Led By Grace & Truth

The man we honor today throughout the Church, Blessed John Henry Newman, is a brilliant example for all who seek to follow Christ’s lead, His light, His truth. The tangible graces that evoked a principle conversion in Newman at the young age of 15, awakened in him the realization that God was “Closer to me than I am to myself.” Such awareness drew him to solitude where he saw all the beauties of this world as a veil through which he glimpsed the greatest reality – God. This depth of resonance with grace gave him a great capacity to recognize the divine call and accordingly follow his conscience. Led by the unerring wisdom of the Church Fathers, he embraced the Catholic faith at the expense of his former clerical career and unfortunately, many friendships. As St. Paul once wrote, he had forfeited everything for the sake of the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ. Not knowing what he was to do as he entered the Church, the conviction that he had a mission to fulfill never abated. Indeed, he was to be conformed in the pattern of Christ’s suffering. After entering the Church, setbacks, misunderstandings, failed ventures, lack of support and other difficulties relentlessly struck their blows. Nevertheless, he became and remained a faithful and courageous shepherd, laboring for others. Again and again and again he abandoned himself to the Hand and Providence of God. It was in this self surrender that he was ushered “From shadows and fantasies to truth.” He will intercede for us also, that we might never give up seeking the light of truth.

‘A man of conscience is one who never acquires tolerance, well-being, success, public standing, and approval on the part of prevailing opinion at the expense of truth. In this regard Newman is related to Britain’s other great witness of conscience, Thomas More, for whom conscience was not at all an expression of subjective stubbornness or obstinate heroism. He numbered himself, in fact, among those fainthearted martyrs who only after faltering and much questioning succeed in mustering up obedience to conscience, mustering up obedience to the truth, which must stand higher than any human tribunal or any type of personal taste.’

~ Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger from the Book 'On Conscience'