Lead, Kindly Light

by John Henry Newman, Hal M. Helms (Editor)

This collection of Newman's writings includes devotional meditations on central themes of the Christian faith, excerpts from his sermons, and several of his little-known poems. Through many years of shadow and darkness, personal trials and stumbling blocks, Newman continued faithfully to follow the "Kindly Light" as he understood it. All who seek to follow this Light will find encouragement in this collection of warm, uplifting writings.

Genres: Spirituality

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1910

About the author

Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman was an important figure in the religious history of England in the 19th century. He was known nationally by the mid-1830s.
Originally an evangelical Oxford University academic and priest in the Church of England, Newman then became drawn to the high-church tradition of Anglicanism. He became known as a leader of, and an able polemicist for, the Oxford Movement, an influential and controversial grouping of Anglicans who wished to return to the Church of England many Catholic beliefs and liturgical rituals from before the English Reformation. In this the movement had some success. However, in 1845 Newman, joined by some but not all of his followers, left the Church of England and his teaching post at Oxford University and was received into the Catholic Church. He was quickly ordained as a priest and continued as an influential religious leader, based in Birmingham. In 1879, he was created a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII in recognition of his services to the cause of the Catholic Church in England. He was instrumental in the founding of the Catholic University of Ireland, which evolved into University College Dublin, today the largest university in Ireland.

Newman was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 September 2010 during his visit to the United Kingdom. He was then canonised by Pope Francis on 13 October 2019.

Newman was also a literary figure of note: his major writings including the Tracts for the Times (1833–1841), his autobiography Apologia Pro Vita Sua (1865–66), the Grammar of Assent (1870), and the poem The Dream of Gerontius (1865),[6] which was set to music in 1900 by Edward Elgar. He wrote the popular hymns "Lead, Kindly Light" and "Praise to the Holiest in the Height" (taken from Gerontius).

Reviews

[Joseph Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good selection of Newman's writings taken from his sermons, meditations and poetry.

[Gene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great poem, written by one of my favorite authors. Unfortunately, not each stanza of the poem was included. Not sure of the publication date. It was given to my father-in-law's mother on Christmas Day, 1910. The art work is pleasing with both scenery and pictures of men of Bible times on a journey. May be rare.

[Talia Katz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a girl and really feel I missed most of the point back then due to the older English language. It’s a very short book, but when read slowly it resonates better, especially when reflecting on one’s own spiritual journey.