Cardinal NewmanAll over the world, people are preparing to celebrate the canonisation of Blessed John Henry Newman on Sunday 13 October.

This is a time of special grace for us to join together and form links in a great chain of prayer, where we call upon the soon-to-be-Saint to crown our prayers with his intercession in heaven.

Everyone can form links in that chain by joining in the Novena with Newman — nine days of prayerful preparation for the canonisation, starting on Friday 4 October and finishing on Saturday 12 October on the eve of the canonisation.

Day 8: Friday 11 October (Pope St John XXIII)

Intention: That we are given the grace to see the Church as more than a human institution but the Body of Christ.

From his writings:
The Church of God cannot change; what she was, that she is. What our forefathers were, such are we; we look like other men, but we have that in us which none others have — the latent element of indomitable fortitude. This may not be the age of Saints, but all times are the age of Martyrs.

Prayer: A decade of the Rosary (any you choose, although it’s usually the Sorrowful Mysteries on Friday) for this intention, and then:

O God our heavenly Father, we offer you heartfelt thanks for the life and holiness of John Henry Newman. In him you give us an inspiring example of priest and teacher, heroic and humble in his labour for the salvation of souls and the pursuit of holiness. Through his intercession we ask you to lead us by the kindly light of the Holy Spirit, and so grant us peace and joy in the one fold of the Redeemer. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

If you would like a leaflet to print, we’ve a PDF of the entire Novena on one side of A4 (Originally published by the Oratories of England):
Novena with Newman