Monday 29 July 2019

John Henry Newman Apostle to the Doubtful - Meriol Trevor and Léonie Caldecott - CTS Biographies

John Henry Newman: Apostle to the Doubtful
CTS Biographies
Meriol Trevor
Léonie Caldecott (Expanded and updated)
Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860821219
eISBN 9781784693596
ASIN B073FN73BZ
CTS Booklet 


With the canonization of John Henry Newman taking place in 2019 there is a renewed interest in the man, his life, his works, and the canonization itself. Newman will be the first British person to be made a saint who has lived since the 17th Century. I already had picked up this book and a different CTS Biography, John Henry Newman His Life and Legacy by Fr. Ian Ker, to read even before news of the canonization was announced. They are both from series I am greatly enjoying and benefiting from reading published by the Catholic Truth Society. I have now read and reviewed nearly 100 books from the Catholic Truth Society, and this one in the Biographies Series is an excellent read. This was the first I have read. I had read a couple of works by Newman about 12 years ago but had not got around to reviewing them. 

This book was originally published in 2001, and originally written by Meriol Trevor. Then it was revised and expanded in 2017 by Léonie Caldecott. And the eBook edition made available at that time. Doing a quick search of CTS books by and about Newman I have found five titles that are current, and either available now as physical or eBooks or about to come out later this year. And there are many others that are currently out of print. 

The sections in this volume are:

The Early Years
 A Man of the Nineteenth Century
 Search for the Truth
 Italy and the Oxford Movement
 The Development of Christian Doctrine
The Later Years
 Ordination and the Oratory
 The Achilli Affair
 Dublin and the Idea of a University
 London and the Idea of an Oratory
 Blessings in Rome, Chills in England
 The Rambler and the Role of the Laity
 The Dark Night
 Kingsley and the Apologia
 The Glorious Last Years
The Legacy of Cardinal Newman
 Exorcising some Phantoms
 Newman the Pastor
 The Romantic Realist and the Christian Revelation
 Newman’s Mission
Homily of His Holiness Benedict XVI
Some Prayers and Meditations

The original paperback of this book came in at 80 pages, and the revised eBook edition comes in at 88. It is by no means an exhaustive look, at the man, his work, and his life. But it does serve as an excellent brief biography, and as an introduction. It is easily read in a few short sitting or even over a long afternoon and big mug of tea. I read it in such a single sitting, and have debated going on and reading other CTS books by and about Newman or going back and rereading this one first. It is interesting that this booklet or track about Newman’s life should be so similar to the tracks he wrote as part of the Catholic Revival, or Tractarian Movement, or as it was later know the Oxford revival. 

This brief volume will give the broad strokes of Newman’s life, his smaller conversions which lead to his reunification with Rome. It also highlights his pastoral side. It is a powerful story. Of seeking truth. Of humility. Of obedience. This is a book that will inspire and likely challenge the reader. It is a great beginning, and there are several other books by and about Newman from CTS that I plan on pursuing in the weeks and months to come.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

Reviews of other books by John Henry Newman:
Stations of the Cross

Meditations on Mary, Our Mother 
Prayers Before The Eucharist
...

CTS books about Newman:
John Henry Newman: Lead Kindly Light -Dr. Raymond Edwards
Newman His Life and Legacy – Fr. Ian Ker
John Henry Newman Apostle to the Doubtful - Meriol Trevor and Leonie Caldecott
Newman Prayer Book - The Birmingham Oratory (ed)
The Mind of Cardinal Newman: From His Own Writings - Charles Stephen Dessain 

CTS Books by John Henry Newman:
Meditations on Stations of the Cross
Christ upon the Waters - CTS Onefifties Book 3


Reviews of other books about Newman:
Take Five: Meditations with John Henry Newman-  Mike Aquilina and Juan Velez







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