Fall 2016 Newman Lecture

On Monday, October 24, NINS had the honor of hosting Church Historian Eamon Duffy, Emeritus Professor of the History of Christianity in the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge. Professor Duffy's first stop in the States was The Catholic University of America, where he received the Quasten Medal from the School of Theology and Religious Studies. Eamon then spoke at the University of Virginia, before coming to Pittsburgh – this was his first trip to the city – to deliver the Fall Newman Lecture, entitled "Words in Season: Newman's Preaching Reconsidered." On October 25, NINS also hosted in its library a workshop on the same theme, which was the occasion for a committed group of Newman scholars to discuss this topic directly and more in depth with Eamon Duffy.

The lecture offered a fresh and intriguing perspective on the Cardinal's sermons, which are often read and interpreted without reference to their historical context. Professor Duffy highlighted instead how they are the fruit of, and accordingly reflect, the many years ('seasons') of his personal and spiritual journey. Speaking from the high pulpit of Heinz Memorial Chapel on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, Duffy provided an interpretive overview of Newman's sermon topics, style, and background. However, his reflections were mainly focused on the first part of the Cardinal's public life, when he was an Anglican priest, "engaged in ferocious controversy and while he was leading a radical movement inside the Church of England."

Newman's preaching has been a long-standing interest for Professor Duffy. He has devoted careful and extensive study to this subject, studying all of Newman's 604 surviving sermons preached as an Anglican. The main purpose of Duffy's analysis was to provide an integral explanation of those sermons, describing their historical context, and pointing out the creative re-use that Newman made of them during his Catholic years. His presentation included well-selected, lengthy quotes from sermons, recited with great charisma and strong, measured voice. The quotes revealed an abundant use of Scripture, a characteristic trait of Newman's writings. As Duffy underlined, Newman had memorized large portions of the King James Bible, and was able spontaneously to include excerpts from Scripture while preparing his sermons. Professor Duffy's presentation suited its setting in the Heinz Memorial Chapel, a historic landmark of the city of Pittsburgh, dedicated to spiritual values in education. The chapel was designed to be an interdenominational place of worship. Built in the neo-Gothic style, its stained glass windows depict sacred and secular figures from Scripture, history, literature, and science, including St. Philip Neri and Blessed John Henry Newman.

Duffy's lecture gathered a variety of Newman scholars who have admired his work for many years, together with a substantial audience of enthusiasts and devotees. Close to two hundred guests attended. Among these were the rectors of St. Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh and St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, and the provost of Duquesne University; deans, chairpersons, professors, and students from Duquesne University, University of Pittsburgh, and Franciscan University of Steubenville; the Fathers and Brothers of the Pittsburgh Oratory; NINS' board members, and other faithful friends and generous supporters of NINS. Some guests traveled from Indiana, Minnesota, Texas, and New York to attend.

Professor Duffy's lecture generated great interest, and the public engaged him in a lively discussion, during a stimulating question and answer period. The lecture is part of a large collaborative work on Newman, The Oxford Handbook of John Henry Newman, which will be published by Oxford University Press. NINS was privileged to receive this preview of work that will have an impact on this very important dimension of Newman Studies.