Celebration of Cardinal Newman’s feast day breaks from tradition

CNA Newsroom, Oct 9, 2024 / 11:15 am

Differing from the traditional practice, the feast day of Cardinal John Henry Newman is not celebrated on the day of his death. Instead, in his memory the Church celebrates his feast on the day he converted to Catholicism.

Newman died in 1890 and was canonized a saint on Oct. 13, 2019.

During the Eucharist celebration at Birmingham’s Cofton Park when he was beatified on Sept. 19, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed that Newman’s feast is to be celebrated on Oct. 9.

In general the feast days of blesseds and saints are marked on their “dies natalis” — the day they died. In his case, despite the fact that he died on Aug. 11, 1890, the Church decided to select the day he converted to Catholicism, Oct. 9, 1845, as the day to celebrate his feast.

At the time of the announcement, the Vatican spokesman at the time, Father Federico Lombardi, joked that the Church already celebrates too many great saints in August so placing the date in October seemed like a good idea to him.

The Church also celebrates Sts. Denis and John Leonardi on Oct. 9, while Aug. 11 is the feast of St. Clare of Assisi.

This article was originally published on Sept. 10, 2010, and has been updated.