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13:00 GMT, Saturday, 1 November 2008

Mass held for Birmingham Cardinal

Portrait of Cardinal John Henry Newman

Mass has been held for the lying-in-state of a 19th Century Birmingham cardinal tipped for sainthood.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy- O'Connor celebrated mass at 0800 GMT in the Birmingham Oratory for Cardinal John Henry Newman whose grave was excavated.

Grave relics found in Rednal, Worcestershire have been put on display in a bid to make him England's first saint since the 16th Century.

Mass was also celebrated at 1100 GMT and the vigil of reception continues.

'Quiet recollection'

A spokesman for the Birmingham Oratory said: "We are very pleased with the way it has gone. People have been coming here to pray and reflect on the life of the Cardinal."

Archbishop Vincent Nichols, who visited on Friday, added: "'The Birmingham Oratory has been transformed into a place of quiet recollection and wonder.

"The remains of Cardinal Newman, and other objects from his life, form the focus of the attention as we welcome back to the Oratory its founder and inspiration."

Locks of hair

Only a few relics, including a cross worn around his neck, were found when the grave was exhumed in October.

The Vatican had requested the cardinal's body be dug up from his grave and moved as part of the process of beatification.

The Birmingham Oratory has said his body had probably decomposed because his coffin was not lined with lead.

Oratory founder

Cardinal Newman was revered during his lifetime as a priest, theologian and writer.

He was born in London in 1801 into a Church of England family and was ordained in the Anglican Church but converted to Catholicism at the age of 44.

He settled in Birmingham where he founded the first English Oratory and was known for his work with the poor. He died in 1890.

The Vatican is currently considering the claims of a deacon from the US Diocese of Boston, Massachusetts, that he was cured of a spinal disease through a miracle after praying to Cardinal Newman.




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Related to this story:
Mystery of cardinal's missing bones (29 Oct 08 |  England )
No body in exhumed Newman's grave (04 Oct 08 |  West Midlands )
What does it take to become a saint? (02 Oct 08 |  England )
Cardinal's remains will be moved (28 Jul 08 |  West Midlands )
New sainthood case strengthened (14 Apr 06 |  West Midlands )
'Miracle' hope for new sainthood (19 Oct 05 |  West Midlands )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Birmingham Oratory
University of Birmingham
York Archaeological Trust
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