By Theresia Titus
At South Perth Parish St Columba’s Catholic Church, Stations of the Cross will be more significant during this year’s Lent.
Speaking to The Record, Parish Priest Mgr Brian O’Loughlin informed that he has adapted meditational text on the Stations of the Cross written by St John Henry Newman in 1860 for congregational use.
“[The text is special for Lent 2020] because it’s the first Lent after [St John Henry Newman’s] canonisation [in October 2019],” Mgr O’Loughlin said.
“Some people may not warm to the text because of the language of the text is of a 19th century, scholarly gentleman. But that’s how he was at the time, to keep using the original style is respect to its authenticity.”
The text was prayed at the Colosseum, Rome on the evening of Good Friday in 2001.
For Mgr O’Loughlin the text is special because it was composed early in St John Henry Newman’s life, 30 years before his death, when he just converted to Catholicism from the Anglican Church.
“Many of the texts of the Station of the Cross spring from the devotion that particular priest or the person who composes or writes them,” Mgr O’Loughlin said.
“An interesting fact of the text is many of the meditations and reflections try to see the passion of the Lord through Mary’s eyes. It is the first time I came across such a view on the passion of the Lord through Mary’s eyes and I was attracted by that.
“Even though he died in 1890, his theological writings and especially his defence of freedom of conscience and place of the laity in the Church, they were ground breaking and new.
Mgr O’Loughlin came across the text when he received it as a thanksgiving gift which was presented by the St Columba’s Primary School students as they received their first Eucharist and Confirmations.
“The school, on behalf of the sacramental children presents me with a book of my choosing each year. Eight years ago, it was the prayers and meditations of Cardinal Newman,” he said.
“Following the presentation, I adapted his meditation on the Stations of the Cross for congregational use.”
With a great interest in the “great, English convert theologian”, Mgr O’Loughlin, the text would give people a new understanding of the Lord’s passion.
“I hope the people will find that viewing the Lord’s passion through the eyes and heart of Mary will give them a newer and deeper understanding,” he said.
“As this is the first lent following the canonisation of Cardinal Newman, I thought it was a very good time to highlight his great theological legacy.”
The text has been prayed on the first Friday of this lent on 28 February and has been used at South Perth Parish for the past seven years since Mgr O’Loughlin’s first encounter with the text eight years ago.
For more information on the text or to use it at your parish email South Perth Parish St Columba’s Catholic Church at sec@southperthcatholic.org.au