Sermon XVIII: Condition of the Members of the Christian Empire, pp. 308-309
“
[W]hether we will believe it or no, the truth remains, that the strength of the Church, as heretofore, does not lie in earthly law, or human countenance, or civil station, but in her proper gifts; in those great gifts which our Lord pronounced to be beatitudes. Blessed are the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the thirsters after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peace makers, the persecuted.
— John Henry Newman
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "[W]hether we will believe it or no, the truth remains, that the strength of the Church, as heretofore, does not lie in earthly law, or human countenance, or civil station, but in her proper gifts; in those great gifts which our Lord pronounced to be beatitudes. Blessed are the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the thirsters after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peace makers, the persecuted." in the context of "Sermon XVIII: Condition of the Members of the Christian Empire, pp. 308-309" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "John Henry Newman" (Quotes, 1840s, Sermons Bearing on Subjects of the Day (1843): Sermons Bearing on Subjects of the Day (London: J. G. F. & G. Rivington, 1843))
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About John Henry Newman
Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman (21 February 1801 – 11 August 1890) was an English convert to Catholicism, later made a cardinal.
About John Henry Newman
Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman (21 February 1801 – 11 August 1890) was an English convert to Catholicism, later made a cardinal.
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