Who was Father Henry James Coleridge SJ?

It's time that Catholics rediscover Father Henry James Coleridge, a giant of English Catholic history. This is his initial obituary in The Month review, ‘of which he was practically the founder.’

Father Henry James Coleridge’s Initial Obituary

From The Month

The English Province of the Society of Jesus has lost, in this early part of 1893, no less than three veterans distinguished in their various lines of work.

The first struck down by death, and on the very first day of the year, was Father George R. Kingdon, aged seventy-three, known and honoured for considerably more than a quarter of a century as Prefect of Studies, first at Stonyhurst and afterwards at Beaumont—a classical scholar of the Cambridge type, a man of remarkable diligence, method, and accuracy, widely known, esteemed, and loved.

He was soon followed by Father James Jones, a profound and subtle moral theologian, who had occupied the chair of Moral at St. Beuno’s for many years, and, after holding the posts of Rector and Provincial, was elected English Assistant of Father General in the recent General Congregation of the Society at Loyola, where, to the regret of all members of the Society, and of many others who valued his judgment as a moralist, he died of typhoid fever about the middle of the month of January.

And now, during the past month, the grave has closed over the mortal remains of FATHER HENRY JAMES COLERIDGE, the activity of whose busy career was brought almost to a close three years since by a stroke of paralysis, from which he never fully recovered.

Heir of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s name

Father Coleridge had the advantage of bearing a name already illustrious throughout this century, and standing high, not only in the legal profession, but at the Universities and in various departments of literature.

Nor was he unworthy of his race. A finished scholar, a thoroughly refined English gentleman, a most painstaking and industrious student, above all a man of strong religious principle, of great personal holiness made amiable by the tenderness of his piety, hidden though his life was, he has for many years exercised an influence as wide as we hope it will be permanent.

Fr Coleridge’s labours

We have no intention of attempting in our present issue a sketch of his career or detailed appreciation of his work. That is reserved for our June number. We merely desire to pay him without delay the tribute of affectionate respect which is his due. The loving remembrance of him in the religious community of which he was so long a prominent member will not easily die out.

His unobtrusive yet constant exercise of the sacred ministry at Farm Street has endeared him to great numbers of Catholics, who have either profited by his wise and practical advice as a director, or been stimulated to progress in piety by his thoughtful and instructive sermons and meditations.

But his labours have a most special claim to prompt and grateful recognition in this Review, of which, though not the absolute originator, he was practically the founder, as he first took it over on behalf of the Society, becoming its first Jesuit editor and remaining so for more than fifteen years. His memory is held in affectionate reverence by those who worked with him and under him for his patience and gentleness, as well as for his sound judgment and literary skill.

Of the ability with which he discharged his office and of the value of his own contributions to the pages of THE MONTH, it is not for us to speak. The reading public are the court from which there is no appeal. He also for some years conducted the Messenger of the Sacred Heart with conspicuous success.

The Apostolic work of Father Coleridge was, however, by no means confined to the pulpit, the confessional, and the periodical press. In the midst of work which would exhaust the energies of most men, he managed with admirable tenacity of purpose and persistent husbanding of his time to carry on what has been well styled “the Apostleship of Good Books.”

His literary works

The Quarterly Series, which has rendered no insignificant service in this direction, was not only projected by him, but successfully carried on down to the 78th volume of the Series, and of this number a very large proportion were the product of his pen.

Besides such valuable biographies as those of St. Francis Xavier and St. Teresa, the Life of Our Lord in twenty volumes is at once a monument of his patient and loving industry, an exhibition of intense personal devotion to the Sacred Humanity and Divinity of Jesus Christ, and an invaluable treasury of judicious exegesis and practical comment upon His words and works.

What he has given to English Catholics

This work, had it been his only gift to them, should make Father Coleridge’s memory dear to English Catholics. It has thrown a flood of light on the true principles of the Harmony of the Gospels, on their internal structure, and above all on the providential plan followed in the onward march of the manifestations of Our Lord, in the unfolding of His moral, doctrinal, and ascetical teaching, in the gradual training of His Apostles, and the development of what, with all reverence, may be called His policy in the establishment of His Father’s Kingdom.

By nearly half a century of patient labour, never losing sight of his purpose, though compelled to intermit from time to time the work of actual composition, Father Coleridge succeeded in bringing out elements of intelligent estimate of Our Lord’s Life which do not lie on the surface, but form an illuminating background to the pictures drawn for us by each of the four Evangelists.

When to this really great work of Father Coleridge we add the supplementary volumes which, like so many satellites, attend upon and revolve around it, we find that he has indeed not lived or laboured in vain, but has bequeathed to all English-speaking Catholics a system of teaching concerning Our Lord, the records of His Life, and the theological and devotional contemplation of the Divine plan realized therein, which does not merely contain treasures of devotion and doctrine, but adds indefinitely to their value by his careful and critical arrangement of the time and order of events.

His end

He was happily spared to complete this great work, and when it was done, there came for him a time of necessary leisure, not indeed free from the suffering which enforced leisure brings to the energetic, but rich in spiritual blessings and solace, which he gratefully acknowledged, until at length the enfeeblement of his mind rendered him happily in great measure unconscious of bodily misery.

To the very last he was able to gather together his wandering wits when he wished to approach the sacraments, and especially to compose himself for the devout reception of Holy Communion. Full of years and merits, he has sunk peacefully to rest. His life was always one of calmness and deliberation, and he ended as he lived, realizing the family motto, Qualis vita, finis ita. – R. I. P.

From The Month, Vol. LXXVIII, May 1983, pp 1-3

For many extracts and articles from Father Coleridge’s works, see: