Cardinal Newman: Doctor of the Church? [Catholic Caucus]

Zenit.org ^ | September 23, 2010 | Father Keith Beaumont [With the contribution of Anita S. Bourdin]

[Salvation]

Cardinal Newman: Doctor of the Church?

Biographer Says Beatification Was Just 1st Step

ROME, SEPT. 23, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI called Blessed John Henry Newman a figure of a doctor of the Church. The newly beatified Englishman's biographer affirmed that an official declaration in this regard could take place soon.

ZENIT spoke with Father Keith Beaumont, Australian priest of the Oratory of France, who said, "On this subject I received a confidence about which I cannot be explicit; but it seems that, in Newman's case, his canonization and declaration as a doctor could take place in a very short time."

The priest, who wrote the official biography of the cardinal beatified Sunday by Benedict XVI, noted that "all the Popes since Pius XII hoped to see Newman canonized and declared a doctor of the Church."

"It is also Benedict XVI's fervent wish," Father Beaumont stated. "He has also expressed it, discreetly, in his conversation with journalists in the plane and in his homily during the beatification."

In the conversation with journalists on board the papal plane en route to the United Kingdom, Benedict XVI said of Blessed John Henry Newman, "He is a figure of a doctor of the Church for us and for all, and a bridge between Anglicans and Catholics."

Father Beaumont explained that "on declaring certain saints 'Doctors of the Church,' the Church acknowledges in their teaching [...] a particular authority for all the faithful."

He expressed confidence that "Newman will one day join the small group of 30 men and three women who have that status."

Furthermore, the priest told ZENIT that "it was clear that for the Holy Father, Newman's beatification was but a stage to something else."

Spiritual depth

Father Beaumont spoke briefly about the fact that this beatification was the first presided over by Benedict XVI.

"The two men are close by their learning -- profound knowledge of the Fathers of the Church; their artistic tastes -- love of music, one as a pianist, the other as a violinist; by the keenness of their intelligence, and above all by the depth of their spiritual life," he said.

The priest added that besides these elements, "Newman's thought -- in particular his teaching on conscience and on doctrinal 'development' -- profoundly marked young Joseph Ratzinger during his seminary years."

He continued: "But on beatifying Newman in view of his eventual canonization, it isn't only Newman's life that the Pope presents as a 'norm' -- to 'canonize' means literally to present as a 'norm' or a 'model' of sanctity -- it's his work and his thought.

"He stressed in his homily at the beatification the importance of [Newman's] preaching, his teachings and his written work."

To the people of today, Blessed John Henry Newman proposes "the model of a penetrating, vast learning, willingness to engage with all the currents of thought of his time, of profound respect of the 'real' -- his thought is worlds apart from any form of ideology, and of great openness of spirit, all allied to a profound and intimate sense of God, to a constant search for God, to a profound love of God," the biographer said.

The priest continued, "He is at the same time -- as Benedict XVI himself is -- a great intellectual and -- to borrow the title of a book of Cardinal Honore -- 'a man of God.'"

[With the contribution of Anita S. Bourdin]

 

[Salvation]

Blessed Cardinal Newman for now.

[Salvation]

Any thoughts?

[Judith Anne]

ZENIT spoke with Father Keith Beaumont, Australian priest of the Oratory of France, who said, "On this subject I received a confidence about which I cannot be explicit; but it seems that, in Newman's case, his canonization and declaration as a doctor could take place in a very short time."

Fascinating...is there any speculation about the confidence, that you know of?

[verdugo]

The nouvelle Vatican II saint making assembly line has removed among many other “brakes”, the devil's advocate, and they only need one “miracle” now. It's like making major league baseball pitchers throw underhanded only, and then celebrating all the new home run hitters, like they compare with the past hitters before the change. It's a joke.

[narses]

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[Publius]

Who was the last person declared Doctor, and when?

[BelegStrongbow]

Perhaps if the whole Oxford Movement were considered at the same time...

[sayuncledave]

Venerable Bede? 1899:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05075a.htm

Admittedly, haven’t checked other sources yet.

[married21]

I don’t know any of his writings, except maybe one. I could swear that in highschool an English teacher read an essay on being a gentleman which was by Newman. That was a public highschool, so it wasn’t a theological discussion.

[sayuncledave]

Oops. Checked better sources (or perhaps getting tired ;) ):

From this: http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/128/Doctors_of_the_Church.html

There are three requirements that must be fulfilled by a person in order to merit being included in the ranks of the

“Doctors of the Catholic Church”:

1) holiness that is truly outstanding, even among saints;

2) depth of doctrinal insight; and

3) an extensive body of writings which the church can recom­mend as an expression of the authentic and life-giving Catholic Tradition.

St. Gregory the Great, Doctors of the ChurchDuring the “golden age of the Fathers,” (300-600), eight Doctors of the Church particularly stand out and are called “Ecumenical Fathers” because of their widespread influence. Bronze statues of several of these eight are to be found in St. Peter’s Basilica. Four of these Doctors of the Church hailed from the Western (Latin-speaking) half of the Roman Empire.

· St. Ambrose, 340-397

· St. Jerome, 345-420

· St. Augustine, 354-430

· St. Gregory the Great (Pope), 540-604

Four of the Ecumenical Fathers who were Doctors of the Church came from the Eastern (Greek-speaking) Roman Empire:

· St. Athanasius, 295-373

· St. Basil the Great, 330-379

· St. Gregory of Nazianzus, 330-390

· St. John Chrysostom, 345-407

St. Leo the Great, Doctor of the Church, Early CHurch Father, Catholic ChurchThere are eight other Doctors of the Church from the patristic period:

· St. Ephraem the Deacon, 306-373 (Syriac)

· St. Hilary, 315-368 (Latin)

· St. Cyril of Jerusalem, 315-387 (Greek)

· St. Cyril of Alexandria, 376-444 (Greek)

· St. Leo the Great (Pope), 390-461 (Latin)

· St. Peter Chrysologus, 400-450 (Latin)

· St. Isidore of Seville (last of the Latin Fathers), 560-636

· St. John Damascene (last of the Greek Fathers), 676-749

There are nine Doctors of the Church during the Latin Middle Ages:

· St. Bede “the Venerable,” 673-735

· St. Peter Damian, 1007-1072

· St. Anselm, 1033-1109

· St. Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153

· St. Anthony of Padua, 1195-1231

· St. Albert the Great, 1200-1280

· St. Bonaventure, 1217-1274

· St. Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274

· St. Catherine of Siena, 1347-1379

Saint Teresa of Avila, Doctors of the Church, Fathers of the Early Church, Catholic ChurchThere are six Doctors of the Catholic Church who were prominent in the 16th century Catholic Reformation, all from the Latin Church:

· St. Teresa of Avila, 1515-1582

· St. Peter Canisius, 1521-1597

· St. John of the Cross, 1542-1591

· St. Robert Bellarmine, 1542-1621

· St. Lawrence of Brindisi, 1559-1619

· St. Francis de Sales, 1567-1622

There are two Doctors of the Church in the modern era, both from the Latin Church:

· St. Alphonsus Liguori, 1696-1787

· St. Therese of Lisieux, 1873-1897 (proclaimed Doctor of the Church by John Paul II 10/19/97)

I hope that helps. Time for bed. Salvation, to be sure, I’m happy about Blessed Cardinal Newman, still not sure about Doctor of the Church, but that’s my lack of knowledge, which shall be fixed in the near future, I hope, at least. ;)

[Salvation]

No, I just found the story.

[Salvation]

If not I was going to send you to Doctors of the Catholic Church

[tanuki]

If it gets more people to read him (including me), why not?

[Salvation]

Writings and Teaching of Blessed John Henry Newman -- Anglican/Catholic and other

[sayuncledave]

Thank you, Salvation. I’ve got some reading ahead of me, which always makes me happy.

[rbmillerjr]

Thanks for the link. Many converts find his writings unique and interesting.

[ex-snook]

My thought is Newman as a doctor would be very merited. He has taught and lived the way back to Rome for those who are not that far away. The journey continues for those who seek the truth. “Lead Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, lead thou me on.”

[Salvation]

Amen.

[RobbyS]

By all means.If Liguori fits the bilL, Newman certainly does.

[RobbyS]

I recall that my college English Text—many,many years ago, in a secular college, spoke of Newman as the most gifted of the Victorians. His “Idea of a University,” was probably the source of your essay.But read his “Apologia,” one of the best autobiographies in the English language.He was a prodigious writer. His published letters amount to about 40 volumes.