Novena to Blessed John Henry Newman: Day 7

Thanksgiving prayer to the Most Holy Trinity, as on each day of this Novena


Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

Reading:
From the Holy Father's homily at the Mass with Beatification of the Venerable Cardinal John Henry Newman.
"While it is John Henry Newman's intellectual legacy that has understandably received most attention in the vast literature devoted to his life and work, I prefer on this occasion to conclude with a brief recollection of his life as a priest, a pastor of souls. The warmth and humanity underlying his appreciation of the pastoral ministry is beautifully expressed in another of his famous sermons: ' Had Angels been your priests, my brethren, they could not have condoled with you, sympathised with you, have had compassion on you, felt tenderly for you, and made allowances for you, as we can; they could not have been your patterns and guides, and have led you on from your old selves into a new life, as they can who come from the midst of You' (Men not Angels: the Priests of the Gospel', Discourses to Mixed Congregations, 3) He lived out that profoundly human vision of priestly ministry in his devoted care for the people of Birmingham during the years that he spent at the Oratory he founded, visiting the sick and the poor, comforting the bereaved, caring for those in prison. No wonder that on his death so many thousands of people lined the local streets as his body was taken to its place of burial not half a mile from here. One hundred and twenty years later, great crowds have assemble once again, to rejoice in the Church's solemn recognition of the outstanding holiness of this much-loved father of souls."

Petition:

Blessed John Henry, we implore your intercession for all our priests, and that we may support them in this "time of pensane, humility, and renewed sincerity" with our own penance and sacrifices; that we may offer these for the victims of erring priests in the past, who have done so much harm to the ones they abused, but also to the majority of good priests who have done nothing wrong, but who are vowed to continue their mission, whilst their name is tarnished by their culpable brothers. Whilst promising to do what we can in our own lives, we beg your prayers that this whole sorry and evil business may be cleansed and healed.
We ask you to support our prayer with yours, that as graces of God, ressulting from your Beatification, and from the Holy Father's visit to your native land, many Britons will come forward to be "good and holy priests, men who are willing to lay down their lives for the sheep."

Blessed John Henry, intercede for our young men who are in the process of discerning their vocation, but also for those, still in the Church of England but who are considering the Ordinariate, or are preparing to join it. You trod this same path yourself and we know how dear these men must be to your heart. We humbly join with your prayers for them. Amen
(Quotes from the Holy father's interview on the in-coming flight and from the Prayer Vigil at Hyde Park)

Make your personal petition here.


1 Our Father; 1 Hail Mary; 1 Glory be to the Father



Our Lady of the Rosary pray for us.

Our Lady Mother and Queen of Clergy, pray for our priests.



Blessed Dominic Barberi, pray for us.

Blessed John Henry Newman, pray for us. Amen