, He gifted the Church with His advice on how to live our lives in such a way that we could be free and happy. By giving us a roadmap, Christ gave us the ability to be freed from the negative effects of immorality and unhappiness, because true freedom allows us to live fully. The Church never forces anyone to believe what she teaches. Faith itself must be free (CCC 160). But to help guide us to choose what is best for ourselves, according to the way He made us, He gave us the Church and all her moral teachings.(Catholics Come Home.org)
The Magisterium or Teaching Authority of the Church
"By the Magisterium we mean the teaching office of the Church. It consists of the Pope and Bishops. Christ promised to protect the teaching of the Church: “He who hears you, hears me; he who rejects you rejects me, he who rejects me, rejects Him who sent me” (Luke 10. 16). The promise of Christ cannot fail: hence when the Church presents some doctrine as definitive or final, it comes under this protection, it cannot be in error; in other words, it is infallible. Vatican II taught: “The task of authoritatively interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on [Scripture or Tradition], has been entrusted exclusively to the living Magisterium of the Church, whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ.” For apart from the Magisterium (teaching authority) of the Church, the fullness of God's revelation cannot be maintained on earth in its integrity. "It is clear therefore that, in the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls" (Catechism of The Catholic Church, No. 95). The Catholic Church and Euthanasia
“Catholicism regards life as sacred, and taking any innocent life is immoral and sinful. The Catholic Church uses same principles to condemn euthanasia as it does to condemn abortion. The Church believes that no one needs or ought to suffer a long, painful death, and that the sick must be treated, and the dying must be comforted. The dying and those suffering enormous pain from disease or injury or can and should have as much painkiller medication as they can tolerate, as long as the medication isn’t the cause of death. The Church distinguishes between two types of euthanasia: In active euthanasia, you cause death by actively giving a person something to hasten death. Any procedure or treatment that directly causes the death of a patient is considered immoral and sinful because it’s the direct taking of an innocent life. In passive euthanasia, you cause death by not doing what’s necessary to preserve or sustain life. Intentionally causing death by withholding medicine or a procedure or stopping one that’s begun is considered immoral and sinful, because its primary purpose is the death of an innocent person.” DNR: Do Not Resuscitate
"The Church's teaching on DNR orders is contained in the Church's teaching on the moral distinction between ordinary/obligatory and extraordinary/non-obligatory medical treatment. This moral distinction is based upon the natural law teaching that one is obliged to preserve one's life, but not in the case in which the means of self-preservation are useless, or disproportionate to the goal of self-preservation. The Church clearly teaches that it is morally wrong to impose on anyone the obligation to accept treatments that impose undue burdens on him, his family, and the wider community or to accept treatments that do not offer reasonable benefits or are useless or futile. Thus, if a patient has suffered brain damage to such an extent that survival will not include the ability to lead a life even approximating the normal, or if the disease processes in a patient have debilitated the patient beyond any hopeful prognosis, it is very likely that a consideration of all of the circumstances of the individual case will lead to the sound moral judgment that artificial resuscitation, may be considered in that particular case to be a relatively extraordinary means of prolonging life. Once this judgment is reached, then the wishes of the patient become the operative norm for further treatment." The Catholic Church & Homosexuality "The Catholic Church respects and loves the homosexual person the same as it does the heterosexual. Catholicism teaches that homosexual people must be treated with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every act or thought of hatred, violence, or persecution toward the homosexual is condemned. The Church opposes same-sex unions based on Genesis 1:25–28: “God created man in his own image….male and female he created them… and God said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ ” and Genesis 2:24, ” a man shall be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Jesus himself uses these same quotations in Mark 10:6–9 when asked about marriage." |
Cremation
"For most of its 2,000-year history, the Catholic Church only permitted burial, arguing it best expressed the Christian hope of resurrection. But in 1963, the Vatican allowed cremation as long as it didn't suggest a denial of faith about resurrection. The Doctrine of the Faith repeats that burial remains preferred, but it lays out guidelines for conserving ashes for the increasing number of Catholics who choose cremation for economic, ecological, hygiene, or other reasons. Even when cremation is chosen, the cremated remains must be treated with respect and integrity. Ashes and bone fragments cannot be kept at home, rather they should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or a columbarium. Remains cannot be divided among family members or put in lockets or other mementos. Nor can the ashes be scattered in the air, land or sea. The Church prefers the option of having the cremation take place after the funeral liturgy in order to celebrate its three principal funeral rites in the presence of the body; it can then show to the body the reverence it always has through the signs that have long been part of the Church's tradition." Veneration of Images "The Council of Trent (Dec.1563) repeats faithfully the principles of Nicaea II: “The holy Synod commands that images of Christ, the Virgin Mother of God, and other saints are to be held and kept especially in churches, that due honour and reverence are to be paid to them, not that any divinity or power is thought to be in them for the sake of which they may be worshipped, or that anything can be asked of them, or that any trust may be put in images, as was done by the heathen who put their trust in their idols, but because the honour shown to them is referred to the prototypes which they represent, so that by kissing, uncovering to, kneeling before images we adore Christ and honour the saints whose likeness they bear.” The "Catechism of Christian Doctrine" by command of the Catholic bishops sums up the whole Catholic position exactly: "It is forbidden to give divine honour or worship to the angels and saints for this belongs to God alone." "We should pay to the angels and saints an inferior honour or worship, for this is due to them as the servants and special friends of God." "We should give to relics, crucifixes and holy pictures a relative honour, as they relate to Christ and his saints and are memorials of them." Organ Donation for the Purpose of Transplant "Pope John Paul II sums up the position of the Church in these words: “A particularly praiseworthy example of such gestures is the donation of organs, performed in an ethically acceptable manner, with a view to offering a chance of health and even of life itself to the sick who sometimes have no other hope”. Since the time of Pope Pius XII, the Church has explicitly stated that both Inter Vivos Transplants (refer to those that take place among the living) and Postmortem Transplants (refer to donations given after death) are licit, based upon the principle of fraternal charity, but only when certain requirements are met. Remembering that the end does not justify the means, these requirements include: 1. The necessity of informed consent legitimately given by the donor or one who speaks for him. 2. The physical and psychological risks incurred by the donor must be proportionate to the good sought for the recipient. 3. The donor must be aware of these risks and the proportionate good. 4. To destroy the healthy functioning or intrinsic beauty of one's body, even to delay death of another, is morally wrong." |
Saints/Feast Days
Saint John Henry Newman
Saint John Henry Newman was a disciple of Jesus Christ who was uniquely graced by the Holy Spirit with many personal, intellectual, and spiritual gifts. Baptized into Christ in the Church of England, his particular journey of faithfulness, through the baptism we all share, would call him into service as a priest, scholar, and educator, and later as a Roman Catholic theologian and eventual member of the College of Cardinals. Along the way, his talents and charisms were nurtured and shared in a variety of ways in both our traditions, to their significant mutual benefit.
In this regard, we recall how his writing and teaching led to a renewal of contemporary theological reflection through a return to the sources of the apostolic and conciliar periods of early Church history. We recognize his influence on liturgical life and traditions of contemplative prayer, with its emphasis on beauty, devotion, and reverence, particularly through his life in the Congregation of the Oratory, which he established in England. A number of institutions of higher education have likewise drawn deep inspiration from Newman’s intellectual legacy, as marked by the establishment of Newman Centers on university campuses in North America and Great Britain since the late nineteenth century. We remember his pastoral heart, especially for young people, and how he sought to bring intellectual appreciation towards the mysteries of the faith, always keeping in mind the pastoral needs of people.
Though Newman’s life has at times been a source of tension between Anglicans and Roman Catholics in the past, today we are able to affirm together that Newman is a figure whom all of us can celebrate in common; a brother in Christ Jesus, in whose formation both our churches had a share. Indeed, we can even see in his legacy the planting of many seeds in both communities which later contributed to the ecumenical fruit which has grown between us at the global and local levels. This includes the work of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM), as well as the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue of Canada (ARC Canada) and the Anglican-Roman Catholic Bishops’ Dialogue (ARC-B).
Today, as John Henry Newman is canonized in Rome, both the Anglican Church of Canada and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, give thanks together for his faithful witness of a Christian life. May it inspire baptized disciples of Christ, both Catholic and Anglican, to continued renewal, holiness, and service to others, “that all may be one” (John 17:21).
Saint John Henry Newman was a disciple of Jesus Christ who was uniquely graced by the Holy Spirit with many personal, intellectual, and spiritual gifts. Baptized into Christ in the Church of England, his particular journey of faithfulness, through the baptism we all share, would call him into service as a priest, scholar, and educator, and later as a Roman Catholic theologian and eventual member of the College of Cardinals. Along the way, his talents and charisms were nurtured and shared in a variety of ways in both our traditions, to their significant mutual benefit.
In this regard, we recall how his writing and teaching led to a renewal of contemporary theological reflection through a return to the sources of the apostolic and conciliar periods of early Church history. We recognize his influence on liturgical life and traditions of contemplative prayer, with its emphasis on beauty, devotion, and reverence, particularly through his life in the Congregation of the Oratory, which he established in England. A number of institutions of higher education have likewise drawn deep inspiration from Newman’s intellectual legacy, as marked by the establishment of Newman Centers on university campuses in North America and Great Britain since the late nineteenth century. We remember his pastoral heart, especially for young people, and how he sought to bring intellectual appreciation towards the mysteries of the faith, always keeping in mind the pastoral needs of people.
Though Newman’s life has at times been a source of tension between Anglicans and Roman Catholics in the past, today we are able to affirm together that Newman is a figure whom all of us can celebrate in common; a brother in Christ Jesus, in whose formation both our churches had a share. Indeed, we can even see in his legacy the planting of many seeds in both communities which later contributed to the ecumenical fruit which has grown between us at the global and local levels. This includes the work of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM), as well as the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue of Canada (ARC Canada) and the Anglican-Roman Catholic Bishops’ Dialogue (ARC-B).
Today, as John Henry Newman is canonized in Rome, both the Anglican Church of Canada and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, give thanks together for his faithful witness of a Christian life. May it inspire baptized disciples of Christ, both Catholic and Anglican, to continued renewal, holiness, and service to others, “that all may be one” (John 17:21).
St. Vincent de Paul (Feast Day Sept 27)
He was born to a poor family in the French village of Pouy on April 24, 1581. His first formal education was provided by the Franciscans. He did so well, he was hired to tutor the children of a nearby wealthy family. He used the monies he earned teaching to continue his formal studies in theology. He was ordained in 1600. He spent his life preaching missions and providing relief to the poor. He even established hospitals for them. This work became his passion. The need to evangelize and assist these souls was so great and the demands beyond his own ability to meet that he founded the Ladies of Charity, a lay institute of woman, to help, as well as a religious institute of priests – the Vincentians. The Vincentians remain with us today with nearly 4,000 members in 86 countries. In addition to his order of Vincentian priests, he co-founded the Daughters of Charity along with St. Louise de Marillac. There are more than 18,000 Daughters today serving the needs of the poor in 94 countries. He had "become the symbol of the successful reform of the French Church". St. Vincent is sometimes referred to as "The Apostle of Charity" and "The Father of the Poor". Patron of allcharitable societies, his feast day is September 27.
He was born to a poor family in the French village of Pouy on April 24, 1581. His first formal education was provided by the Franciscans. He did so well, he was hired to tutor the children of a nearby wealthy family. He used the monies he earned teaching to continue his formal studies in theology. He was ordained in 1600. He spent his life preaching missions and providing relief to the poor. He even established hospitals for them. This work became his passion. The need to evangelize and assist these souls was so great and the demands beyond his own ability to meet that he founded the Ladies of Charity, a lay institute of woman, to help, as well as a religious institute of priests – the Vincentians. The Vincentians remain with us today with nearly 4,000 members in 86 countries. In addition to his order of Vincentian priests, he co-founded the Daughters of Charity along with St. Louise de Marillac. There are more than 18,000 Daughters today serving the needs of the poor in 94 countries. He had "become the symbol of the successful reform of the French Church". St. Vincent is sometimes referred to as "The Apostle of Charity" and "The Father of the Poor". Patron of allcharitable societies, his feast day is September 27.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug 15)
“On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII declared, ‘By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.’ We firmly believe that from the first moment of her conception, Mary was free of all sin including Original Sin by a special favor of Almighty God. The Archangel Gabriel recognized her as ‘full of grace,’ ‘blessed among women,’ and ‘one with the Lord.’ Mary had been chosen to be the Mother of our Savior. For these reasons, we believe that the promises our Lord has given to each of us of sharing eternal life, including a resurrection of the body, were fulfilled in Mary. This belief in the assumption of our Blessed Mother has been longstanding in our Church. The Patristic Fathers defended the Assumption on two counts: Since Mary was sinless and a perpetual virgin, she could not suffer bodily deterioration, the result of original sin, after her death. Also, if Mary bore Christ and played an intimate role as His mother in the redemption of man, then she must likewise share body and soul in His resurrection and glorification. Mary assumed into heaven serves as a gracious reminder to the Church that our Lord wishes all whom the Father has given Him to be raised with Him.”
“On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII declared, ‘By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.’ We firmly believe that from the first moment of her conception, Mary was free of all sin including Original Sin by a special favor of Almighty God. The Archangel Gabriel recognized her as ‘full of grace,’ ‘blessed among women,’ and ‘one with the Lord.’ Mary had been chosen to be the Mother of our Savior. For these reasons, we believe that the promises our Lord has given to each of us of sharing eternal life, including a resurrection of the body, were fulfilled in Mary. This belief in the assumption of our Blessed Mother has been longstanding in our Church. The Patristic Fathers defended the Assumption on two counts: Since Mary was sinless and a perpetual virgin, she could not suffer bodily deterioration, the result of original sin, after her death. Also, if Mary bore Christ and played an intimate role as His mother in the redemption of man, then she must likewise share body and soul in His resurrection and glorification. Mary assumed into heaven serves as a gracious reminder to the Church that our Lord wishes all whom the Father has given Him to be raised with Him.”
St. Peter Chrysologus (July 30)
St. Peter merited being called "Chrysologus" (golden-worded) from his exceptional oratorical eloquence. In 433, Pope Sixtus III consecrated him bishop of Ravenna. He practiced many corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and ruled his flock with utmost diligence and care. He extirpated the last vestiges of paganism and other abuses that had sprouted among his people. He also counseled the heretic Eutyches (who had asked for his support) to avoid causing division but to learn from the other heretics who were crushed when they hurled themselves against the Rock of Peter. In addition to his zeal in the exercise of his office, Peter Chrysologus was distinguished by a fierce loyalty to the Church, not only in its teaching, but in its authority as well. He is known for testifying courageously to Christ's full humanity and divinity during a period of doctrinal confusion in the Church. His surviving works offer eloquent testimony to the Church's traditional beliefs about Mary's perpetual virginity, the penitential value of Lent, Christ's Eucharistic presence, and the primacy of St. Peter and his successors in the Church. Peter was such a great preacher of the truths of the Catholic faith that his reputation spread far and wide among the faithful. |
St. John Vianney (feast day Aug 4)
John Vianney was born in France in 1786. He desired to become a priest, but his father opposed. He enrolled in Napoleon’s Army but later he deserted because he refused to serve under the man who imprisoned Pope Pius VII. John’s brother enrolled in his place to save him. He studied priesthood and was ordained because of his goodness, despite the fact, that he had great difficulties with his studies, especially Latin. He was sent to the little town of Ars as pastor, where he found himself in a difficult situation. Gradually, many people from the surrounding villages came to him for confession. The confessional became his principle apostolic battlefield. He exhorted, encouraged, and advised the penitents and the fame of him being a man of God spread throughout the region. Toward the end of his life he spent sixteen to eighteen hours a day hearing Confession to the thousands who flocked to Ars. John was gifted with discernment of spirits and read souls with ease, reclaiming thousands of lapsed Catholics. He helped found La Providence, a home for orphaned and abandoned children. For thirty years, he suffered diabolical attacks. He was canonized in 1925 and made patron of parish priests. |
St. Thomas, apostle (July 3)
“St. Thomas is best known for his role in verifying and his unwillingness to believe the Resurrection of Christ, earning him the title of "doubting Thomas." After verifying the wounds were true, St. Thomas became convinced of the reality of the Resurrection and exclaimed, "My Lord and My God," thus making a public profession of Faith in the Divinity of Jesus. Thomas never doubted the Lord again, and he dedicated his life to helping others to believe in Jesus—even though they never saw Christ face to face. Thank God for 'Doubting Thomas'. His doubts healed the wounds of our own disbelief. They also open up for all who look with the eyes of faith a deeper understanding of the redemptive effect of the wounds of Jesus and the role our own wounds can have in our continuing call to conversion as we join them to His. Thomas the doubter became the Thomas the model believer, an example for each one of us. His life teaches us to trust in everything the Lord has promised us so that we, too, can rise to new life, as Jesus did.” |
“St. Mary Magdalene(July 22)
"St. Mary Magdalene is one of the greatest saints of the Bible and a legendary example of God's mercy and grace. The Gospels agree that Mary was originally a great sinner. But what she did in her subsequent life, after meeting Jesus, is much more significant. She was certainly a sinner whom Jesus saved, giving us an example of how no person is beyond the saving grace of God. During Jesus' ministry, it is believed that Mary Magdalene followed him, part of a semi-permanent entourage who served Jesus and his Disciples. Mary likely watched the crucifixion along with the other women who followed Christ during His ministry. Mary was present when Christ rose from the dead, visiting his tomb to anoint his body only to find the stone rolled away and Christ, very much alive, sitting at the place they laid Him. She was the first witness to His resurrection. St. Mary Magdalene's feast day is July 22. She is the patroness of converts, repentant sinners, sexual temptation, pharmacists, tanners and women, and many other places and causes.” |
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24) "He is the only saint whose birth is celebrated during the liturgical year because of a very particular role he plays in salvation history. The Church has always considered John as the last and greatest of the prophets. He represents the climax of the long tradition of Jewish prophets looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. As such, John the Baptist is himself the bridge between the Old and New Testaments. His calling was to point out Christ for the world and to identify, for the people, the man who is God in the Flesh, Jesus, the Son of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He constantly told people that he was nothing—that the coming Messiah was everything. The Church honors one of her greatest saints: St. John the Baptist, the humble yet courageous herald of our Lord, Jesus Christ whom Jesus himself said about, 'Among those born of women, there is no one greater than John'.” The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, Italy
"An extraordinary miracle that has lasted for over twelve centuries now (1,200 years), and is still taking place today, before our eyes: the Flesh and Blood of Christ is still miraculously preserved today in a monstrance that all can see and venerate, at Lanciano, Italy. This is a miracle before which even today’s science has to bow, after a minute investigation made by scientists in 1970-71. One day in the eighth century, a Basilian monk was celebrating Holy Mass. The monk started doubting the real and substantial presence of the Flesh and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the consecrated Holy Species. After having pronounced the words of Consecration (“This is My Body… This is My Blood”), the monk saw the host change into a living piece of Flesh, and the wine change into real blood. Over the last twelve centuries, different Bishops of the diocese of Lanciano made authentications of the holy relics. All testified that these facts were miraculous and true. In 1970-71, and taken up again partly in 1981, there took place a scientific investigation. The analyses were conducted with absolute and unquestionable scientific precision, and they were documented with a series of microscopic photographs. These analyses sustained the following conclusions:The Flesh is real flesh. The Blood is real Blood.The Flesh and the Blood belong to the human species. The Flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart. The Flesh and the Blood have the same blood-type: AB. The preservation of the Flesh and of the Blood, which were left in their natural state for twelve centuries and exposed to the action of atmospheric and biological agents, remains an extraordinary phenomenon. It is a miracle similar to that of Lanciano, the one of Bolsena, Italy, that led the Church to institute, in 1264, the great Feast of Corpus Christi. Long live Jesus in His Sacrament of Love!" (by Therese Tardif) |
St. Anthony of Padua (June 13)
"Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal on August 15, 1195. He was originally named as Ferdinand Martins. Anthony was famous for being gifted with an excellent memory. After studying diligently, he attained an excellent knowledge of theology, Sacred Scripture, and the Church Fathers. He was also famous for preaching to heretics in Rimini. Once while trying to preach to them, they did not pay attention to him and even mocked him. So, Anthony went to the seashore and preached his message to the fish. Large number of fish began to come up to water level and appeared to be listening to his preaching. He was a famous preacher and worker of miracles in his own day, and throughout the eight centuries since his death he has so generously come to the assistance of the faithful who invoke him, that he is known throughout the world." St. Athanasius (May 2) "Born year 296 in Alexandria, Egypt, Athanasius received a wonderful education in Christian doctrine, Greek literature, philosophy, rhetoric and jurisprudence. St. Athanasius was a bishop and doctor of the church. He was a brilliant and formidable defender of orthodoxy earning titles as: the "Father of Orthodoxy," the "Pillar of the Church" and "Champion of Christ's Divinity." Athanasius became one of the most dedicated opponents of the heresy of Arianism (teaches that Christ is a created being therefore not a true God). Much of Athanasius’ life was a testimony to the divinity of Jesus Christ. He wrote several outstanding treatises on Catholic doctrine, especially on the Incarnation. Through his example, his learning and his writings, he remains one of the greatest teachers." Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801–1890)
One of the most famous converts to Catholicism from England, he was initially an Anglican priest and pastor of St. Mary’s Church, Oxford, England. It was his studies of the Early Church Fathers that lead to his intellectual conversion, which resulted in his conversion to Catholicism. Newman was famous for his long sermons that he delivered at St. Mary’s Anglican Church. He joined and was instrumental in the Oxford Movement, a grassroots effort to restore certain Catholic elements of worship so as to reinvigorate the Anglican Church. The deeper he studied and prayed, the more he came to the conclusion that conversion to the Catholic Church was not an option for him but a necessity. He was received in the Catholic Church in 1845 and ordained a Catholic Priest in 1847. This resulted in his being ostracized by the Anglican community, Oxford University, and many of his intellectual friends. He established the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, Birmingham, England, and continued to write and publish works on apologetics, all while establishing a Catholic University in Dublin and a school in Birmingham. As an Anglican in Oxford, Newman ministered to the intellectual elite. In Birmingham, he served the poor Irish immigrants. Pope Leo XIII promoted him to Cardinal in 1849. After his death, about a century later, during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to England, Newman was beatified on September 19, 2010. He is considered a genius and at the same time a humble pastor. (by J. Trigilio) |