Godsplaining Saint John Henry Newman: Doctor of the Church
Nov 20, 2025
Fr. Bonaventure and Fr. Patrick explore the Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage, highlighting the importance of community in Catholic practices. They delve into the life of Saint John Henry Newman, discussing his spiritual journey from evangelicalism to Catholicism. Newman’s impact on doctrine development is examined, including his criteria for authentic growth that respects tradition. The podcast also reflects on how Newman's insights are relevant in addressing contemporary issues within the Church.
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Immersive Power Of Ritual
- Fr. Bonaventure describes the Rosary Pilgrimage as an immersive, Christmas-like pageant that unites people in ritual and procession.
- He says the procession's scale dramatized how ritual orders life and helps participants follow tradition rather than improvise.
Liturgical Life As Social Order
- Fr. Bonaventure argues liturgical immersion helps people follow a script so they aren't alone in moral and sacramental life.
- He connects communal ritual to the Church's role in ordering believers' lives and countering loneliness.
Newman At Santa Maria Novella
- Fr. Patrick and Fr. Bonaventure recount Newman's visit to Santa Maria Novella where he found Dominicans preoccupied with rosewater apothecaries.
- Newman reacted sharply, saying the order had lost its charism focused on Thomistic thought.
