REVIEW: New, old book of Prayers and Meditation of Card. Newman

I received today a new small book from Baronius Press.

Meditations and Devotions of Cardinal Newman

The forward describes this re-print.  This is an collection fro 1893 of prayers and devotions found in soon-to-be-Blessed John Henry Newman at the time of his death.  It sells now for $34.95, through Baronius Press.  I haven’t yet seen it on Amazon.

The 2010 preface states: "[T]hese were the methods of prayer used by Newman, and indeed every Catholic priest of his time and place."

Newman wrote vocal prayers, litanies, Stations of the Cross, meditations and evening exercises.

Also from the preface: "Newman, like many others, meditated best with pen and paper to hand."

I look forward to exploring this nice, well-bound little volume.

Two ribbons will help.

It fits easily in the hand, and the leather is good.  It lays open well and it is light.

This could be a very good book for a visit to a chapel or even when commuting or traveling.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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13 Comments

  1. Agnes says:

    As the kids say, sweeeeeet. I want one.

  2. Bill Haley says:

    When I asked a friend about prayer, he pointed me to Newman’s prayers. I have prayed them and am continually edified.

    His prayers for Good Friday would not necessarily be pleasing to the ecumenical types, but I found them glorious. I put one to memory.

    This is great of Baronius to print them in a prayer book version. The Ignatius edition was more like a reading book with a ribbon.

  3. lucy says:

    I know two priests that will enjoy this as a Christmas gift! Thanks, Fr. Z for the idea.

  4. Father S. says:

    I used to keep this with me almost everywhere I went. I had the version that had his poems, as well as prayers and devotions of another Englishman, though I forget now who it was. I gave the book away some time ago, but the devotions during Holy Mass are stunning.

  5. Bruce says:

    Is this similar to Prayers, Verses, and Devotions – John Henry Newman, by Ignatius Press?

  6. WGS says:

    I had to go and check the title of a similar book that I use regularly at Mass. (before Mass, after Mass and during the sermons – The acoustics are impossible in my Church.) What I have is “The Heart of Newman”, a synthesis arranged by Erich Przywara, SJ. It was first published by Sheed & Ward in 1930, but the edition I have is from 1963. I have no idea about its current availability.

    Newman writes beautifully, and his analysis of the human condition is as appropriate now as when he was writing. My little book has paragraph sized extracts from many of his his works. I find these extracts perfect for meditation.

  7. Mark R says:

    Bruce:

    This book is just a part of the one put out by Ignatius.

  8. Fr_Sotelo says:

    Mark R: Thanks for that clarification, as I purchased the book Bruce speaks of many years ago from Ignatius press, and have enjoyed it immensely through the years as a devotional. It is hard to beat Newman for sacred eloquence. The Poem of Gerontius has almost no equal, I think, as a teaching of purgatory.

  9. pforrester says:

    This book looks wonderful. I will get it for my confessor who just published a little devotional himself using Newman’s writings called:

    Take Five: Meditations with John Henry Newman.

    My confessor, Fr. Juan Velez wrote it with Mike Aquilina.

  10. Luke says:

    Baronius Press does a super job with their leather bindings! Truly exciting for a book lover. I hope someday that Baronius comes out with a leather bound edition of the Jerusalem Bible. . . . I know, I know. . . . There’s a lot involved. But I can dream.

    Cardinal Newman, Pray for us.

  11. JPG says:

    I would also point out a womderful little volume, “Blessed be God” by Preserving Christian Publications. I would strongly suggest checking it out.BTW Love Baronius Press
    JPG

  12. Emilio III says:

    Luke, I’m looking forward to their edition of the Knox Bible. It’s a shame that what will probably remain the last one-man translation went out of print so quickly.

  13. Luke says:

    Emilio III: Yes, the Ronald Know translation is a joy to read also. Still, I prefer the Jerusalem Bible. The readers edition that’s available neglects the qualities of a good book too much to interest me. The original Jerusalem Bible was well-bound in all of its formats. I have the leather and the hardcover. And then the paperback New Testament. And. . . well. . . a couple of others as well. A solid rendering of the Psalms in English is very difficult to find, however.

    Good books are, in themselves, a joy to be appreciated, to be sure.

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