While shaving this morning, I was considering the cause for the canonisation of G K Chesterton, as one does.
While he long defended the Church, and what we know of his life suggests that he will have been let into heaven (the definition of a saint), I wonder if his life was saintly as we understand it.
He was devout. He was faithful (always carrying a pistol to defend his wife). I expect his piety was genuine and that he attended Mass and said his prayers.
But is he someone through whom I would pray asking for intercession? He's not the first person to come to mind. Also, I am not aware of any miracles associated with him.
In favour of his cause, wouldn't it be great to have a new saint who lived in the world in every sense? Who struggled, who worked for a living, who knew both success and opposition; someone who was alive almost in living memory and of whom stories are still told as personal anecdotes; who appears in photographs and in films?
Also in favour of St Gilbert is that he would be a saint who was more like us than the martyrs (no matter how recent), or distinguished clerics who were already recognised as saintly while on earth. After all, all of us are supposed to have a good chance of getting to heaven.
The canonisation of Chesterton would also militate against Mark Twain's comment that he'd choose hell for the company but heaven for the climate.
I'd like to think that there were many saints (like St Thomas More) who were pious, learned and witty. In that, Chesterton would be a welcome addition to the party.
While he long defended the Church, and what we know of his life suggests that he will have been let into heaven (the definition of a saint), I wonder if his life was saintly as we understand it.
He was devout. He was faithful (always carrying a pistol to defend his wife). I expect his piety was genuine and that he attended Mass and said his prayers.
But is he someone through whom I would pray asking for intercession? He's not the first person to come to mind. Also, I am not aware of any miracles associated with him.
In favour of his cause, wouldn't it be great to have a new saint who lived in the world in every sense? Who struggled, who worked for a living, who knew both success and opposition; someone who was alive almost in living memory and of whom stories are still told as personal anecdotes; who appears in photographs and in films?
Also in favour of St Gilbert is that he would be a saint who was more like us than the martyrs (no matter how recent), or distinguished clerics who were already recognised as saintly while on earth. After all, all of us are supposed to have a good chance of getting to heaven.
The canonisation of Chesterton would also militate against Mark Twain's comment that he'd choose hell for the company but heaven for the climate.
I'd like to think that there were many saints (like St Thomas More) who were pious, learned and witty. In that, Chesterton would be a welcome addition to the party.
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