Newman had millennia of learning at his fingertips, yet he put that immense learning to the work of clearly and sweetly speaking to all who might hear or read his words.
Thanks so much, Tony. "Gerontius" is a wonderful and deeply consoling. We we were, for many years, Anglicans. Sang in the Cathedral choir etc. One of the most difficult things about becoming
Catholic has been the loss of the great Protestant hymns, especially Lutheran/Anglican. Good, solid Christianity is often the focus of those hymns. Why are Catholics afraid to sing them? We miss them. And we're totally in love with the Church.
I came upon Newman's writings in my book Selected Sermons, at up to now, the most difficult part of my life. I fell in love. I will take up that book again. After reading your beautiful essay, I returned to my book and opened up to "...therefore day by day he unlearns the love of this world, and the desire of its praise; he can bear to belong to the nameless family of God, and to seem to the world strange in it, and out of place, for so he is." Thank you for rekinlding his fire for us.
Thanks so much, Tony. "Gerontius" is a wonderful and deeply consoling. We we were, for many years, Anglicans. Sang in the Cathedral choir etc. One of the most difficult things about becoming
Catholic has been the loss of the great Protestant hymns, especially Lutheran/Anglican. Good, solid Christianity is often the focus of those hymns. Why are Catholics afraid to sing them? We miss them. And we're totally in love with the Church.
I do want to be a pipsqueak in that congregation, singing with all my pipsqueak heart! Glory to God, and praise Him for all that sings....
I came upon Newman's writings in my book Selected Sermons, at up to now, the most difficult part of my life. I fell in love. I will take up that book again. After reading your beautiful essay, I returned to my book and opened up to "...therefore day by day he unlearns the love of this world, and the desire of its praise; he can bear to belong to the nameless family of God, and to seem to the world strange in it, and out of place, for so he is." Thank you for rekinlding his fire for us.