蜜桃交友

By Francesca Merlo

鈥淚 think, like the rest of the UK, I am delighted鈥� about the Canonisation of John Henry Newman, says Ambassador Axworthy.

Referring to the 1976 canonisation of Scotsman John Ogilvie, she recalls that it has been 鈥渙ver 40 years since there has been a British Saint canonised鈥�. Not only has it been 40 years, but it is also significant as Cardinal Newman will be 鈥渢he first post-reformation British Saint.鈥�

John Henry Newman will be made Saint by Pope Francis, along with four other Blesseds, on Sunday, October 13th in St Peter鈥檚 Square.

A cause for Sainthood

The cause for John Henry Newman鈥檚 sainthood was opened in 1958.

In an interview with Vatican Radio's Linda Bordoni, Ambassador Axworthy says it has been an 鈥渙pportunity鈥� for her to 鈥渂ecome more acquainted with Cardinal Newman and his works鈥�.  She explains that she read history at university and had therefore studied 鈥渉is role in the Oxford movement while he was still an Anglican鈥�. However, this year she has been 鈥渞eading more about his whole life鈥�.

鈥淩eally,鈥� continues Ambassador Axworthy, 鈥渢he things he wrote were very striking and I think they remain that way鈥�. She explains that John Henry Newman examined his faith with great 鈥渉onesty鈥�, examining questions that it posed to him 鈥� something which she believes 鈥渟peaks to people even today鈥�.

The emancipation of Catholics in the UK

Ambassador Axworthy recalls that 鈥渢he emancipation of Catholics came in 1829鈥�, and the restoration of the hierarchy in England and Wales came about in 1850. After that, she says, there was a 鈥渞eturn to respectability,鈥� and as Cardinal Newman was around for most of the 19th century, he was 鈥渧ery much a part of that鈥�.

She then goes on to say that Cardinal Newman was a 鈥渢owering intellect鈥� in the 19th century and that, though he was 鈥渋nitially vilified for it鈥�, in time he wrote some 鈥渧ery reasoned accounts鈥�. If you read the history around that period, continues Ambassador Axworthy, you can see that his "vilification turned to acceptance, and not just of him, but of Catholics in general."

So, she says, though he was 鈥渧ery important for Catholics in the UK鈥�, both as an historical figure and for the history of English Catholicism he is also important to many Catholics worldwide.

Prince Charles to attend the canonisation

To mark the canonisation, Prince Charles will be visiting Rome, and he will meet the Pope on Sunday morning. He will also visit the exhibition at the Venerable English College 鈥楯ohn Henry Newman, a Saint in Rome鈥�.

鈥淢ost of the places associated to Cardinal Newman are in the UK鈥�, says Ambassador Axworthy, explaining that he was 鈥渧ery much rooted in Oxford鈥�, and after he became a Catholic, in Birmingham, and that he also spent 4 years in Dublin. 鈥淏ut鈥� she says, 鈥渉e also made four visits to Rome鈥�.

The exhibition displays material gathered from four institutions: Propaganda Fidae, the Venerable English College, and the Newman Centre in order to 鈥渟hine a light on those four visits鈥�

For Catholics worldwide

Finally, Ambassador Axworthy says that the weekend is a great moment for the UK and for English Catholicism, but also 鈥渇or all of us more widely to celebrate someone who made a huge impact on his time鈥� and on the times that followed.