Saturday May 6th, 2000

Tonight, I pulled out my old copy of Newman’s Apologia. There I read:

You may think how lonely I am. ‘Obliviscere populum tuum et domum patris tui,’ has been in my ears for the last twelve hours. I realise more that we are leaving Littlemore, and it is like going on the open sea. (p.159, J. H. Newman (ed. Maisie Ward), Apologia pro vita sua, London: Sheed and Ward, 1976)

“Leave your people and your father’s house” (Gen 12:1). It reassured me at a time when I can say that I was feeling so frightened and scared I was near to weeping. Not even the words of Christ: “Do not be afraid” could calm me.