Conversion to Christ and Theological
Conversation: insight from Cardinal Newman
In the past two weeks, I’ve met with the national directors of
Catholic Campus Ministry, an association which grew out of the
Newman Clubs which have been established on the campuses of secular
universities in the last two generations to strengthen the faith
of Catholics studying there. I’ve also met with the board of a
much smaller organization, “The Venerable John Henry Newman Association”.
This society began in 1980 under the direction of Father Vincent
Giese, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago. I am episcopal
moderator for both associations.
Knowing of my liking for Cardinal Newman’s writings, a friend
in England obtained an original letter written by Newman and sent
it to me a month ago as a gift. Those responsible for Cardinal
Newman’s papers at the Birmingham Oratory generously released
this document because of my becoming a Cardinal. There are a few
perks, evidently, and I am truly pleased to have a short handwritten
note signed “John H. Newman”.
Newman wrote the letter to a Mr. John Pym Yeatman on September
17, 1870. Yeatman had converted to the Catholic faith in 1866,
after reading Newman’s Apologia. He wrote Newman in 1870, raising
questions about papal infallibility and asking for reading material
on the subject. Newman responded: “I feel very diffident about
recommending you any book, when I know the state of your mind
so little. ...I have written on the Development of Catholic doctrine,
and have, I almost think, said that the definition of the Pope’s
Infallibility was to be expected. ...If I might venture to speak,
I should say that you are not in a state sufficiently calm to
be able to satisfy yourself how the truth lies in religion. Would
it not be better that you should, as a duty, put aside the inquiry
for a time, and seek for God’s guidance. You can come to Him in
the Catholic Church, and worship Him up to the point at which
your doubts begin. I know how difficult it is to exclude anxious
inquiries, and the more tender the conscience is, the more the
difficulty. Still, God knows your heart and will never be hard
with you, and you must do your best and surrender yourself to
Him. I cannot give you better advice than this, and I wish you
may be able to act upon it.”
Knowing Newman’s own question about whether the time was right
to define papal infallibility at the First Vatican Council makes
this short note all the more remarkable. The letter was written
by someone who was a theologian, certainly, but also a pastor
and spiritual guide. Newman didn’t know Mr. Yeatman and would
not have the chance to listen to him and grasp more surely how
God was directing him. Newman did know God and knew that He would
assist Mr. Yeatman, if Yeatman would surrender to God and pray
for help as he wrestled with this doctrine. This is the Newman
who once explained that “a thousand difficulties do not make a
doubt”, the Newman who argued constantly with himself and others
over religious matters, but whose own faith was secure in his
relationship with the Lord. This is the Newman who knew that truly
grasping the truths of faith depends first upon our being converted
to the Lord. The Second Vatican Council, much influenced by Newman’s
thinking, spoke of the assent of the mind and will to Catholic
doctrine, even if all dimensions of a doctrine are not understood.
Without such assent, we try to meet God on our terms rather than
His. This is futile at best and spiritually destructive at worst.
Before Christmas, priests and parish staffs are viewing videos
on who Christ is and discussing among themselves in order to call
each other to conversion. This is to prepare those participating
in pastoring our parishes to lead these same parishes to a new
encounter with Christ during parish missions after Christmas.
Conversion, being turned again by God’s grace to open our minds
and hearts to Him, will lead to the confidence we need to pick
up the mission of Christ at the beginning of a new millennium.
Newman didn’t plan our Archdiocesan millennium observance, which
will move from the conversion of priests and staff to the preaching
of who Christ is in our parishes to the discernment of how to
transform our society; but he would be at home with the process.
Although I never received a letter from Newman addressed to me,
I sometimes pray to him for help, especially in guiding campus
ministers and a small association dedicated to continuing his
thought and work. And I suspect that, were it possible to receive
a letter from him about unresolved difficulties with the faith,
he would assure me about the centrality of personal conversion
in the same way he guided John Pym Yeatman. Newman ended his letter
to Yeatman: “With my most sincere prayer that you may be relieved
from your present great trial, I am most truly yours.” With that
same prayer for all of you, I am most truly yours in Christ, who
was the center of Cardinal Newman’s life and wants to be the center
of ours.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
