Selected Sermons, Prayers, and Devotions [Paperback]

John Henry Newman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 18, 1999

Selected Sermons, Prayers, and Devotions by Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman This delightful volume presents an inspirational anthology of sermons, prayers, devotions, and other religious writings by the influential Catholic cardinal, in a collection that explores such topics as how to reconcile faith and reason and the necessity to seek the holiness in life. Reviews: "Like other volumes in the Vintage Spiritual Classics series, John Henry Newman's Selected Sermons, Prayers, and Devotions, with a preface by Peter J. Gomes, is an accessible, portable, important introduction to the work of a major religious figure. Newman is one of the few orators of the Victorian era whose sermons still offer themselves to readers as fresh, focused, timely meditations. As Gomes notes in his introduction, "Newman's prose has good bones." Although this volume contains many of Newman's poems and meditations (many of which record the spiritual transformations wrought in him by a trip to Italy in 1832-33), most of the material collected here is sermons. Newman was preacher to the University Church at Oxford, so his sermons address the "big questions" that eternally vex undergraduates--Who is God? How am I to live? Who was Jesus? Newman's answers are straightforward yet sophisticated, and very often grounded in ethics. "Outward acts, done on principle, create inward habits. I repeat, the separate acts of obedience to the will of God, good works as they are called, are of service to us, as gradually severing us from this world of sense, and impressing our hearts with a heavenly character," he writes, in a sermon called "Holiness Necessary for Future Blessedness." Newman's preoccupation with ethics intensified after his conversion from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism in 1843, along with his growing conviction that life in this world is best understood as preparation for life in the next one. Gomes observes

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Like other volumes in the Vintage Spiritual Classics series, John Henry Newman's Selected Sermons, Prayers, and Devotions, with a preface by Peter J. Gomes, is an accessible, portable, important introduction to the work of a major religious figure. Newman is one of the few orators of the Victorian era whose sermons still offer themselves to readers as fresh, focused, timely meditations. As Gomes notes in his introduction, "Newman's prose has good bones." Although this volume contains many of Newman's poems and meditations (many of which record the spiritual transformations wrought in him by a trip to Italy in 1832-33), most of the material collected here is sermons.

Newman was preacher to the University Church at Oxford, so his sermons address the "big questions" that eternally vex undergraduates--Who is God? How am I to live? Who was Jesus? Newman's answers are straightforward yet sophisticated, and very often grounded in ethics. "Outward acts, done on principle, create inward habits. I repeat, the separate acts of obedience to the will of God, good works as they are called, are of service to us, as gradually severing us from this world of sense, and impressing our hearts with a heavenly character," he writes, in a sermon called "Holiness Necessary for Future Blessedness." Newman's preoccupation with ethics intensified after his conversion from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism in 1843, along with his growing conviction that life in this world is best understood as preparation for life in the next one. Gomes observes that, "For Newman the only security in this world of tribulation is the unseen reality of the spiritual world, a world which (sic) is ruled by Christ, and for which Christ gave himself up for our redemption, which act is recapitulated in the sacramental life of the believer." Newman's sermons, with their astringent ethical focus, were in part a reaction to the increasing secularism and materialism of the 19th century. (He lived from 1801-1890.) In this regard, our fin de siècle echoes his and makes a contemporary reader's attention to his sermons all the more urgent and rewarding. --Michael Joseph Gross

From Library Journal

Long celebrated as a spiritual writer and autobiographer, and certainly among the most famous modern converts to Catholicism, Newman is news that has stayed news. Editors Thornton and Varenne have assembled a generous and thoughtful selection of his non-autobiographical writings, including his model sermons and his celebrated narrative poem, "The Dream of Gerontius." Peter Gomes's splendidly written introduction alone is almost worth the price of admission. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Vintage (May 18, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375705511
• ISBN-13: 978-0375705519
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.9 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,812 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It doesn't get better than this., May 21, 2000

By 

Geoff - See all my reviews

This review is from: Selected Sermons, Prayers, and Devotions (Paperback)

The back cover notes that Vintage Spiritual Classics are "[f]illed with eloquence and fresh insight, encouragement and solace." Two out of four ain't bad (and the other two are here too, if harder to reach).

Newman is certainly eloquent, though I might have described his prose as "stately" instead; he is rarely so eloquent here as to be hard to follow. Fresh insights are here too, and 160 years have not made them stale.

But this book is not the "easy reading spirituality" one might expect from a book whose cover says it's filled with encouragement and solace. Newman is in the reader's face and at the conscience from the beginning.

His "Plain and Parochial" sermons are challenges to lead a truly Christian life. It's hard to believe people filled an Oxford Church to hear these--perhaps people were made of sterner stuff then.

Yet there is solace and encouragement to be found. Newman was no ogre, but a caring man. He said what should be said, caring about the souls of those who would hear (and read) it.

And as a bonus, the book closes with one of my favorite prayers.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Oasis In The World of Materialism And Knowledge, July 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Selected Sermons, Prayers, and Devotions (Paperback)

In this world of Knowledge and the propensity to believe in things are reasoned by Sciences, this book prods us, that the ultimate is still GOD. I for one, has fallen out a number of times, with an ardent attempt at things secular, despite my inner cravings for a deeper faith in God. This book sets out reminding me of my corporal life and all that surrounds me is nothing, but temporal. It is a rare find, given my recent yearning to return as a prodigal son and my inner inclination to detach all materialism and let it take a back seat. Despite the classic prose as expected of an author who lived more than 100 years ago, I understood his writing thoroughly, although I am not an European nor an American. This, indeed is an oasis of a find for answers from the Word Made Flesh, and is dwelling amongst us. In short, "go get it, all you who wants rest, for His Yoke is light and easy."

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Oasis In The World of Materialism And Knowledge, July 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Selected Sermons, Prayers, and Devotions (Paperback)

In this world of Knowledge and the propensity to believe in things are reasoned by Sciences, this book prods us, that the ultimate is still GOD. I for one, has fallen out a number of times, with an ardent attempt at things secular, despite my inner cravings for a deeper faith in God. This book sets out reminding me of my corporal life and all that surrounds me is nothing, but temporal. It is a rare find, given my recent yearning to return as a prodigal son and my inner inclination to detach all materialism and let it take a back seat. Despite the classic prose as expected of an author who lived more than 100 years ago, I understood his writing thoroughly, although I am not an European nor an American. This, indeed is an oasis of a find for answers from the Word Made Flesh, and is dwelling amongst us. In short, "go get it, all you who wants rest, for His Yoke is light and easy."