The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-04-13
REV. FATHER DOMINIC, C. P, RE-
CENED CARDINAL NEWMAN
INTO THE CHURCH AT LITTLE
MORE IN OCTOBER, 1s45.
Father Dominic spent Eight Years
Giving Missions in Engiand-Died
in 1a49 in the Odor of Sanctity-
Buried at sutton-cause of 5eati-
fication introduced in Rome.


During the past year The Cross, a
monthly magazine conducted by the
Passionist Fathers of England, pub
lished a series of articles entitled
Leaves From The Annals Of The
Passionists In Great Britain And Ire
land" Among the most interesting OF
these is the record of the missionary
work performed by the Rev. Father
Dominic whose cause of beatifcatlon
has been introduced at Rome.
Father Dominic came to England
from Belgium in 1S41 and labored On
the English mission until August II,
1S49, when he died at Reading in the
fifty-eighth year of his age and was
buried in vault beneath the sanctu-
ary of st. MichaePs Church at Stone
in Staffordshire. His remains were
removed in 1854 and, after many vicis-
situdes, at last found resting-place in
the crypt of ST. Anne's Church, SUIT
ton.
Father Dominic was instrumental in
receiving into the Church the distln-
guished clergyman who afterwards
became Cardinal Newman, as we'll as
others only less prominent than New
man in the Tractarian Movement in
England. Father Dominic first came
in direct contact with the Tractarian
Movement in 1S41 while he resided
at Ere in Belgium; and from that
time until his death it was much in
his thoughts and prayers.
Newman and His Friends.
At the end of 1912 Newman who
was the most prominent of the Ok
ford Tractarians to enter the Church
retired to Littlemore where he was
Joined by some companions, including
Dalgairns. Together they lived a
quasi-monastic life, passing the time
in prayer and study. What hopes
Father Dominic conceived from their
silence and seclusion we have no
means of knowing, but certain it is,
these men and their struggles filed
him with the deepest interest. He
eagerly seized the first opportunity
that offered of paying them visit
and becoming personally acquainted
with them. His retreat at Radford in
June, 1874, brought him nearer Ok
ford than he had yet been, and at it's
conclusion he bent his steps towards
Littlemore and crossed the threshold
of Newman's cottage for the first
time. His visit was short, but prob
ably not so fruitless as it seemed
What fresh ardour must have been
added to his prayers for those of whose
last agony on the deathbed of their Ang-
licanism he had caught a glimpse.
Newman, in his Apologize" says of
DR.. Russell, of Maynooth: "He had,
perhaps. more to do with my conver-
sion than anyone else. ;. He let me
alone" In the margin left open by
that perhaps" there is space for the
influence of Father Dominic's prayers.
The first fruit and recompense of
these prayers came in letter from
Dalgairns, who, in September (1845),
wrote expressing his intention to make
his submission to the Church, and ask
ing to be received at Aston Hall -.
Dalgairns went to Aston Hall and was
there received into the Church by
Father Dominic, on the Feast of st.
Michael the Archangel, the heavenly
Patron of the Congregation of the
Passion.
Father Dominic at Littlemore.
A week later Father Dominic re-
ceived an invitation to visit Little
more. He was announced to arrive on
October 8th, and on that day New
man wrote as follows to some friends:
"I am this night expecting Father
Dominic, the Passionist, who from his
youth has been led to have distinct
and direct thoughts, first of the coun-
tries of the North, then of England
After thirty years (almost) waiting,
he was without his own act sent here
He is a simple, holy man: and
withal gifted with remarkable powers
He does not know of my intention:
but / mean to ask of him admission
into the one true fold of Christ. y
Father Dominic duly arrived that
night, drenched to the skin. He had
travelled outside stage-coach in tor
rental rain, and was found by Dal
CAIRNS and another member of the Lit
tlemore community, who went to meet
him, drying his soaked habit al
the fire in an Oxford inn The rest
of the story we give in Father Dom
mics own simple words: 3I arrived
at Littlemore," he says, "about II
o'clock at night, and whilst was sit
ting before the fire to dry my wei
fcontinued on pages.l