8th Annual GK Chesterton Walking Pilgrimage Report

The last G.K. Chesterton Pilgrimage before Canon Udris hands in his report to Bishop Doyle of Northampton, on the feasibility of opening the cause for the Beatification of Gilbert Keith Chesterton, took place on Saturday 28^th July 2018.

The Pilgrimage started as always outside St George’s Anglican Church in Notting Hill, where Pilgrims

read the opening paragraph from Chesterton’s Autobiography and said the GKC prayer at 7.30am. We then walked along the Uxbridge Rd to Ealing, where we would normally stop and pray outside the abortion centre there. Because of the draconian PSPO (Buffer Zone) brought in by Ealing Council in April, which criminalises pro-life prayers, we can no longer do this, so we stopped briefly at Ealing Town Hall instead, where we were greeted by an elderly Polish woman who had come to wish us well. We then walked on to Hanwell, where we joined the canal. After walking for 5 hours, we stopped in the Malt Shovel Pub, for a quick drink and a packet of crisps, before leaving the canal to walk through the countryside and past Pinewood Studios to the Bridgettine Convent in Iver. Fr O’ Donohue was waiting there to say Mass in thanksgiving for Chesterton’s conversion. 

Mass ended with us singing Chesterton’s Hymn, “O God of Earth and Altar”. There were about 40 people in attendance for the Mass, which considering the lack of public transport, was very good. 23 of these were walking Pilgrims. After a brief lunch, we set off walking again, through Fulmer, where we stopped at the Black Horse pub and then on to Beaconsfield where GKC is buried. For the last few miles Malcolm, who has now walked the full Pilgrimage four times, and has thus clocked up over 100 miles, was leading the way. As we approached Beaconsfield, he stopped at the corner of Candlemas Lane to ensure that nobody missed the last turning into Shepherd’s Lane, where the cemetery is located (a turning that we did miss on the first walking pilgrimage!) After a few brief words at the graveside, those followers of the cult of G.K. Chesterton who were gathered, said the GKC prayer, before staggering into The White Hart Pub, which was Chesterton’s local public house.

As usual large numbers of people submitted hundreds of prayer intentions for the Pilgrims to pray for along their route.

One participant had attended previously and had walked the first half of the Pilgrimage 2 years ago with her husband. She returned with her son this year and completed the Pilgrimage in thanksgiving to Chesterton for his role in converting her husband.

The huge diversity of those taking part on this 8^th Annual G.K. Chesterton Pilgrimage was again in evidence. There were people aged from 7 to 70, a number of different races, more than a dozen nationalities, with people travelling to the Pilgrimage from Reading, Maidenhead, Berkhamsted, Northampton, Hertford, Bedford as well as from all over London.

Special thanks to Ken for driving the support minibus this year and arriving at the cemetery first, where he placed a note upon the gate (See photo) as a joke! It read “Notice to all Walkers, Sorry, closed today. Please come back another day.”

The Chesterton Library contacted us to inform us that Chesterton Manor, a new property development in Beaconsfield was having it’s Open Day on the same day as the Pilgrimage and that the property had been named in Chesterton’s honour.

Stuart walked the Pilgrimage in part to raise funds for The Good Counsel Network you can donate here; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gkchestertonpilgrimage18 

This report has been posted on the 96th Anniversary of GK Chesterton becoming a member of the Catholic Church.

"Attend The March for Life UK, or end up in Hell"

"Attend The March for Life UK, or end up in Hell" Mr U. N. Official spokesman for the Bishops Conference of Wales, Cornwall.......and England. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1033; Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren. To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called "hell."

"So that is clear, 'meet the serious needs...of little ones' or end up in Hell" added the spokesman.

If you are praying outside an abortion centre on the day of the March you can be excused without the need to go to Confession. Otherwise you will need to be at the March or go to the Holy Father personally on the First of April next year for Confession. So find a coach here; http://www.goodcounselnet.co.uk/

Phillip Blond's Greatest Piece Of Writing.

Last year I met Dale Ahlquist of the America Chesterton Society. Dale mentioned Phillip Blond and his book The Red Tory, as I'd never heard of him and the title sounded interesting (not as interesting as The Body in the Silo), off I went to the library to find his book. It is very good, but I felt that he was capable of even great writing. And when I found that I was on Twitter I started to follow him.

Then Cardiff City FC, whom I support, had to play Liverpool FC, who Mr Blond supports, in The League Cup Final (26th February). He had tickets, so I, watching on TV was out of sorts to start with. At the end of the game I said, "If a Premiership team can't beat a Championship team after 2 hours, they should not be allowed a Goalkeeper for the penalties. Wouldn't have mattered as we saved 1, but missed our own!" (Why did someone let a LFC fan take our last penalty?)

Mr Blond then came back with the following, truly GREAT piece of writing on twitter; "@Phillip_Blond @Stuart1927 Cardiff were great and we were lucky - compelling end"

Do read Mr Blond's book, and follow him on Twitter, not that he needs my help as over 8,000 people follow him already, in fact forget that, you should both follow me instead!


What do you mean, "Why is that such a great piece of writing?" Because it's made my blog look even more ecumenical than normal, for not only is Mr Blond a Liverpool supporter, but he is also an Anglican. I know me quoting a Prod and not having a bash, whatever next?

(Sorry if this blog is not so well written, but it's been written in bits. On way to the office, change of plan, drop some things there, then go over to 40 Days for Life as they're short between 10-11am, then over to Eddie who runs the daily Pro-Life vigil outside Whitfield St abortuary, as he is on his own because one supporter is sick and another is away this week, then back to the office, too late to serve at The Holy Sacrifice of The Mass, but in time to see a pregnant women who did not go into the abortuary, but is coming for help instead.)

Training Under Way For This Year Annual GK Chesterton Pilgrimage

So we're off! Yes, I got off the tube two stops early on my way to work and walked for about 10 minutes! Then on the way home, I did that walk again and then did another 20 minutes from tube to home! Not wishing to overdo it I'll most likely rest up for a month or two before trying anything like this again!

At this rate I'll be in shape for this years annual GK Chesterton Pilgrimage in no time at all. "What do you mean it's on Thursday 14th June, The Vigil of The Feast of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus! Oh help! Taxi".

Yes, last year most Pilgrims went by coach (see report), but we did announce then (that was stupid), that in 2012 we would walk from Kensington, where GKC was born & Baptised to Beaconsfield where he died & is buried.

Do contact the Catholic GK Society to receive details of the Pilgrimage (including non-walking plans & Mass times) as we make them up. Print off some Chesterton Prayercards or copy it from below onto some gadget.

God Our Father, Thou didst fill the life of Thy servant Gilbert Keith Chesterton with a sense of wonder and joy, and gave him a faith which was the foundation of his ceaseless work, a charity towards all men, particularly his opponents, and a hope which sprang from his lifelong gratitude for the gift of human life. May his innocence and his laughter, his constancy in fighting for the Christian faith in a world losing belief, his lifelong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and his love for all men, especially for the poor, bring cheerfulness to those in despair, conviction and warmth to lukewarm believers and the knowledge of God to those without faith. We beg Thee to grant the favours we ask through his intercession, the end of abortion in this Country [and especially for……] so that his holiness may be recognized by all and the Church may proclaim him Blessed. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Catholicgkchestertonsociety.co.uk Goodcounselnetwork.com

London Juventutem, Gone Mad!

Juventutem London seem to have gone mad with their overly long blog posts of late. Was it really necessary, for example to have, Street instead of St, was there a reason for December, when Dec would have done? All that to one side I print their full post below for those who have the time to read it;

December Mass & Social
It will be taking place at St Mary Moorfields, Eldon Street at 6.30pm on 23rd December. Facebook here.

Michael Voris, London Talk On YouTube & God Bless Dr Shaw

Michael Voris, sound Catholic, gave a great talk in London last month, which you can now watch on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EImCEoIA7Y). You can also read my highly intellectual, in depth analysis of the talk here or for something a bit more serious see here or even see Dr Shaw's blog.

When I first read Dr Shaw's post, I thought of writing a couple of witty (rude) comments about it on my blog, such as; "I had no trouble following the talk, even if Dr Shaw got lost somewhere along the way." but then I thought better of it as no one gets my humour (anti-Welsh bigots!).

Then I noticed that Dr Shaw seemed to be the only other person at the talk who was now defending Middle Earth from the vile orc like attack launched that day. God bless Dr Shaw. So there we have it, stamp collecting, (send someone out to look up the proper name for that before hitting publish) I mean football is back on the menu!

(Sorry if none of this makes sense, but you need to read my earlier post and Dr Shaw's post and watch this short Michael Voris video. God bless Dr Shaw!)

I Hate Michael Voris, He's Too Good

So we went to the Michael Voris talk last week in London, took our nephew as a Birthday treat! All was going very well, 100% Catholic and not ashamed to say so and if needs be to offend people. "We all need to give more time to Christ, not just in prayer but in studying The Faith. But time is precious, so give up stamp collecting and devote that time to studying The Faith!" Well I almost stood up and shouted 'Amen!'

Then he said, are people over here as mad about golf as we are over there? (He's one of those Americans, tax rebels I call them!) I will never watch golf again, that may be too hasty for an Ent, but I was on a roll!

And then it happened, some nasty sly Gollum type creature in the crowd (without a ticket no doubt), it may have even been an orc, said, "no, football!" Sorry, where is security, where is the organiser, quick Middle Earth will fall unless that creature is silenced. Too late, Saruman has Michael under his evil spell, "Then give up football" he says.

So what to do? Kill everyone one in the room in case this evil spreads? Give up watching Match of the Day and study The Faith? Remember that he is an American, so he's not talking about Soccer?

Or do we just take the example of Paul Smeaton the organiser (so he's to blame) who arranged this talk on a night when Arsenal, his club, were playing live on television? Well I will leave it to you.

On another point, I must say the talk was incredible and will hopefully be on http://www.realcatholictv.com/ soon. Everyone was there, very high profile Priests, Pro-Lifers of every sort, and a wide range of Catholics. I know there was at least an 83 year old and a 4 year old who both thought it great. There was even a very young baby who was smiling when I saw them. The talk had everything laughs, The Truth, The Faith, and even tears for some. If like me you don't watch many, if any videos on the internet, just click here and here it will be well worth it.

(Note for my Mum, the photo is of Saruman not Michael Voris)

York, York or York?

It was interesting to hear the A Level results last week. It reminded me of a conversation I heard a few months ago, when Peter, of the Chesterton tie fame asked an A Level student which University they hopped to attend. "York" came the reply, "Ah yes, York a beautiful walled City", said Peter. "Did you know there are xxx [sorry I've forgotten the number] pubs within the City walls, it sounds great", said the student. "Actually", said Peter, "I was thinking about St Margaret Clitherow, her Shrine and the Catholic history of York."

And I was also thinking of the past. I remember going to watch Cardiff City FC play York in the late 80's. I paid extra to sit in the Grandstand, which was not so Grand, as did a lot of Cardiff 'trouble makers'. Finally after a bit of jumping up and down and singing and what not, the police announced that, "The next one of you Welsh @#*!! to stand up will be arrested!" There upon one chap in the middle of the 50-60 strong crowd stood up and as the impolite policeman moved towards him he started to sing "Mae hen wlad...." the policeman left then as we all stood up and sang!

And just for those few moments, a small part of York was freed from the Anglo-saxons, just as all of it was freed under the Scottish back in the 1280's or so (send someone to look that up before hitting publish). We don't really mind you Normans and Anglo-saxons living on our island, but don't be rude, and remember that we (the Scots & Welsh) are The People of England that never have spoken yet!

Missed World Youth Day, No Tv, See Conor on Facebook!

Today at 7.30pm (English time) Wembley Football Club will play some other team in the first round of the FA Cup. You can watch the game live on Facebook, by searching for Budweiser UK.

My Nephew, Conor who works for Good Counsel, should be playing as number 4. When I asked him why his match was being shown, when the first round is never normally shown he said, "I think it is news worthy this year as we are favourites to win the FA Cup." So there you have it!

I May Have To Stop Hitting Some Young Twits Now!

Having jumped joyfully (dragged kicking & screaming) into the 21st century, I must admit, I haven't a clue! Since I have a blog & a mobile phone, some youngsters seem to think that I may know what they are talking about, but for the last year or so I've been knocking out the teeth etc of many a young one who said, "You are a Twit dear!" Only my Wife can talk to me like that!

But it now transpires that they were in fact saying, "Are you on Twitter?", well, all except Declan no doubt. It was one day last week when a youngster asked me if you can get Twitter on my type of phone that it hit me and all started coming back to me. "Yes" I said slowly, "in fact I have it on my phone." I set it up months ago and have never looked at it and never put anything on it! So I've had a look now and I'm following Good Counsel and have now added my Wife & SPUC.

I shall now start using Twitter.......... to overthrow the next government that looks sideways at me or something! Worse than that, while typing this post, I got an email to inform me that, SPUC are now following me! Dash it all, I'll have to tweet or something now!

Bishop Stack For Cardiff

A long time ago I posted about Cardiff needing a new Archbishop. Bishop Stack of Westminster has got the job! I would not wish this job on anyone, I'm from Cardiff and go there at least three times a year. The Church there is depressing to say the least, we go to Mass in Welsh so as not to understand the sermon!

Please pray the Rosary for Bishop (soon to be Archbishop) Stack!

Happy (First) Birthday Dear Blog, Happy Birthday To You!

I started this blog a year ago! And I would like to thank both of my readers for staying with me. (No Gareth, my Mum is not one of them, she doesn't deal with the internet). There are many dangers in setting out to have a blog, running out of things to say was not one of my worries, but all this typing will kill me yet. Remember that Blogland is a Graveyard.

A bigger worry is posting anything you like, and then someone says to you, "Hi, are you Ecumenical Diablogger?" (Hay, that has happened to me twice now!) And as you say,"Yes", you are just trying to remember who you have been attacking lately!

My favoured post this year was, Priest Vapourised At Papal Visit To Birmingham, England and last years was Cardinal Hume and Communion in the Hand.

What to give a blog on it's Birthday? Oh yes, a comment!

My Wife Says, God Is A Cardiff City Supporter!

This story started last year when I won 2 tickets to watch manchester utd play Wigan Athletic Football Club, from Barclays Bank (boo!). My Nephew Declan was over the moon as he supports man utd, but don't ask me why? Then Michael, another Nephew phoned to ask if I would be his Confirmation Sponsor, "I would be honoured" said I. When I got off the phone I thought to myself, '20th of November(date of the Confirmation), why does that date ring in my head?' Yes it was the day of the match! So as none of the Family could go, God & Family are more important than football(well it wasn't a Cardiff game), I tried to give away the tickets. All to no avail, I telephoned Barclays Bank(boo!), "you cannot change them", in desperation I phoned man utd and asked them if there was a local children's home from which they could let a couple of kids have my seats, too late, no way! So there you have it, Michael has one of those unused tickets and Tom, Brother-in-law of Conor has the other one! But there's more, as some comedian used to say. I then won 2 tickets to see Aston Villa play Newcastle United, scheduled for Saturday 9th April. Nephew Conor supports Villa so off we go! Well not quite, as Madeleine, Conor's Wife was expecting their first baby on the 12th April. He said not to worry, but I told him the baby would be early and we would miss the game. I in fact told him that the Baptism would be on the day of the match as that would stop the whole Family going. He said, "Not so, as no matter what the Baptism will be on a Sunday afternoon!" Because of sky television the game was moved to Sunday! Felicity was born early and the Baptism, as I said took place at almost the same time as the match! (John Smeaton got a better photo) I tried to give away the tickets, all to no avail. I did not bother to telephone Barclays Bank(boo!). In desperation I phoned Aston Villa and asked them if there was a local children's home from which they could let a couple of kids have my seats, too late, no way! So my Wife said, "Twice now, it is clearly a sign from God about Football!" I'm sure she's right, God is clearly a Cardiff City supporter and does not want me to waste my time winning tickets to see other clubs! Go City, Go!

Happy Atheist Fools Day

FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY
In Florida, an atheist created a case against the upcoming Easter and Passover Holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy days... The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.
The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!"

The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, How can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays..".

The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant."

The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."

The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that, if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned."
You gotta love a Judge that knows his scripture!

Mass For Our Lady Of Walsingham, At Westminster Cathedral

On Saturday, 26th March in the Cathedral (map) of The Most Precious Blood in Westminster at 2pm there will be a National Mass (New Rite) in honour of Our Lady of Walsingham, to open the 950th Jubilee Year of the Foundation of the Shrine and the apparition of Our Lady of Walsingham to Richeldis in 1061. Archbishop Nichols is Chief Celebrant along with many of our Bishops. It is suggested that you arrive early!

There is to be a Trumpet Fanfare to welcome Our Lady of Walsingham into the Cathedral!

As the Wales against England football (that's soccer to those in our small former colony) match kicks off at 3pm, I trust that the sermon (if we really must have one) and any singing will be as short as possible!

English Bishop To Be Executed By Catholic Taliban Live On This Blog!

It has been said by the Holy Father that Catholic bloggers must take care in what they write. We should not just be looking to increase our readership by being shocking or controversial! There are times when we can be uncharitable, it seems to me that this is often the case when talking about the Bishops of Wales & England. It is important to remember that non-catholics will read our blogs, and to constantly give the impression that the Church in this country is led by heretics is not helpful in winning converts.

Please remember that the Bishops are in more need of graces than you or I. Satan is more interested in gaining a Bishop, and thus a Diocese, than getting his hands on an individual Catholic. I had a look on Rosary for Bishops after seeing it on Fr John Boyle's blog. The thing that amazed me when I looked up Vincent Archbishop Nichols (I live in Westminster) was to find that only seven people have signed up to say a Rosary for him each month. Yes there may be other sites where one can sign up, yes you can pray for your Bishop without signing up, but putting up or reading public criticism (justified or not) should be followed by signing up to prayer.

There can be little doubt that from time to time a Bishop may say something that we do not like, or even something wrong. After writing to him privately and charitably (do hear Bishop O'Donoghue talk to FLI a few years ago) we may even need to correct him publicly having consulted one's Spritual Director first of course.

But I know that it is, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Therefore let us pray (and fast) for our Bishops and even if that does them no good, which I don't believe, it will do us more Spiritual good anyway. When I stand in front of God I will be asked to account for my life and not that of my Bishop. I do not know what God will say to me first when I see Him face to face, but I doubt that it will be, "Why didn't you do something about Bishop X" - unless He asks about my lack of prayer & fasting for him.

Priest Vapourised At Papal Visit To Birmingham, England

The story starts in 2080 with an elderly Priest reminiscing about his youth, at a party to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of his Ordination.
A young boy of about 8 asks him, "So tell us Father when did you first think that you might have a calling to the Priesthood?"
"I didn't 'think', I knew, in one moment when I was about your age back in the Summer of 2010. Blessed Pope Benedict XVI had come to visit Scotland & England and I was asked to help serve at the big Papal Mass in Cofton Park. What a Mass, only Priests distributing Holy Communion, people kneeling to receive from the Holy Father. I could feel the importance of the Priesthood, I could see that the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was...well....Real!
But the Grace filled moment when I KNEW that I was called by God to be a Priest, came when the Holy Father took off his Mitre and my role was to hold it."
At that point St Michael walked into the Television room in Heaven and stopped the DVD player, "With all due respect Almighty One, it does no good watching the what-should-have-been DVD over and over again". So God pushed the what really happened button and watched the young girl hold the Holy Fathers Mitre instead.

'Protestant' Attack On Crib!

I'm very sad to say it, but I think that our young cat, Blobs de Silmaril has abandoned the one True Faith. Why he could not wait until Confirmation, a more traditional age to jump ship is beyond me. Maybe he thought the wait would be too long as he is less that a year old at the moment or maybe he found out that cats don't get Confirmed.

Well whatever the reason, we came home to find Jesus, Mary & Joseph on the floor , St Joseph badly smashed, and Blobs about to jump down from next to the now empty stable! So unless CCTV footage shows some atheist, protestant or catholic who objects to our Crib staying up until the 2nd February - like the Holy Father's one - smashing the crib, then I'm very sorry to say that it was Blobs. We will have to get the cat-echism out and go through it with him.

'Light Of The World' Book, New Scandal!

Well I waited and waited, but a review copy just did not show up! Scandal or what! So then like a lowly member of the public I set off to the Catholic Truth Society (CTS) bookshop to buy a copy. The shame of it, I felt like Belloc walking around the Alps! Upon arrival I found the shop closed for stock taking! Could it get any worse?

A few days later, on other business I found myself at the CTS offices, so I asked if I could buy a copy. Where-upon I was told that they had sold out of ten thousand copies and would have no more copies until tomorrow!

And so, a few more days later, having been rightly told off for using my mobile phone in the CTS bookshop, I paid for a copy. I went home and gave this unsigned copy to my wonderful Wife who did so much to defend the Holy Father (do see her other posts in November 2010) when he was attacked over this book. Finally the Vatican did join in with my Wife's defence of the Holy Father.

Blogland Graveyard & Death Threats!

When I started blogging I noticed that there are a lot of 'dead' blogs out there, that have just stopped suddenly. Until now I had just thought that most of these bloggers had just run out of things to say, or their Mums had found out and put a stop to it(Go DJC, go!). But then I put up my post Old Rite Confirmations and received the following comment which I published.

Mac McLernon said...
I see you took advantage of my setting up a photo-shoot of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer... and you didn't come and say hallo.

I shall sulk.

However, it could have been much, much more serious. If you'd snapped me, I would have to hunt you down and kill you...

;-)


This put me thinking and I was amazed to find how many 'dead' blogs had a last post along the lines of "Here is a rare photo of Mulier Fortis" etc.