THE
P RTAL
April 2012
Page 13
Newman and
the True Spirit of Lent
by Br Sean
Pilgrims and visitors arriving at Newman’s private room at Littlemore are often taken aback by the
rather spartan bedroom, cold floor and white washed walls. The frugal atmosphere of The College is in stark
contrast to what one would be accustomed to in Oxford. Here at Littlemore Newman decided to engage in
the nitty-gritty of daily life devoid of all the distractions which he felt were unessential.
In his mind Newman’s
Littlemore was an outward
expression of his inner desire for
only that which was necessary. In
many ways we could say that his
Littlemore years can be paralleled
to our annual observance of Lent.
us, and kept up a most delightful
conversation ...”
wary of extreme forms
of asceticism
Despite the apparent severity of
these accounts Newman was wary
of extreme forms of asceticism
Littlemore years
and did abandon some practices
The Littlemore years were
which he found unedifying
perhaps one of the most
to the good of the Littlemore
intensely lived periods of
community or to individual
Newman’s life, characterised by
members. In fact we find a starling
prayer, retirement and study.
passage in his sermon Fasting a
On coming permanently to
Source of Trial of 1838 in which
Littlemore Newman was aware
he explains our Lord’s fasting in
of the importance of this time
the desert as “but introductory to
of discernment and therefore
His temptation ... it was the cause
drew up a rather strict regime
of the conflict in good measure.
for himself and his fellow Tractarians at The College. Instead of its simply arming Him against temptation,
William Lockhart, the first of the Tractarians to it is plain, that in the first instance, His retirement and
convert in 1843, writes:
abstinence exposed Him to it. Fasting was the primary
occasion of it.” Newman had seen that while fasting
I was admitted by Newman’s great kindness, as one and penance can lead a man to God and strengthen
of his first companions at Littlemore ... The life was him in the good fight, it can also become the source of
something like what we had read in The Fathers of the self- concentration, pride and even sin.
Desert. We rose at midnight to recite the Nocturnal
office of the Roman Breviary. I remember direct If we wish to be perfect
Newman’s profound spirit of discernment in matters
invocation of the Saints was omitted, and instead we
asked God that the Saint of the day might pray for us. I of the spiritual life comes to its fullest expression in
think we passed an hour in private prayer, and, for the a quite unknown passage from his Meditations and
first time I learnt what meditation meant. We fasted Devotions where he asks what we should do if we wish
every day till twelve, and in Lent and Advent till five.” to be perfect. His reply is simple yet sublime, and could
be a wonderful programme for us in these final weeks
RichardStanton, who arrived to stay at The College of Lent: “If you ask me what you are to do in order to
in 1845, found it no different than Lockhart in 1842: be perfect, I say, first: Do not lie in bed beyond the due
“The plan of life we followed was simple in the extreme time of rising; give your first thoughts to God; make a
... perfect silence was observed in the house, except good visit to the Blessed Sacrament; say the Angelus
during recreation in the library ... we took our breakfast devoutly; eat and drink to God’s glory; say the Rosary
standing in the dining room, and some luncheon also well; be recollected; keep out bad thoughts; make your
at the middle of the day. In the afternoon it was usual to evening meditation well; examine yourself daily; go to
take a walk, and sometimes Mr Newman accompanied bed in good time, and you are already perfect.”