Watch this very special announcement at the 11th Annual GK Chesterton
Pilgrimage. Please Share. For next year's Pilgrimage details see; https://www.facebook.com/events/365152871733972/
In a letter from Bishop David Oakley, the new Bishop
of Northampton, his Lordship said, “Please be assured of my support for the
important work that you are engaged in. It is good that the [Catholic GK
Chesterton] Society is promoting the work of this important contributor to
Catholic thinking in the twentieth century. And of course, that you are engaged
in the promotion of Chesterton’s Cause. Please know of my prayers for the
Society and all you are doing at this time.
The date of Saturday, 30th July 2022 is now
firmly in the diary here, and I would be delighted to preach at the Mass.”
For details of the Pilgrimage and for copies of the GK Chesterton Prayer see; Home (catholicgkchestertonsociety.co.uk)
Saturday 30th July 2022 will be the 100th Anniversary of the
Conversion of GK Chesterton. The location was, "the Railway Hotel in Beaconsfield,
the dance-room of which had been converted into a makeshift chapel in the
absence of any Catholic church in the town. In truth it was little more than a
shed with a corrugated-iron roof and wooden walls, fitted with chapel fixtures
by Sir Philip Rose and made available by the hotel's Irish landlady, Mrs
Borlase. However, if Father Rice had failed to persuade Chesterton to be
received in more luxurious surroundings [Douai Abbey School where Father was
headmaster], he was compensated amply when Gilbert requested that he be present
with Father O'Connor at his reception on Sunday, 30th July. The two
Priests breakfasted together
at the inn at which Father O'Connor was staying before walking together to Top
Meadow [GKC's house]. According to Father Rice, they found Gilbert in an
armchair reading the catechism, 'pulling faces and making noises as he used to
do when reading'. Greeting his two friends, he got up and stuffed the catechism
in his pocket. At lunch he drank water and poured wine for everyone else, and
at about three o'clock they set out for the church. While Gilbert was making
his Confession to Father O'Connor, Frances [GK's Wife], who was weeping
continually, was comforted by Father Rice."
From Wisdom
and Innocence, A Life of GK Chesterton by Joseph Pearce.
