The Idea of a University

The Idea of a University illuminates St. John Henry Newman’s timeless and accessible defense of a Catholic liberal education.

St. John Henry Newman and his influence on theology, religion, and education continues to benefit us today. The Idea of a University, one of his pinnacle works, collects his lectures about the intertwined strength of the Catholic Church and the liberal university. Within these discourses, Newman lays out arguments for the essence of a Catholic University and the benefit to students and the world as a whole. He writes not for only Catholics but for all readers, appealing to truth and fact before expounding upon reason and examples. The Idea of a University is a vital part of the history of liberal education and offers a roadmap for the future as academia continues to change and develop.

British theologian John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890) was a leading figure in both the Church of England and, after his conversion, the Roman Catholic Church and was known as "The Father of the Second Vatican Council." His Parochial and Plain Sermons (1834-42) is considered the best collection of sermons in the English language. He is also the author of A Grammar of Assent (1870).

Martin J. Svaglic (1916-1998) began his experience in Jesuit education by attending St. Ignatius High School in Chicago. Svaglic received B.A. and M.A. degrees in English studies from Loyola University Chicago, in 1938 and 1940 respectively, before pursuing a doctorate from the University of Chicago, which he received in 1949. Svaglic began teaching English at Loyola University Chicago in the late 1940s, instructing graduate and undergraduate students for almost 45 years until retiring in 1983. Svaglic also served as the Frederick Ives Carpenter Visiting Professor at the University of Chicago in 1964.