“John Henry Cardinal Newman’s Thoughts on ‘What is a University?’”

by John Stasny (September 10, 2000)
edited by Moira Reilly

We celebrated with the rest of the world on September 19th, 2010 when Pope Benedict XVI beatified Cardinal Newman (1801-1890), for whom our Newman Hall is named, along with all of the Newman centers for Catholic students at secular universities across the English-speaking world. Newman was the university man par excellence. His own education was at Oxford University, where he also served as a fellow and then a tutor (professor), until he left to join the Catholic Church. Newman became a Cardinal in 1879.

For all of us associated in various ways with WVU, we must ask ourselves: “What is a University and what are we doing here?” Newman’s own thoughts on the university shed light for us:

"A University is a place of concourse, whither students come from every quarter for every kind of knowledge...it is a place in which the intellect may safely range and speculate, sure to find its equal in some antagonistic activity, and its judge in the tribunal of truth. It is a place where inquiry is pushed forward, and discoveries verified and perfected, and rashness innocuous, and error exposed, by the collision of mind with mind, and knowledge with knowledge. It is a place where the professor becomes eloquent, and is a missionary and a preacher, displaying his science in its most complete and most winning form, pouring it forth with the zeal of enthusiasm, and lighting up his own love of it in the breasts of his hearers...it is the seat of wisdom, a light of the world, a minister of faith, an Alma Mater of the rising generation." (The Rise and Progress of Universities, 1854)

"When a multitude of young [wo/]men, keen, open-hearted, sympathetic, and observant, as young [wo/]men are, come together and freely mix with each other, they are sure to learn one from another...the conversation of all is a series of lectures to each, and they gain for themselves new ideas and views, fresh matter of thought, and distinct principles for judging and acting, day by day...learning how to think, reason, compare, discriminate, and discover and contemplate the truth...forming a habit of mind which lasts through life, of which the attributes are freedom, equitableness, calmness, moderation and wisdom." (The Idea of a University, 1852)

The Idea of a University is Newman’s most important book on the nature and purpose of a University. I used to tell my students that if they approached commencement day without having read and meditated on it, they would be taking their degrees under false pretenses.

Recommended Reading:
The Idea of a University (1852) by John Henry Cardinal Newman

Question of the week:
In light of Cardinal Newman’s thoughts on the mission of the university, what is our mission as St. John University Parish? How can we fulfill this mission?