Newman: A short biography

John Henry Newman, one of the most important and controversial figures in the religious history of England in the 19th century, will be declared a saint on 13th October 2019, the first English saint to be canonised since 1970.

Author Fr Michael Collins has written Newman: A Short Biography, an essential, accessible biography of the new saint that opens a window into the heart and mind of a complex and conflicted individual, who above all sought the truth.

An esteemed academic and prolific author, the inquisitiveness and honesty which led Newman to convert from the Church of England to Catholicism continued after his conversion. Thus, as well as being an acclaimed defender of English Catholics in the public realm he emerged as a vital, challenging voice within Catholicism itself.

His volume of lectures entitled The Idea of a University, explained his philosophy of education. During the four years he spent in Dublin he was instrumental in the founding of the Catholic University of Ireland in 1854; this later evolved into University College Dublin, now the largest university in Ireland.

Intensely loyal to his friends, tender, compassionate and tenacious, Newman combined the best of both the Anglican and Catholic traditions.

Michael Collins is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin. A graduate of University College Dublin, he has written and edited award-winning books which have been translated into twelve languages.

Newman: A Short Biography by Michael Collins is published in Ireland and the UK by Messenger Publications. Priced at €9.95/£8.95

For further details see: www.messenger.ie/product/newman-a-short-biography/