What I'm Reading Now: Newman Retitled

Os Justi Press has started a new series of Theological Classics, well-prepared works, affordably priced, with introductions and other helpful aids for readers. I purchased the re-titled--The Virgin Mary as New Eve--aka/pka as A Letter Addressed to The Rev. E.B. Pusey on Occasion of His Eirenicon by Saint John Henry Newman. The change in title, as the editor of the series, Peter Kwasniewski, explains, focuses our reading on the "principal theme of the entire letter". I've read this work before, on-line at the Newman Reader and in a cheap reprint, and neither format was conducive to an effective study for me. I prefer real books and want excellent books too.

So far what I've read beyond the Editor's Preface is the introduction by Fr. Thomas Crean, OP--and already learned something new! Pusey had written his Eirenicon in response to a work by Henry Manning, another Anglican convert and Catholic priest. Manning's work was titled The Workings of the Holy Spirit in the Church of England, in which he "deprecated those works." Pusey replied with The Church of England a Portion of Christ's One Holy Catholic Church, and a Means of Restoring Visible Unity: An Eirenicon, which was "far from peaceable."

An eirenicon is "a statement that attempts to harmonize conflicting doctrines" and is a borrowing from Greek and according to the OED, Pusey's unique borrowing at the time: 

The earliest known use of the noun eirenicon is in the 1860s.
OED's earliest evidence for eirenicon is from 1865, in the writing of Edward Pusey, Church of England clergyman and theologian.

Father Crean also notes that Newman had recently met Pusey and Keble again after so many years in September of 1865; Keble spoke about the "Eirenicon" and then Newman was surprised to read it and find out just how un-irenic it was. Newman decided to concentrate on Keble's remarks about Catholic Marian doctrine and devotion and began writing his reply on November 28 and finishing it on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1865.

Crean continues his introduction by highlighting the excellences of Newman's Letter with some "animadversions" to certain of Newman's statements, and concludes with analysis of reaction to the Letter from Pusey and others.

When I've read Newman's own work I might make some other comments on this blog. I'm so happy to have this work available in an attractive, well-prepared, and reasonably priced edition.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

Saint John Henry Newman, pray for us!