Scholars will soon meet in Oxford to discuss the possible Cause of G.K. Chesterton.
G.K. Chesterton
LONDON (UK Catholic Herald) - G K Chesterton's reputation for holiness will be boosted next month when leading scholars meet in Oxford to discuss his Cause.
In this week's paper former Catholic Herald editor and Chesterton biographer William Oddie writes: "It is becoming clear that serious attention needs to be paid in the country of his birth to the question of Chesterton's holiness."
Dr Oddie will take part in a one-day conference on July 4 in Oxford where the speakers will include Dr Ian Ker, Fr John Saward, Fr Aidan Nichols OP and Dr Sheridan Gilley.
He said: "I have thought it possible for a long time, although when I wrote my book it wasn't something I particularly thought of him. But there was a time when no one thought Newman was particularly holy, just a bad-tempered, anti-Anglican polemicist. That's the way we think of Chesterton, as a polemicist.
"It'll be a long time before anything gets under way. The purpose of the conference is to make it thinkable."
Dr Oddie was surprised to find support for his Cause after delivering a paper at the American Chesterton Conference last year.
"I was asked what stage the Cause towards Chesterton's beatification had reached. When I said there was no Cause, the audience showed incredulity," he said.
Dr Oddie added that Chesterton had particular spiritual resonance in today's troubled climate. "As a social prophet he's coming into his own. First Communism collapsed, now monopoly capitalism has collapsed - what we're coming into now is the idea of small economic units, something clearly based in Catholic teaching."
Comments
I support the cause for sainthood for G K Chesterton - his writings are truly inspirational and reflective of the Catholic faith.
Anne Rodrigues | 6/13/2009
Chesterton was a great man and eventual Catholic, after being a catholic most of his literary lifetime. I think canonization would bring him an enormous chuckle and many to a new understanding of the old true Faith.
Peter Gallagher | 6/10/2009
I do not wait for his canonization. I already ask him to intercede to God for me. England should push for his canonization. GK is a super special gift of God to mankind
Comments that include profanity, personal attacks, antisocial behavior such as "spamming" and "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will not be posted on Catholic Online. Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of service. While Catholic Online invites robust discussion, we maintain the right to not print material that is patently false in its claims concerning the teaching of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, overtly anti-Catholic or which, in the opinion of the moderator, are intended to mislead readers as to what the Catholic Church teaches. Comments DO NOT necessarily reflect the opinion or views of Catholic Online.