Saint John Henry Newman

Priest and Doctor of the Church Optional Memorial

Other Celebrations for this Day:

Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Liturgical Cycle: A,B,C

Introduction

Saint John Henry Newman was born on 21 February 1801 in London, England. As an Anglican clergyman for over twenty years he won renown as a preacher and theologian. A Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, he became one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement and a prominent figure in the Church of England. On 9 October 1845 he was received into full communion with the Catholic Church by Blessed Dominic Barberi of the Passionist Congregation. After a period of study in Rome he was ordained priest on 30 May 1847. Returning to England he established the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in Birmingham. He was an influential writer on many subjects, most notably the development of Christian doctrine, the true understanding of conscience, faith and reason, the role of the laity, and university education. In 1879 he was created Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII and given the title of San Giorgio in Velabro. He died in the Birmingham Oratory on 11 August 1890. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 September 2010 and canonised by Pope Francis on 13 October 2019. He was proclaimed as a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV on 1 November 2025.

Entrance Antiphon Ps 103 (104):1, 23
Bless the Lord, O my soul O Lord my God, you are good. Man goes forth to his work and to his labour until the evening.

Opening Prayer
O God, who bestowed on your Priest
Saint John Henry Newman
the grace to follow your kindly light
and find peace in your Church;
graciously grant that, through his intercession and example,
we may be led out of shadows and images
into the fullness of your truth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

First Reading

Sirach 39:6-11

If it pleases the LORD Almighty, he who studies the law of the Most High will be filled with the spirit of understanding; He will pour forth his words of wisdom and in prayer give thanks to the LORD, Who will direct his knowledge and his counsel, as he meditates upon his mysteries. He will show the wisdom of what he has learned and glory in the law of the LORD's covenant. Many will praise his understanding; his fame can never be effaced; Unfading will be his memory, through all generations his name will live: Peoples will speak of his wisdom, and in assembly sing his praises.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 40: 2,4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. (Ps 39:8a, 9a)
I have waited, waited for the Lord, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God. R.
Sacrifice or offering you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.” R.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, to do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!” R.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know. R.

Alleluia Verse

Matthew 23:9b, 10b

Alleluia, alleluia.
You have but one Father in heaven and one master, the Christ.

Gospel

Matthew 13:47-52

Parable of the Net

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large fishing net lowered into the sea, catching all kinds of fish.

When the net is full, they pull it ashore. Then they sit down and separate the good fish into buckets, tossing away the bad ones.

That is how it will be at the end of time; the angels will go out to separate the wicked from the just

and cast the wicked into the blazing furnace, where they will weep and gnash their teeth.

The New and the Old

Jesus asked:

“Have you understood all these things?”

“Yes,” they replied.

So he said to them:

“Therefore, every teacher of the law who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who can produce from his store things both new and old.”

Prayers of the Faithful

Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O heavenly Father, this holy sacrifice
that we offer in commemoration of Saint John Henry Newman
for your praise and greater glory and for our salvation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Preface of Holy Pastors
(The presence of holy Pastors in the Church)
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.
For, as on the festival of Saint John Henry Newman. you bid your Church rejoice, so, too, you strengthen her by the example of his holy life, teach her by his words of preaching, and keep her safe in answer to his prayers.
And so, with the company of Angels and Saints, we sing the hymn of your praise, as without end we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Communion Antiphon Cf. Jn 6:50
This is the bread that comes down from heaven, says the Lord;
so that one may eat it and not die.

Prayer after Communion
O Lord,
as we rejoice to receive Christ, the living Bread,
on this memorial of Saint John Henry Newman,
so may our witness be made more real,
never moving minds without touching hearts.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.