Photopost: St John Henry Newman Canonization Events

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There really is something extraordinary about the devotion to the newly-canonized St John Henry Newman; in all the years I have worked on NLM, we have never had requests to publicize events related to a canonization, and yet with this one we have had several. Likewise, there were numerous celebrations in Rome in wake of the event; here are some photos of similar sent in by readers from three different places. We will be happy to share others wit our readers if people care to send them in to the usual address, [email protected].

On Thursday, October 17, a Solemn High Mass and Te Deum were sung to celebrate the canonization at the church of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, which was founded by Newman for the Catholic University. After the Mass, a first-class relic of the new Saint was offered for veneration. Photos by John Briody; see the full album here.)

The music was provided by the Lassus Scholars under the direction of Dr Ite O’Donovan; the organist was Dr Paul McKeever.

On October 15, the Cathedral Basilica of Ss Peter and Paul in Philadelphia hosted the local Ordinariate parish (St John the Baptist Church in Bridgeport) for a solemn Mass in the Ordinariate Use to celebrate both the canonization of St. John Henry Newman, and the 10th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s motu proprio Anglicanorum Coetibus, which provided for the establishment of the Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans to enter the Catholic Church. Fr Timothy Perkins, vicar-general of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter, traveled from the cathedral in Houston to celebrate the Mass and preach.

Two choirs assisted with the sacred music. The parish choir of St John the Baptist Church, under the leadership of Dr William Gatens and with the help of additional singers for the occasion, sang Harold Darke’s Communion in F for the Mass Ordinary, as well as a new composition by Dr Gatens (set to St John Henry Newman’s prayer for the radiance of Jesus) as an Offertory anthem. The Schola Cantorum Philadelphiensis acted as a chancel choir to sing the Propers of the Mass in Gregorian chant, adapted to English (as recently posted on NLM). Many thanks to Allison Girone for these photographs; the complete album may be seen at this link.

This past weekend, St Catherine of Siena Parish held a weekend-long celebration of the recent canonization of St John Henry Newman. The homilies at all Masses considered the life, thought, and significance of Newman, one the Catholic Church’s five newly canonized saints. The music sung at Mass featured hymns written by him, such as Firmly I Believe and Truly, Lead, Kindly Light, and Praise to the Holiest, which was also sung at the Church’s consecration in March. An authenticated first-class relic of the new Saint was present for all Masses, and the clergy blessed all present with it.

When St Catherine was consecrated by Bishop Frank Caggiano in March, a relic of St John Henry Newman was deposited and sealed inside the new altar. At the same time, frames were added around the fourteen Stations of the Cross which feature his Meditations on the Stations of the Cross, enabling those who visit the church to pray with him in contemplating Our Lord’s journey to Calvary.