My friend Newman

For the third podcast in our Merely Catholic series, Dr Gavin Ashenden is joined from Chicago by Melissa Villalobos, the mother whose inexplicable healing from a potentially fatal haemorrhage provided Pope Francis with the miracle required to recognise Cardinal John Henry Newman as a saint.

Melissa, the Catholic Herald 2019 “Catholic of the Year”, recalls her healing and reflects on the deep spiritual bond of friendship she forged with the first English saint since the Reformation era, and also speaks about the importance of his teachings to our secular times, particularly in the formation of consciences.