"By the Babe Unborn" by G.K. Chesterton

               

                 If trees were tall and grasses short,

                  As in some crazy tale,

                If here and there a sea were blue

                  Beyond the breaking pale,

               

                If a fixed fire hung in the air

                  To warm me one day through,

                If deep green hair grew on great hills,

                  I know what I should do.

               

                In dark I lie; dreaming that there

                  Are great eyes cold or kind,

                And twisted streets and silent doors,

                  And living men behind.

               

                Let storm clouds come: better an hour,

                  And leave to weep and fight,

                Than all the ages I have ruled

                  The empires of the night.

               

                I think that if they gave me leave

                  Within the world to stand,

                I would be good through all the day

                  I spent in fairyland.

               

                They should not hear a word from me

                  Of selfishness or scorn,

                If only I could find the door,

                  If only I were born.

Today is the 53rd Anniversary of the passing of the Abortion Act in the UK, since then over nine million babies have lost they lives as a result of this. Please support The Good Counsel Network. You could also buy some Pro-Life, Chesterton and other badges here.

GK Chesterton on Nietzsche on Nietzsche's Birthday

"Other vague modern people take refuge in material metaphors; in fact, this is the chief mark of vague modern people. Not daring to define their doctrine of what is good, they use physical figures of speech without stint or shame, and , what is worst of all, seem to think these cheap analogies are exquisitely spiritual and superior to the old morality. Thus they think it intellectual to talk about things being 'high.' It is at least the reverse of intellectual; it is a mere phrase from a steeple or a weathercock. 'Tommy was a good boy' is a pure philosophical statement, worthy of Plato or Aquinas. 'Tommy lived the higher life' is a gross metaphor from a ten-foot rule.

This, incidentally, is almost the whole weakness of Nietzsche, whom some are representing as a bold and strong thinker. No one will deny that he was a poetical and suggestive thinker; but he was quite the reverse of strong. He was not at all bold. He never put his own meaning before himself in bald abstract words: as did Aristotle and Calvin, and even Karl Marx, the hard, fearless men of thought. Nietzsche always escaped a question by a physical metaphor, like a cheery minor port. He said, 'beyond good and evil,' because he had not the courage to say, 'more good than good and evil,' or, 'more evil than good and evil.' Had he faced his thought without metaphors, he would have seen that it was nonsense. So, when he describes his hero, he does not dare to say, 'the purer man,' or 'the happier man,' or 'the sadder man,' for all these are ideas; and ideas are alarming. He says 'the upper man.' or 'over man,' a physical metaphor from acrobats or alpine climbers. Nietzsche is truly a very timid thinker. He does not really know in the least what sort of man he wants evolution to produce" -- G.K. Chesterton, "Orthodoxy", Chapter 7

Both of the 1 inch [2.5cm] button badges above, are available here; https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?sid=stuartmcc1927 

Happy Birthday Mahatma Gandhi, Pro-Lifer inspired by GK Chesterton!

"Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on this day in 1869 and was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist, who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule, and in turn inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world." Or so the internet says.

I only know that he was inspired by an article written by GK Chesterton, see Father Ian Ker's biography for details [see last post]. So wear Chesterton and Gandhi badges to inspire others. 

Without Chesterton Would You Have Heard of Gandhi?

“In his Illustrated London News column of 2 October 1909, Chesterton addressed the question of Indian nationalism. “The test of a democracy is not whether the people vote,’ he argued, ‘but whether the people rule. The essence of a democracy is that the national tone and spirit of the typical citizen is apparent and striking in the actions of the state.’ And he thought that the principal weakness’ of Indian nationalists seeking independence was that their nationalism was not very Indian and not very national’. There is a difference between a conquered people demanding its own institutions and the same people demanding the institutions  of the conqueror. The article was read by Gandhi, who was in London at the time to press for ‘freer rights of residence, travel and trade  to members of the Indian diaspora in South Africa’, where he was then living He referred to the article in a dispatch he sent to the paper he had founded in Durban, Indian Opinion. This article for some reason did not appear until January of the following year. In the meantime Gandhi had responded to Chesterton’s criticism by completing in ten days, on board the ship that carried him back to South Africa, ‘an extended defence of the virtues of ancient Indian civilisation’. Written in Gandhi’s mother tongue, it was published under the title Hind Swaraj, and also in English under the title Indian Home Rule, in Durban in 1910. Apart from Gandhi’s two-volume autobiography and collections of articles and speeches, it was the only book qua book that Gandhi ever published.” From Fr Ian Ker's Biography, 'GK Chesterton', page 249 

I just noticed that this GKC article, that had such an impact on Gandhi was published on Gandhi's Birthday. See tomorrow's post. Chesterton and Gandhi badges here; https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/stuartmcc1927/m.html

Fight Back Against Anti-Christian Attacks, in a small way.

I saw an article online that said that 'Anarchists' had defaced a statue of St Boniface in Devon with anti-Christian graffiti. They wrote "God is Dead". I've noticed lots of other anti-Christian attacks all over the place. Churches burned or vandalised, statues attacked in lots of different ways in many different locations. Priests attacked and even killed while saying Mass. I'm sure that this is not new.

I can't protect every Church and religious statue in the world or even locally, but I can do something. Look around you next time you are out and about,

on a bus or train, in a coffee shop or better still a book shop [second-hand]. How many of the people that you see are obviously Christian? Sometimes you may spot a Priest or a Religious Sister, or see someone carrying/reading The Bible or some other religious book. I've seen people carrying small religious statues with them and even saw a chap 25 years ago walking around Kensington, West London, with an six foot white wooden cross over his shoulder. 

It was Friedrich Nietzsche, who died 25th August 1900, who famously said that, 'God is Dead'. I went and bought a small badge making machine. I shall be wearing a 'God's Not Dead' badge each year on the 25th August and again on 15th October, Nietzsche's Birthday. I've also made some other badges that may be a bit less 'boom!' I'm sure there are times when I won't be wearing a Christian badge, but there are lots of times when we all could. I'm selling some here. By all means, get a big wooden cross instead, or buy a badge or t-shirt from someone else, but wear something when you can.

Today is the anniversary of the death of St Therese, her Feast Day is 1st October [3rd October in the Old Rite] and I have seen one of her statues vandalised, so these badges are also available.

Commemorate the 53rd Anniversary of the Abortion Act

The 27th October 2020 will be the 53rd anniversary of the Abortion Act being passed in the UK. Millions of children have lost there lives as a result of this Act. Please join the Good Counsel Network's Day of Prayer and Fasting for Life on the day. Please see what public witnesses any Pro-Life groups will be having, if you are in London Good Counsel will has it's two normal daily Pro-Life vigils telephone them the week before just to confirm times. [Not in London see; https://www.40daysforlife.com/vigil-search.aspx]

Wear something Pro-Life on the day, I have badges if you don't have something already. You can see the post below for two other designs.

Pro-Life Poll

Simple Pro-Life poll, 30 of these one inch, 'FORMER EMBRYO' button badges for sale in pink and blue, will chaps or ladies buy the most? 

 Blue https://t.co/e0Ft58LoAF 

Pink https://t.co/TzNZRDa9RK 

A Sign From God On The 10th Annual GK Chesterton Pilgrimage

“I will admit that I have strong hopes that it will be one day acknowledged that G. K. C. died a saint.” WR Titterton Friend and first biographer of GKC

When lockdown happened because of COVID-19, plans for this year’s 10^th Annual GK Chesterton Walking Pilgrimage evolved on a daily basis. At one point, it looked as if I might do the 27 mile walk on my own as my daily exercise. But by the time we got around to the pilgrimage, it was obvious that we could do a lot more than that. So, on Saturday, 25^th July, Kim, Andrea, Daniel and myself said the GK Chesterton prayer outside St. George’s C of E church in Aubery Walk, Notting Hill, read a paragraph from his autobiography, and then putting one foot in front of the other, set off for Mass. We were joined a couple of hours later in Ealing by Flora and Jason. We then descended upon the canal and more Rosaries were said. We didn’t stop until we arrived at the “Malt Shovel” pub on Iver Lane, Cowley. We had a swift drink and then headed cross-country, past Pinewood Studios, and onto Mass at the Bridgettine Convent in Iver Heath.

Due to COVID-19, the Sisters’ chapel was not available, but they kindly allowed us, with Bishop

Oakley’s permission, to have Mass on the Altar at their outside grotto. I’m pleased to say that, despite the inclement weather, over 50 people attended the Old Rite Mass offered by Fr. Patrick O’Donohue, FSSP. He gave an excellent sermon. Father was ably assisted by altar-servers Rufus and Nathanael at a distance. After Communion I noticed one chap quietly saying the Chesterton prayer in Irish while kneeling in the rain. At the end of Mass, the entire congregation joined in with Father in singing Chesterton’s hymn, “O God of Earth and Altar”. As nobody recorded this, I have searched on YouTube and found this video where the singing is of almost as good, although we did not have a trumpet! (Next year?) We had asked people to pray that it would not rain during Mass, but it did. I announced, after Mass, that this must have been the fault of one of those joining us for the afternoon, as it had hardly rained at all on the six morning pilgrims, and Pat put up his hand, taking responsibility for the change in weather, as he had “not said the Chesterton prayer for it not to rain”.

We left the Convent after a brief bite to eat and walked 20 minutes to the “Black Horse” pub in Fulmer where we could use the bathrooms and have a quick drink. Social distancing wasn’t really much of a problem, as people tended to walk in family groups and spread out quite naturally, with those walking slowest falling towards the back. In fact we have been ahead of the game on this one for years now! As always, we’d like to thank Ken for driving the support mini-bus which rescued at least two families who had been inadvertently left behind at the pub. And more Rosaries were said. In total 40 people walked some or all of the 27 miles. Some in their 70s and some not even in double figures yet.

We made it in record time to GK Chesterton’s Grave, arriving before 7pm. I then rushed Ken and

Clare taking the final photos, so this is my fault. About half of us arrived at GKC’s local pub in small groups, but as none of us had booked, I think the poor women on the door nearly had a heart attack. Despite the pessimist next to me saying, “This’ll go badly” I quietly said a very long, poetical and theologically sound prayer, ‘GKC, it’s your pub, please sort it’, well I had just walked 27 miles! And we were in, spaces multiplied like the loaves and the fishes.

Over £2000 has been raised for the Good Counsel Network from this event, and you can still donate here. You can print off copies of the GK Chesterton prayer card here, or if you live in the UK and you email us your postal address, we will pop you ten in the post. CatholicGKCSociety@yahoo.co.uk

Now having read all this, you may be wondering about the sign from God. To be honest, there were quite a few. One of the pilgrims who walked the full 27 miles told us in the morning that they had only been Baptised two or three years ago “after reading ‘Orthodoxy’ by GK Chesterton”. But this was not the sign I meant. I can assure you that I paid little or no attention to the names or numbers on the hundreds or thousands of houses that we passed along the way. But as I paused when we leaving Fulmer, I did see this sign and took the photo.

If all goes to plan the 11th Annual GK Chesterton Walking Pilgrimage will be on Saturday 24th July 2021. 

“Sometimes I went down to Beaconsfield, and I was conscious how far he had

grown away from me. He was spiritualized. The old jollity, the old friendliness remained, the old large humanity. But he was a shade more remote. He had a little the air, which some poets and all saints have always, of listening to something fine that you do not hear. Even when I became a Catholic I was conscious that he had something that I did not share with him.” WR Titterton Friend and first biographer of GKC

The 10th Annual GK Chesterton Pilgrimage Will Take Place

The 10th Annual GK Chesterton Pilgrimage will take place on Saturday 25th July, in spite of Covid-19. There are several ways you can join us, either in prayer, or by joining us in walking a short section of the pilgrimage or even in walking the whole 27 miles! To be involved and maybe help members of your Family into the Catholic Church you can;

A. Send prayer intentions for us to pray for along the way, we will not make the intentions public; catholicgkcsociety@yahoo.co.uk
And/or

B. Join us on the day of the Pilgrimage, Saturday 25th July, for a Low Old Rite Mass, 2.30pm at The Grotto Altar outside The Bridgettine Convent, Fulmer Common Road, Iver, SL0 0NR, email us if you need a lift from West Drayton or Uxbridge to get to the Convent. BRING A PACKED LUNCH.

C. And if you like you can walk 6 miles after Mass to GK Chesterton's Grave. If you leave your car at the Convent the minibus can take you back for it at the end of the day.

D. Or meet us at 9.15am outside Ealing Town Hall to walk on to Mass (approximately 12 miles).

E. Or, to do the whole 27 mile walk, meet us at 7.30am outside St George's C of E Church, Aubrey Walk, London, W8 7JG where GKC was Baptised as a baby, to walk 21 Miles to Mass. And 6 miles after Mass if you want.
The minibus will drop Pilgrims back to Uxbridge Station, after popping to GKC's pub after the prayer at the graveside.

F. And say the GK Chesterton Prayer on the day wherever you are. Find the prayer in a number of languages here; https://www.catholicgkchestertonsociety.co.uk/Printable-Prayercards.html

G. Invite friends to join us. The best way to do this is to click, Going or Interested/Maybe on this Facebook event and them click on Share and on Invite Friends and select those you wish to invite to join us for any of the above.

H. Sponsor Stuart as he raises funds for Good Counsel; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gkcwalk20

Social distancing will take place. Follow on Twitter @CatholicGKCSoc

Say a Litany for Bishops on Easter Sunday, or whenever you see this.

A LITANY ON BEHALF OF BISHOPS

Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Queen of Heaven and earth, pray for us.
St. Joseph, Protector of Holy Mother Church, pray for us.
St Michael, all Archangels, special servants of Bishops, pray for us.
St John the Baptist, Herald of the Lord, pray for us.
St Peter, pray for us.
St Paul, pray for us.
St Andrew, pray for us.
St John, pray for us.
St Thomas, pray for us.
St James, pray for us.
St Philip, pray for us.
St Bartholomew, pray for us.
St Matthew, pray for us.
St James, pray for us.
St Simon, pray for us.
St Thaddeus, pray for us.
St Barnabas, pray for us.
St Matthias, pray for us.
O Holy Apostles, our first Bishops, we beg your intercession on behalf of your successors;

St Thomas Becket, pray for us.
St Blaise, pray for us.
St Boniface, pray for us.
St Cyprian, pray for us.
St. Ignatius of Antioch, pray for us.
St. Irenaeus, pray for us.
St John Fisher, pray for us.
St. Polycarp, pray for us.
All martyred Bishops; pray for us.

St Athanasius, pray for us.
St Alphosus Liguori, pray for us.
St Ambrose, pray for us.
St Anslem, pray for us.
St Augustine, pray for us.
St Basil and Gregory Nazianzen pray for us
St Bonaventure, pray for us.
St Cyril of Alexandria, pray for us.
St Cyril of Jerusalem, pray for us.
St Francis De Sales, pray for us.
St Hilary, pray for us.
St Isadore of Seville, pray for us.
St Peter Chrsologus, pray for us.
St Peter Damian, pray for us.
St Robert Bellarmine, pray for us.
All Bishops-Doctors of the Church, pray for us.

St Albert the Great, pray for us.
St Ansgar, pray for us.
St Charles Borromeo, pray for us.
St Ildephonsus, pray for us.
St Methodius, pray for us.
St Nicolas, pray for us.
St Norbert, pray for us.
St Patrick, pray for us.
St Richard, pray for us.
Sts. Timothy and Titus, pray for us.
St William, pray for us.
St Wulfran, pray for us.
All Bishops who have spread the light of Christ; pray for us.

St Leo the Great, pray for us.
St Pius V, pray for us.
St Thomas Aquinas, pray for us.
St Pius X, pray for us.
All Saints who have helped further the Faith through teaching, pray for us.

That all bishops will maintain complete obedience to the Holy Father, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will remain faithful to the Magisterium of the Church, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will defend the Faith and moral teachings of the Church, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will uphold the true teachings of the Ecumenical Councils, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will allow and defend all duly authorised Rites of the Mass, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will staunchly defend the unborn, the elderly, the sick and all defenceless people, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will provide for true and complete education of the Faith for all souls in their care, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will exercise the powers of their office to defend the faithful against heretics, apostates, and false prophets and teachers, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will use their authority and powers to correct errors and falsehoods, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will stand up for the rights of the Church when infringed upon by the State, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will develop a great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will be living examples of the virtues, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will look to their saintly predecessors as examples of how they should carry out their vocations, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will encourage true vocations to the priesthood and religious life, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That all bishops will boldly proclaim the message of Our Lady of Fatima, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will concentrate their energies more on the spiritual than on the material needs of the faithful, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That all bishops will teach and preach the truth of Humanae Vitae and Familiaris Consortio.

O God, look with favour on Thy servants, Thy bishops, whom Thou hast appointed as teachers and defenders of Thy faithful here on earth. Grant that by word and example they may assist those over whom they have been placed, so that shepherds and flocks may together attain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

And share it on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/events/210951693670250/