John Henry Newman (1801-1890) was one of the preeminent religious figures of the nineteen century, whose influence today is broad and ongoing. A leading Anglican churchman, he created a stir when he converted to Catholicism and was ordained as a priest. His critical mind and openness to the modern world put him at odds with the starkly reactionary spirit of the church in his day, and he faced carping criticism throughout his life. Newman wrote about the development of doctrine and the function of a Catholic university, he championed the rights of conscience, the role of the laity, and the role of intuition in the life of faith. Though ahead of his time in many ways, he was named a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII, and his influence helped shape the church of the twentieth century. Pope Paul VI called Vatican II "Newman's Council." In 2010 he was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI. This anthology traces his spiritual journey in tandem with the principal events of his life.
