Newman Documentary
Newman Documentary, Day 9, Malta
May 20, 2025
Day 9: Malta
May 19, 2025
Dear Friends,
Did you know that St. John Henry Newman traveled for six months in the Mediterranean—a journey that profoundly influenced his life? In December 1832, he accompanied his friend Richard Hurrell Froude, who was ill with tuberculosis, seeking a warmer climate than England. They traveled by steamship, visiting Gibraltar before arriving in Malta on Christmas Eve. Newman described it as a “wretched day” because he and his companions were detained in quarantine at the Lazzaretto on Manoel Island, just off the coast of Malta. The quarantine was to avoid the plague epidemic in other countries.
After some days, they traveled to Corfu, a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. At the time, Malta was a British colony, and Corfu was under British protection. They returned to Malta on January 10, 1833, and were again quarantined until the 23rd. Upon release, Newman had a bad cold. He managed to visit St. Paul’s Bay—his main interest in Malta—and walked along the streets before departing for Naples on February 7.
Newman observed that the homes were superb: “they are quite palaces” with a square court within. He noted that families inhabited entire houses, unlike in Palermo and Messina. He described the streets as “straight and at right angles.” Although the people were hospitable, it was a difficult month due to the cold, wet winter weather and the quarantine. This trip marked Newman’s first real acquaintance with Catholic and Orthodox cultures and their churches.
Fr. David Torpiano, a pastor and director of Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Malta, showed the film team some sights and discussed the importance of the Mediterranean trip for Newman.
Gustavo commented:
“Fr. David was very kind and welcoming. He took the time to show us around the city of Valletta, the capital of Malta, which held special significance in the life of Cardinal Newman. During our visit, Fr. David shared insights about Newman’s journey through the Mediterranean, highlighting the places he visited and the impressions those experiences left on him. In our conversation with him, we were able to grasp how meaningful and transformative this part of the journey had been for Newman. It was as if the breathtaking churches and serene surroundings stirred something in his heart, marking a pivotal moment in his life.”
Tomorrow, the film team will be in Sicily, where Newman fell gravely ill and realized that Divine Providence spared his life to carry out a mission in England.
Thank you for joining us on this journey with St. John Henry Newman. Please continue to pray for the film team and for the guests who are guiding us—so that many others will come to know Our Lord Jesus Christ and our Catholic faith through this documentary we are filming.
Here is a prayer that you can say with us:
O God, who bestowed on your Priest Saint John Henry Newman the grace to follow your kindly light and find peace in your Church; graciously grant that, through his intercession and example, we may be led out of shadows and images into the fullness of your truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(From the Memorial Mass of St. John Henry Newman)
