Newman on Tap Presents

Ron Snyder
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

Guest interviews exploring the life and thought of St. John Henry Newman

  1. May 25

    Righteousness, Not of Us, But in Us - Dale Carlson

    Episode 14 Season 4 – Righteousness, Not of Us, But in Us. Host Ron Snyder and guest Dale Carlson discuss St. John Henry Newman's 1840 sermon "Righteousness, Not of Us, But in Us," exploring how all spiritual gifts — wisdom, righteousness, sanctification — come from Christ dwelling within us, not from our own nature. Dale shares his personal journey from a faithful Lutheran upbringing through conversion to Catholicism, driven by his wife's faith, Marian devotion, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and describes how his community in Park Rapids is now evangelizing through the Alpha program. The sermon's central argument is that pride, worldly wisdom, and the tendency to claim gifts as our own are the primary obstructions to receiving the Spirit, and that true humility means recognizing everything — even bodily health and talent — as given by God. Newman builds his case through extensive Scripture, concluding that righteousness is "not of us, but in us" — implanted one by one through the Holy Spirit as an individual, inward gift rather than a collective transformation. The conversation culminates in Newman's call for an inward change through Christ, a separation from the world's standards, and an embrace of the mystery of faith, without which awe, reverence, and proper worship all diminish. Ron and Dale close by noting how Newman's Anglican-era sermons already reflect his near-Catholic conviction, speaking to all Christians with language rooted in the Church Fathers and pointing toward universal truth. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

    40 min

  2. May 11

    Obedience without Love, as Instanced in the Character of Baalam - Dr. Bernadette Waterman Ward

    This episode features English scholar Dr. Bernadette Waterman Ward - a Newman and Hopkins expert from the University of Dallas. The discussion centers on Newman's sermon "Obedience without Love, as Instanced in the Character of Balaam,” using the biblical figure of Balaam as a case study in a subtle but dangerous spiritual failure: obeying God outwardly while remaining self-centered at heart. Newman argues that religion practiced merely as self-management or social respectability — rather than as genuine love and surrender to God — leaves a person fundamentally misaligned with Him. The conversation draws on René Girard's concept of Memetic Desire and Newman's novel Loss and Gain to illustrate how we rationalize moral compromises and gradually deaden our conscience. It closes with Newman's striking warning that God's calls may not be repeated, and that first impulses of conscience are often more trustworthy than second-guessed "reasonable" ones. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

    28 min

  3. Apr 27

    Religion, a Weariness to the Natural Man - Callie MacDonald

    In this episode of Newman on Tap, host Ron Snyder discusses Newman's 1828 sermon "Religion, A Weariness to the Natural Man" with guest Callie McDonald, a nurse and member of the forming Benedictine Oblates of Mary at the University of Mary in Bismarck. Newman's central argument is that religion feels burdensome not because it is lacking, but because the human heart is not yet aligned with God — as he writes, "We cannot expect the system of the universe to come over to us… these are fixed, we must go over to them." Callie brings this truth to life through her own journey of discernment, explaining that true freedom is not doing whatever you want, but the capacity to choose the good — and that a half-hearted relationship with God bears little fruit. The conversation explores how grace, not willpower alone, transforms the soul from routine religious practice into a lived, intimate encounter with Christ. Newman's sermon ultimately closes as a call to surrender self-deception and align our desires with divine truth, so that we may become the kind of people capable of enjoying the eternal good. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

    29 min

  4. Apr 13

    The Yoke of Christ - Dr. Peter Daly

    In this episode host Ron Snyder interviews Dr. Peter Daly — orthopedic surgeon, co-founder of One World Surgery, and lifelong devotee of St. John Henry Newman. Together they explore Newman's sermon "The Yoke of Christ" (1839), examining how suffering, the Beatitudes, and the narrow way of the cross lead to true freedom and righteousness. Dr. Daly shares a deeply personal account of his 2021 bone marrow transplant, describing it as a transformative "purgatory experience" that stripped away self-reliance and brought him into profound intimacy with God. The conversation weaves Newman's unflinching theology — that a yoke is still a yoke, even Christ's — with lived experience. The episode closes with reflections on Dr. Daly's humanitarian work in Honduras as a living expression of "washing the brethren's feet" by carrying the cross of Christ for each other.   To learn more of One World Surgery go to https://oneworldsurgery.org/ To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

    47 min

  5. Mar 30

    Intellect, the Instrument of Religious Training - Patrick Reilly, Founder and President of the Cardinal Newman Society

    Host Ron Snyder and Patrick Reilly discuss St. John Henry Newman's sermon "Intellect, the Instrument of Religious Training" (1857). Patrick, founder of the Cardinal Newman Society (https://cardinalnewmansociety.org/) discusses how Newman argued that Catholic education must unite faith and intellect — that forming only the "gentleman" through liberal arts is insufficient without also tending to the soul. They explore Newman's depiction of how the fall fragmented the human soul, permitting the intellect, will, and passions to war against each other, and how this mirrors the fragmentation of the modern university. Newman's solution is that the Catholic Church, like St. Monica praying for Augustine, must serve as a spiritual mother through its universities — reuniting knowledge with grace, forming not just the intellect but the whole person toward communion with God. Also, consider joining Patrick, Msgr. James Shea and others on a "Newman Experience Pilgrimage" to England September 6 - 12, 2026. Copy and paste in your browser below for more information.  https://cardinalnewmansociety.org/the-newman-experience/ To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

    30 min

  6. Mar 16

    Faith and Private Judgment - Glen Cowan

    In this episode of Newman on Tap, host Ron Snyder discusses St. John Henry Newman's sermon "Faith and Private Judgment" with Dr. Glen Cowan, a retired orthodontist and lifelong Methodist who recently joined the Newman study group. Glenn shares how Newman's writings have transformed his faith by revealing the richness of Catholic tradition, the Church Fathers, and the importance of submitting to divine truth rather than relying solely on private interpretation of Scripture. The conversation explores Newman's distinction between faith in written words versus faith in living oracles (the Church and its teachers), emphasizing that true faith means trusting God's messengers, not just individual judgment. Glenn describes his journey from ignorance of Catholic teaching to discovering a "river" of spiritual depth beyond his Protestant upbringing, finding Newman to be not just a man who loves God, but one "in love with God." The episode concludes with reflections on grace, humility, and the call to surrender personal ego in order to fully receive Christ's transformative love. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

    38 min

  7. Mar 2

    The Crucifixion - Charlotte Walter

    Host Ron Snyder discusses St. John Henry Newman's sermon "The Crucifixion" with 16-year-old Charlotte Walter from St. Rose Philippine Duchesne parish in Anthem, Arizona. Together they explore how to develop authentic faith beyond superficial feelings by examining Newman's concept of "dwelling" in Christ's sufferings through contemplative prayer, using vivid analogies of cruelty to animals, children, and elderly persons to make the crucifixion emotionally real. Charlotte reflects on how teenage faith programs often focus on emotional experiences, but true love requires both feeling and action—dwelling in Christ's suffering leads to deeper relationship with God. The discussion emphasizes that belief in the unseen requires grace accessed through prayer and the sacraments - in particular the Eucharist - where the material meets the immaterial. Charlotte commits to an intentional Lent by contemplating Christ's sufferings through Newman's examples, recognizing that understanding His suffering reveals His love for us. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

    26 min

  8. Feb 16

    Self-Denial: The Test of Religious Earnestness - Paul Lorie

    In this episode, Ron Snyder welcomes Paul Lorie from Erie, Pennsylvania to discuss St. John Henry Newman's sermon "Self-Denial: The Test of Religious Earnestness" (March 25, 1842). They explore Newman's challenge to examine whether we're truly awake in our faith or merely going through the motions, caught up in cultural Christianity rather than genuine spiritual commitment. Paul and Ron discuss how Newman calls us to daily self-denial as proof of authentic faith—not grand gestures, but small acts of love that push us beyond comfort and worldly interests. The conversation emphasizes that true Christian obedience, rooted in love like Christ's example in Gethsemane, requires constant examination of conscience and willingness to sacrifice temporal advantages for eternal truth. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

    30 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Guest interviews exploring the life and thought of St. John Henry Newman

Information

  • Creator
    Ron Snyder
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    95
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Newman on Tap Presents
  • Show Website
    Newman on Tap Presents

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