Saint John Henry Newman

Why this patron? John Henry Cardinal Newman, soon to be saint, was a powerhouse Oxford intellectual, educational thinker, and convert to Catholicism who thoroughly understood and faithfully lived out both the Anglican patrimony that the Ordinariate (of which our parish is a member) enjoys, as well as the beautiful, eternal universality of the one, true, Roman Catholic Church. 

Though, in the turbulent wake of Newman's conversion to the "Romish" priesthood, he and the founder of our educational method, Charlotte Mason, couldn't exactly be friends, there is considerable overlap and mutual enlightenment in their work on educational philosophy. Both believed in the value of education for its own sake, as a fulfillment of the human person, rather than a pragmatic tool useful only for a profession. Both stressed the need for knowledge to be lived and united to the heart of the learner, not simply memorized in the form of learning only, to be a lasting and vital part of the student's life. And both used narrative and living story to show forth the most important truths of God, of man, and of the universe, and to draw others into the love of those truths. As Newman's motto declared: Cor ad cor loquitur; or, Heart speaks to heart. Charlotte Mason, in her final work on education, would express this idea anew: "Knowledge is not instruction, information, a well-stored memory. It is passed, like the light of a torch, from mind to mind, and the flame can be kindled at original minds only” (Volume 6, p. 239).

To learn more about Saint John Henry Newman, this article is an excellent beginning.

Prayer

"Give me eyes to see what is right, and a heart to follow it, and strength to perform it; and grant that I may in all things press forward in the work of sanctification and ever do your will, and at length through your mercy attain to the glories of your everlasting kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord." (A Newman Prayer Book)

Charlotte Mason

Our co-op classes and gatherings use the Charlotte Mason educational philosophy. We choose living books to read together (those vibrant works of vivid storytelling that tradition has labeled "great books"), we spread a feast of ideas and opportunity before the children, and do our best not to stand in the way of their natural desire to know Truth by "much talk" on our part. We trust that the Holy Spirit is the foremost teacher of us all, and put all our effort into enabling our children to encounter Him through great texts and meaningful works of their hands.

As explained on the Simply Charlotte Mason website, "The Charlotte Mason method is based on Charlotte’s firm belief that the child is a person and we must educate that whole person, not just his mind. So a Charlotte Mason education is three-pronged: in her words, 'Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.' By 'Atmosphere,' Charlotte meant the surroundings in which the child grows up. A child absorbs a lot from his home environment. Charlotte believed that the ideas that rule your life as the parent make up one-third of your child’s education. "By 'Discipline,' Charlotte meant the discipline of good habits—and specifically habits of character. Cultivating good habits in your child’s life make up another third of his education. "The other third of education, 'Life,' applies to academics. Charlotte believed that we should give children living thoughts and ideas, not just dry facts. So all of her methods for teaching the various school subjects are built around that concept."

Student Motto

'I am, I ought, I can, I will'––these are the steps of that ladder of St. Augustine, whereby we "rise on stepping stones / Of our dead selves to higher things." (Charlotte Mason, Volume I)

I am 

a child of God, a gift to my parents and my country. I'm a person of great value because God made me.

I can 

do all things through Christ who strengthens me. God has made me able to do everything required of me.

I ought 

to do my duty to obey God, to submit to my parents and everyone in authority over me, to be of service to others, and to keep myself healthy with proper food and rest so my body is ready to serve.

I will 

resolve to keep a watch over my thoughts and choose what's right even if it's not what I want."

From Ambleside Online