Donald A. Withey, John Henry Newman: the Liturgy and the Breviary

His encounter with the Breviary provided Newman with his first opportunity to 'get on the inside' of the Roman liturgy and to make a detailed study of a liturgical book. He found it, by comparison with the Prayer Book, greatly enriched both devotionally and liturgically. There were many features in the Breviary which appealed strongly to him. In the Breviary offices the whole of the psalter was prayed weekly and enriched with antiphons; almost the whole of scripture was read at Matins (or would have been if the lectio continua had not been disrupted by the overloading of saints' feasts with their own propers); and the homiletic lessons at Matins provided a daily reading from the Fathers. The hagiographical lessons, although badly in need of revision, gave an insight into the history and the spirituality of the Church. The course of the Breviary offices throughout the year celebrated with considerable richness both the liturgical seasons and ordinary time, together with other feasts of the Lord, the Virgin Mary and the saints. The time of day was also sanctified by the daily round of offices. Antiphons, versicles and responsories all served to enrich the liturgical prayer of the Breviary. Above all Newman was impressed by the office hymns. . . .

The Roman liturgy, and especially the Breviary, was a decisive factor in Newman's journey towards Rome, a factor which has not received due attention in the corpus of literature dealing with his conversion. Newman encountered the Breviary almost by accident. Its influence on him, continuing perhaps the influence of his friend Hurrell Froude, must not be underestimated. He became almost captivated by this book and could not put it aside. Despite the ill-feeling caused by the abortive Breviary translation projects, despite his discouragement of others from using the Breviary if it turned them Rome wards, despite his painful realization that it was drawing him towards Rome, he continued to pray the offices. Wisely or unwisely he took the bold step of reciting the offices daily with his companions at Littlemore, despite his desire to hold them back from Rome. The Breviary continued to have a fascination for him, and it is fitting that it featured at the very end of his journey to Rome.