Saint John Henry Newman

Today, Pope Francis officially canonized John Henry Cardinal Newman. He had the distinction until this morning of being the theologian most quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church who was not a saint. No more.

I will leave it to others to speak of the significance of Newman’s canonization, except to say that although long expected, it is nevertheless of titanic importance to the English-speaking world.

For many years now, I’ve had a meditation written by him on a small card on my desk. It’s yellowing and worn, but it has helped me through some of my darkest hours.

And this is what I’d like to share with you in thanksgiving of our latest saint.

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 never may 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 and serve Him in my calling.

Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever 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. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it; 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 the future from me—still He knows what He is about.

(Saint John Henry Newman)