A simple exchange of heart speaking to heart
“Philip, my holy Patron, teach me by thy example, and gain for me by thy intercessions, to seek my Lord and God at all times and in all places, and to live in his presence and in sacred intercourse with him.”
St John Henry Newman is often remembered through his titles of Cardinal and theologian. However, he was first and foremost an Oratorian, a son of St Philip Neri who sought the inspiration of his patron throughout his life. While St John Henry produced deeply intellectual theological works throughout his life, these stand in strong contrast with his meditations and devotions written to be used in the Oratory. These prayers are simple, deeply honest and profound, composed for parishioners (who for the most part were Victorian Birmingham factory workers), and offered clear insights into the essentials of Christian life. They reflect Newman’s pastoral care, which is often overlooked by the focus on his theological works, and they stand on a foundation of love and admiration for God, Our Lady, and St Philip.
The admiration St John Henry had for St Philip’s habit of prayer is palpable throughout his own meditations. The English saint remarks about St Philip with great fondness that “the servant of God gave himself up to prayer, until he acquired such a habit of it, that, wherever he was, his mind was always lifted up to heavenly things.” Prayer was a way for St Philip to get closer to heaven while on earth, to be able to connect the worldly to the heavenly. With St John Henry’s description of prayer as speaking and listening to God, we reach a somewhat obvious but often forgotten conclusion: in order to grow in personal holiness and to strengthen our relationship with God we must, quite simply, be in constant communication with him. Newman makes St Philip’s advice on prayer his own: “When one of his penitents asked him to teach him how to pray, he answered, ‘Be humble and obedient, and the Holy Spirit will teach you.’”
Newman’s meditations and devotions are not, therefore, simple because of their intended audience; they are simple because prayer is meant to be a simple but constant exchange of heart speaking to heart. And to make this exchange with even greater love, he invoked this assistance of his holy Father: “O my God, when shall I learn to love nothing else but thee? Gain for me, O Philip, a pure love, a strong love, and an efficacious love, that, loving God here upon earth, I may enjoy the sight of him together with thee and all saints, hereafter in heaven.”
St John Henry Newman now sits in heaven, together with our Holy Father St Philip, enjoying the sight of God. We pray that we may be inspired to love God in the same simple way that St John Henry was inspired by St Philip, so that, one day, we may also sit in heaven with them and enjoy that same sight.