Archbishop Hebda reflects on St. John Henry Newman’s influence on his life and ministry

Archbishop Bernard Hebda said he first discovered St. John Henry Newman while he was a seminarian. In an upcoming episode of the program Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, the archbishop discussed how Newman's sermons serve as a source of spiritual inspiration.

Hebda noted that he particularly appreciates sermons Newman wrote while he was an Anglican. He described Newman as a significant figure in the Oxford Movement, a theological effort to return Anglicans to their apostolic roots. This movement eventually led to Newman's public and difficult conversion to the Catholic Church, a transition that resulted in the loss of many friends and colleagues.

The archbishop's episcopal motto, Only Jesus, is a prayer commonly attributed to Newman, though Hebda noted he suspects the quote may have originated from another source. He also uses the phrase as the title for his column in The Catholic Spirit.