Recently canonized as the first English saint since the Reformation and declared the 38th Doctor of the Universal Church and Co-patron of Catholic Education (along with St. Thomas Aquinas), John Henry Newman (1801-1890) stands as the most important Catholic thinker between the Council of Trent of the sixteenth century and the second Vatican Council (1962-65).
Newman’s intellectual autobiography (Apologia pro Vita Sua), treatise on higher education (Idea of a University), theory of knowledge (Grammar of Assent), and major work of theology (Development of Doctrine) stand as classics in their genres. In addition, his prolific sermons cover both his Anglican career at Oxford and Catholic career in Birmingham.
We will discuss two sermons from his Anglican years, delivered as “University Sermons” on the relation between faith and reason. In them, Newman offers creative insights that deepen the classic Catholic position put forth by Aquinas.
This masterclass will provide a glimpse of the 2026 intensive summer seminar on Newman’s thought. A full syllabus of the masterclass can be found here.
The Zoom link will be distributed in advance of the seminar.
This program is restricted to graduate students from any university or discipline.
This program is part of the project “In Lumine Tuo: Expanding and Sustaining the Catholic Intellectual Tradition Nationwide” (Grant #63614) supported by the John Templeton Foundation.
For more information contact Geoffrey Zokal at gzokal@lumenchristi.org
