Monday, May 12, 2003

May 12, 1879
was the day John Henry Newman was elevated to the Cardinalate. His Biglietto Speech may be found here . His titular church was San Giorgio in Velabro, which I blogged about here.

The Venerable wrote about his reason for accepting the honor in a letter to his friend Dean Church earlier in the year...

" Haec mutatio dexterae Excelsi ! all the stories which have gone about of my being a half Catholic, a Liberal Catholic, under a cloud, not to be trusted, are now at an end ...
It was on this account that I dared not refuse the offer. A good Providence gave me an opportunity of clearing myself of former calumnies in my 'Apologia'—and I dared not refuse it. And now He gave me a means, without any labour of mine, to set myself right as regards other calumnies which were directed against me—how could I neglect so great a loving kindness?
I have ever tried to leave my cause in the Hands of God and to be patient—and He has not forgotten me. "





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