Although the grave of Newman simply revealed the mystery of death, and no earthly relics; it did contain some precious artifacts. The cross around Newman's neck still maintains its strong and reassuring form. Around his neck in life, death and beyond.
This is one of the few relics we have of the venerable Cardinal, as well as some locks of hair and a speck of blood. All contained in a simple little reliquary resting in the chapel of St Charles Borromeo in the Birmingham Oratory. It marks a perfect symmetry with the chapel on the other side of the Sanctuary - that of St Philip Neri's shrine modeled on the Roman Oratory. Newman would be humbled and honoured to be placed in a place of such significance.It may seem to many that the Cause for Newman's beatification is a done deal. But I think that it still requires fervent prayer. This is a time when all sorts of powers and influences have oozed out of the woodwork, to combat such a noble process. We must pray. Pray that such forces as Newman eloquently described in his great poem, do not cloud the way:
The mind bold And independent, The purpose free, So we are told, Must not think To have the ascendant What's a saint? One whose breath Doth the air taint Before his death; A bundle of bones, Which fools adore, Ha! ha! When life is o'er; Which rattle and stink, E'en in the flesh. We cry his pardon! No flesh hath he; Ha! ha! For it hath died, 'Tis crucified Day by day, Afresh, afresh, Ha! ha! That holy clay, Ha! ha! This gains guerdon, So priestlings prate, Ha! ha! Before the Judge, And pleads and atones For spite and grudge, And bigot mood, And envy and hate, And greed of blood.
(Demons, The Dream of Gerontius)
Recently published on the Cause Website are the following articles:
Translation of Remains of Cardinal Newman at his Birmingham Oratory (full account of the exciting few days written and with photos by Peter Jennings)
Full Text of sermon by Fr Paul Chavasse (of the November 2nd Mass for translation of Newman's Remains) - Link Downloads Word Document
Commemorative Mass Booklet (from November 2nd Mass) - .pdf file (requires Adobe Reader or browser plug-in)
Translation of Remains of Cardinal Newman at his Birmingham Oratory (full account of the exciting few days written and with photos by Peter Jennings)
Full Text of sermon by Fr Paul Chavasse (of the November 2nd Mass for translation of Newman's Remains) - Link Downloads Word Document
Commemorative Mass Booklet (from November 2nd Mass) - .pdf file (requires Adobe Reader or browser plug-in)
Matt
ReplyDeleteOf course we should all continue to pray for the Newman cause, but I suspect that the saurian slowness of Vatican bureaucracy is likely to prove a greater obstacle than any demon from Hell!
Immediately after the extract from the Demon's Chorus which you quote, (but which Elgar didn't set in his Oratorio, and which is therefore not as well known) there occurs the following dialogue between the Soul and the Angel:
Soul
How impotent they are! and yet on earth They have repute for wondrous power and skill; And books describe, how that the very face Of the Evil One, if seen, would have a force Even to freeze the blood, and choke the life Of him who saw it.
Angel
In thy trial-state Thou hadst a traitor nestling close at home, Connatural, who with the powers of hell Was leagued, and of thy senses kept the keys, And to that deadliest foe unlock'd thy heart.And therefore is it, in respect of man, Those fallen ones show so majestical.But, when some child of grace, Angel or Saint,Pure and upright in his integrity Of nature, meets the demons on their raid,They scud away as cowards from the fight.Nay, oft hath holy hermit in his cell,Not yet disburden'd of mortality,Mock'd at their threats and warlike overtures; Or, dying, when they swarm'd, like flies, around,Defied them, and departed to his Judge.
So if we continue to pray, the demons will not stand a chance, and maybe even the Monsignori in Rome will pull their fingers out!
Richard