Conversion To Roman Catholicism
In this seclusion his weakened faith in the Anglican Church was shaken by the study of John Milner's End of Religious Controversy, given him by Grant, who had become a Catholic in 1841. Lockhart now realized for the first time what a Catholic doctrine was, and he saw doubts confirmed in the irresolution of Newman, at this time seeking his Via media between Catholicism and Anglicanism. After a few weeks' hesitation, he declared to Newman that he could not go on for Anglican ordination doubting its validity as he did; Newman sent him to W.G. Ward, who persuaded him to return to Littlemore for three years.
About a year later, however, his meeting with Father Aloysius Gentili of the newly formed Institute of Charity (Rosminians), at Ward's rooms, brought matters to a crisis. In August 1843, he visited Gentili at Loughborough, intending to stay only a few hours, but his visit resulted in a three-day retreat and his reception into the Catholic Church.
On 29 August he was received into the Rosminian Institute; he made his simple vows on 7 April 1844, and his solemn profession 8 September 1845. He was the first of the Tractarians to become a Catholic, and his conversion greatly affected Newman, who shortly afterwards preached at Littlemore his last sermon as an Anglican, "The Parting of Friends".
All communications between Lockhart and his mother ceased by Manning's orders, but mother and son were soon reconciled, and in July 1846 Mrs Lockhart followed her son into the Catholic Church. In November 1844, he was included in the new community at Calvary House, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, the first Rosminian foundation in England.
Read more about this topic: William Lockhart (priest)
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