For the first time today we celebrate the Feast of St John Henry Newman our new English Saint. I am full of very happy memories of the Canonisation and all the wonderful events in Rome this time last year. He is a great Saint why not ask his prayers of intercession you will find he becomes a great friend in no time at all, as I have found over the last few years? In the mean time let me share a piece of his work which I think you will be familiar with, but is well worth repeating on his feast day:
“God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.
He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments.
Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.”