The Beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman
at Crofton Park, Birmingham on Sunday, 19th September 2010

It was a very good day for us. Sr Pauline, Peter Broadbent, Paula Campbell, Janet Reade and I joined the coach at 3.00am departing from St Patrick's Church in Collyhurst Manchester. We each had a folding chair over our shoulders and we felt like an army armed with peace weapons. We arrived at Crofton Park at about 6.00am It was raining but it did not dampen our spirit. We were really looking forward to seeing the Pope and we felt our hearts already speaking to God's heart in a special way.

We found a spot where the view of the altar was good as well as the screen at the far left hand side. Unfortunately we were not close enough to see the interpreter on the stage. The Pope arrived in the Popemobile at about 10.00am. To our surprise, he stopped near us as he kissed two babies. We had a lengthy view of Pope Benedict and this leaves us with a clear memory of the most profound experience of a man who is like a father to us all. We thank God for this.

The Beatification of Cardinal Newman took place in the celebration of the Eucharist and Pope Benedict declared him 'Blessed', an English man of the 19th century. His feast day will be on October 9th. Apparently John Henry Newman holds a special place in Pope Benedict's mind because he has studied his life and work.

John Henry Newman was born in 1801 and died in 1880. He was very clever but was shy and reserved. When he moved over to the Catholic Church, he lost many friends but he described the experience that he felt he was 'arriving at the port after going through a rough sea.' He went to study at Oscott and then Rome where he was ordained by a Cardinal. In 1847 he returned to England as an Oratorian.

In 1879, in old age, he was astonished to be made a Cardinal. His life had not been easy. Newman wanted English Catholics to be better educated but he often felt undermined (ignored, damaged) and never given the support that was necessary. He felt himself a failure. His experience has been a lesson for us. It is easy for us to identify the cross with dramatic events, illness, disability, or bereavement but suffering can happen in any form in ordinary daily life. He is an example of a faithful Christian who tried to cope with disappointments. This was the kind of cross he had to bear. Newman could understand from both Catholic and Protestant perspectives and always chose the middle and moderate way. It is a useful lesson for dialogue today. Newman was searching for truth by committing himself to education. Through his faith in God he was able to care for people with pastoral sensitivity and he touched the hearts of many people. He was at heart a pastoral priest for over 30 years and he still has much to teach us. A line in one of the poems that he wrote 'Lead kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom lead you me on' gives us inspiring hope and courage that we can do the same – deal with other people with pastoral sensitivity.

Maria Buckley