IN HIS sermon at the graveside • of John Henry Cardinal Newman, at Rednal in Birmingham, on August II on the anniversary of his death in 1890, Fr Michael Murphy, of St Boniface's Church in Devon, had this to say of the rule of the man whose case for canonisation is underway in Rome:
"I believe that Newman can be, as it were, a bridge between the two peoples, just as he is between the members of different churches, He is beloved of the people of Ireland, whom he served so loyally, as he is of the people of his native England.
His own regard for Ireland' and its people was expressed in his reply to congratulations offered by the Irish bishops on his being raised to the cardinalate. 'It is not merely as friends that I meet you, for you are representatives of an ancient and faithful Catholic people for whom I have a deep affection .. . 1 do not think there is any other country which would have treated me so graciously as yours did . .
During the seven years through which my engagement in Ireland lasted, I had continuous experience of kindness, and nothing but kindness from all classes of people from the hierarchy, from the seculars and regulars.