Today, October 9, for the first time,  we can celebrate the optional feast of  BLESSED  John Henry Cardinal Newman (21 February 1801 – 11 August 1890).  He converted to Catholicisim on this day in 1845.  Prolific writer and possibly future Doctor of the Church.  He was created a cardinal in 1879, and was beatified in September 2010.  His  motto was “Cor ad Cor Loquitur.”   Normally, the day of death or near that day is chosen as the feast, but in the case of Newman, somewhat controversially, the day of his entrance into the Catholic Church becomes his feast day.

Peter Schineller, S.J., is a former associate editor of America.