Beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman

As many know, John Henry Cardinal Newman, patron of the university that I study theology at, was beatified last Sunday, September 19, by Pope Benedict XVI in Cofton Park in Birmingham, England. Newman is now to be called “Blessed John Henry Newman” or “Blessed Cardinal Newman,” as he is considered one of the blessed in heaven. Several of the university faculty and staff traveled to England for the beatification Mass. My family and I watched the EWTN broadcast of the Mass here on campus Sunday night.

National Catholic Register correspondent Edward Pentin called attention to the fact that “A rainbow appeared over Cofton Park as Pope Benedict arrived this morning for the beatification Mass of Cardinal John Henry Newman, the 19th century English theologian who has had a significant influence on the Holy Father’s own life.”

Commenting on the appropriateness of Cofton Park, Archbishop of Birmingham, Most Rev. Bernard Longley, said, “The finest recognition Cardinal Newman received was from the ordinary people of Birmingham whose lives were changed because of their contact with him. And more than 15,000 people spontaneously lined his funeral route from the Oratory to Rednal as a final tribute to this holy, caring parish priest.” Cofton Park is near both the Oratory where Newman lived and Rednal, his resting place.

What made the beatification possible was the first miracle assigned to Newman through the prayers and healing of Jack Sullivan from a serious back disorder in 2001. After his healing he was then capable to become a deacon of the Church. Being a deacon he was able to do the Gospel reading during the beatification Mass.

When asked by a reporter for the Boston Pilot, “Now that you have been cured, are you still devoted to Cardinal Newman?” Deacon Sullivan said, “I have so much, through my prayers to him. He has changed my life dramatically from one of total confinement. I probably would have never walked normally again or I could have been paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of my life. But with the healing I was able to realize my greatest strength, and that was to return to classes and be ordained. I was able to resume my work and provide for my family. Every morning, I say a prayer to him in thanksgiving. Since my healing, I have never missed a morning where I do not thank him with all my heart for his love and his concern.”

I am convinced that the intercession of the saints can have a powerful impact on the lives of Christians. Some are subtle. Others are not so subtle. As mention in my previous article, Saint Augustine’s influence in the lives of my wife Melissa “Augustine” and me was obvious. In contrast, Saint Bernard’s influence in our lives was more subtle. He was the patron saint of the parish of which I was received into the church in Madison, Wisconsin. He was also the patron saint of Melissa’s home church in which we got married in Abbotsford, Wisconsin, three hours away from the other. These being the only two “Saint Bernard parishes” I knew of, it was clear to my spiritual awareness that his intercession was guiding us as well – our secondary sign or “confirmation” saint for our vocations. Furthermore, my prayers in 2008 for which school to study theology at have also proved Blessed Cardinal Newman significant in my life: a convert to the Church beckoning another convert to his university.

Blessed Cardinal Newman’s influence in Deacon Sullivan’s life was also not so subtle, having received a miraculous cure. Though I would not classify my experiences of saintly intercession as miracles, regardless, it takes a personal measure of the theological virtue of faith to be able to recognize the intercession of the saints in one’s life.