Beatus Newman, 2 Maii

His miracle for beatification formally green-lighted by Pope Benedict earlier this month, the wire reports that John Henry Newman will be formally raised to the step before sainthood in Birmingham next 2 May:

The date and venue have been proposed by the Vatican Congregation for Saints' Causes and are expected to be accepted soon by the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, the source told [Catholic News Service] July 15 on condition of anonymity.

The source said the cardinal will be beatified in the Birmingham Oratory, which he founded following his conversion to Catholicism in 1845 at age 44.

May 2 is seen as a favorable date because it is the feast of St. Athanasius, the fourth-century "champion of orthodoxy" admired by Cardinal Newman.

Newman's remains -- rather, what remained of them -- were moved to the Oratory late last year.

And, with that, mark your calendars.

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