Blessed John Henry Newman
All over the world, people are preparing to celebrate the canonisation of Blessed John Henry Newman on Sunday 13th October. This is a time of special grace for us to join together and form links in a great chain of prayer, where we call upon the soon-to-be-Saint to crown our prayers with his intercession in heaven. We encourage you to form links in that chain by joining in our Novena with Newman - nine days of prayerful preparation for the canonisation, starting on Friday 4th October and finishing on Saturday 12th October on the eve of the canonisation.
Day 1 - Example of Humility
Intention
That we find opportunities to alleviate the sufferings of those who are homeless and marginalised.
From his writings…
“I sought to hear the voice of God And climbed the topmost steeple, But God declared: “Go down again - I dwell among the people.”
Prayer
Please pray one decade of the rosary (any you choose) for this intention, and add the following prayer:
O God our heavenly Father, we offer You heartfelt thanks for the life and holiness of John Henry Newman. In him You give us an inspiring example of priest and teacher, heroic and humble in his labour for the salvation of souls and the pursuit of holiness. Through his intercession as You to lead us by the kindly light of the Holy Spirit, and so grant us peace and joy, in the one fold of the Redeemer. We ask this through Chris our Lord. Amen.
Day 2 - Child of Mary
Intention
That we learn to see Jesus in the members of our families.
From his writings…
“I have my mission, 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 angle of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place.”
Prayer
Please pray one decade of the rosary (any you choose) for this intention, and add the following prayer:
O God our heavenly Father, we offer You heartfelt thanks for the life and holiness of John Henry Newman. In him You give us an inspiring example of priest and teacher, heroic and humble in his labour for the salvation of souls and the pursuit of holiness. Through his intercession as You to lead us by the kindly light of the Holy Spirit, and so grant us peace and joy, in the one fold of the Redeemer. We ask this through Chris our Lord. Amen.
Day 3 - Priest of God’s Alter
Intention
That we are blessed with more vocations to the priesthood.
From his writings…
“Had Angles been your priests, my brethren, they could not have condoled with you, sympathised with you, have had compassion on you, felt tenderly for you, and made allowances for you, as we can; they could not have been your patterns and guides, and have led you on from your own selves into a new life, as they can who come from the midst of you.”
Prayer
Please pray one decade of the rosary (any you choose) for this intention, and add the following prayer:
O God our heavenly Father, we offer You heartfelt thanks for the life and holiness of John Henry Newman. In him You give us an inspiring example of priest and teacher, heroic and humble in his labour for the salvation of souls and the pursuit of holiness. Through his intercession as You to lead us by the kindly light of the Holy Spirit, and so grant us peace and joy, in the one fold of the Redeemer. We ask this through Chris our Lord. Amen.
Day 4 - Man of Prayer
Intention
That we find joy and consolation in the habit of prayer.
From his writings…
“The Rosary seems so simple and easy, but you know God chooses the small things of the world to humble the great.”
Prayer
Please pray one decade of the rosary (any you choose) for this intention, and add the following prayer:
O God our heavenly Father, we offer You heartfelt thanks for the life and holiness of John Henry Newman. In him You give us an inspiring example of priest and teacher, heroic and humble in his labour for the salvation of souls and the pursuit of holiness. Through his intercession as You to lead us by the kindly light of the Holy Spirit, and so grant us peace and joy, in the one fold of the Redeemer. We ask this through Chris our Lord. Amen.
Day 5 - Guardian of Conscience
Intention
That the voice of our conscience leads us to seek what is true and good.
From his writings…
“We can believe that we choose. We are answerable for what we choose to believe.”
Prayer
Please pray one decade of the rosary (any you choose) for this intention, and add the following prayer:
O God our heavenly Father, we offer You heartfelt thanks for the life and holiness of John Henry Newman. In him You give us an inspiring example of priest and teacher, heroic and humble in his labour for the salvation of souls and the pursuit of holiness. Through his intercession as You to lead us by the kindly light of the Holy Spirit, and so grant us peace and joy, in the one fold of the Redeemer. We ask this through Chris our Lord. Amen.
Day 6 - Counsellor of Converts
Intention
That we conform more closely to God’s will and purpose for our lives.
From his writings…
“Regarding Christianity, ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt.”
Prayer
Please pray one decade of the rosary (any you choose) for this intention, and add the following prayer:
O God our heavenly Father, we offer You heartfelt thanks for the life and holiness of John Henry Newman. In him You give us an inspiring example of priest and teacher, heroic and humble in his labour for the salvation of souls and the pursuit of holiness. Through his intercession as You to lead us by the kindly light of the Holy Spirit, and so grant us peace and joy, in the one fold of the Redeemer. We ask this through Chris our Lord. Amen.
Day 7 - Educator of the Laity
Intention
That we may be inspired to gain a deeper understanding of the teaching of our faith.
From his writings…
“I want a laity, no arrogant, not rash in speech, not disputatious, but who know their religion, who enter into it, who know just where they stand, who know what they hold and what they do not, who know their creed so well that they can give an account of it.”
Prayer
Please pray one decade of the rosary (any you choose) for this intention, and add the following prayer:
O God our heavenly Father, we offer You heartfelt thanks for the life and holiness of John Henry Newman. In him You give us an inspiring example of priest and teacher, heroic and humble in his labour for the salvation of souls and the pursuit of holiness. Through his intercession as You to lead us by the kindly light of the Holy Spirit, and so grant us peace and joy, in the one fold of the Redeemer. We ask this through Chris our Lord. Amen.
Day 8 - Servant of the Church
Intention
That we are given the grace to see the church as more than a human institution but the Body of Christ.
From this writings…
“The Church of God cannot change; what she was that she is. What our forefathers were, such are we; we look like other men, but we have that in us which none others have, - the latent element of an indomitable fortitude. This may not be the age of Saints, but all times are the age of Martyrs.”
Prayer
Please pray one decade of the rosary (any you choose) for this intention, and add the following prayer:
O God our heavenly Father, we offer You heartfelt thanks for the life and holiness of John Henry Newman. In him You give us an inspiring example of priest and teacher, heroic and humble in his labour for the salvation of souls and the pursuit of holiness. Through his intercession as You to lead us by the kindly light of the Holy Spirit, and so grant us peace and joy, in the one fold of the Redeemer. We ask this through Chris our Lord. Amen.
Day 9 - Model of Friendship
Intention
That we are helped to cultivate the gift of charity.
From his writings…
“The love of our private friends is the only preparatory exercise for the love of all men.”
Prayer
Please pray one decade of the rosary (any you choose) for this intention, and add the following prayer:
O God our heavenly Father, we offer You heartfelt thanks for the life and holiness of John Henry Newman. In him You give us an inspiring example of priest and teacher, heroic and humble in his labour for the salvation of souls and the pursuit of holiness. Through his intercession as You to lead us by the kindly light of the Holy Spirit, and so grant us peace and joy, in the one fold of the Redeemer. We ask this through Chris our Lord. Amen.