OK, all together now...
Happy Birthday to you !
Happy Birthday to you !
Happy 204th Birthday, Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O. !
Happy Birthday to you !

As a birthday gift, we could pray for his canonization:

Eternal Father, You led JOHN HENRY NEWMAN to follow the kindly light of Truth, and he obediently responded to your heavenly calls at any cost. As writer, preacher, counsellor and educator, as pastor, Oratorian, and servant of the poor he laboured to build up Your Kingdom.

Grant that through your Vicar on Earth we may hear the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the company of the canonized saints."

May You manifest Your servant's power of intercession by even extraordinary answers to the prayers of the faithful throughout the world. We pray particularly for our intentions in his name and in the Name of Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord.

Amen.


Please report any favours received to:
The Postulator, The Oratory, Hagley Road, Birmingham B16 8UE, England

On this date in 1870, the Venerable published An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent. It was dedicated to an old friend:

TO

EDWARD BELLASIS,

SERJEANT AT LAW,

IN REMEMBRANCE

OF A LONG, EQUABLE, SUNNY FRIENDSHIP,

IN GRATITUDE

FOR CONTINUAL KINDNESSES SHOWN TO ME,

FOR AN UNWEARIED ZEAL IN MY BEHALF,

FOR A TRUST IN ME WHICH HAS NEVER WAVERED,

AND A PROMPT, EFFECTUAL SUCCOUR AND SUPPORT

IN TIMES OF SPECIAL TRIAL,

FROM HIS AFFECTIONATE

J. H. N.

One of this friend's sons, Lewis Bellasis, became a Father of the Birmingham Oratory.