A Prout Connection...
On September 19, 2010, Pope Benedict beatified John Henry Newman, a nineteenth century British intellectual who converted to Catholicism and later became a cardinal. He made significant contributions to the Catholic theological tradition, especially with his notion of the “development of doctrine.” Blessed John Henry Newman is now one step closer to sainthood. His feast day is October 9.
What does this have to do with Prout?
John Henry Newman was received into the Catholic Church by Blessed Dominic Barberi, C.P., one of the most well-known members of the Congregation of the Passion (Passionists). Blessed Dominic was revitalizing the Catholic Church in England when he received a young convert, Elizabeth Prout, into the Catholic Church. Elizabeth Prout would go on to found the female branch of the religious order that Blessed Dominic was himself a member of. The Sisters of the Cross and Passion, founded by Elizabeth Prout, would eventually journey to the United States and, among many other ministries, open The Prout School in the 1960’s.
Cardinal Newman and Elizabeth Prout…
Both were English Protestants who converted to Roman Catholicism. Both were received into the Church by Blessed Dominic Barberi. Both are presently on the road to sainthood. Both were examples of Catholic learning. Both are still relevant in our own time. We pray that one day both Cardinal Newman and Elizabeth Prout will be revered as saints.