Journalist, Author, Intrepid Commentator of Life and Faith - G.K. Chesterton

[Linusthe2nd]

Tonight on EWTN Live there was a wonderful conversation between Dale Ahlquist with Fr. Mitch Pacwa on the life and work of G.K. Cherston. Those of you who know him know of his vast knowledge, wit, and talent. Intrepid commentator of life, Faith, and morality, he was able to confront the insanities of his time and prophecy the spiritual and moral malaise, and the heresies of the near future of his time and of ours. But he did it with wit and humor and piercing logic.

There couldn’t be a much better author to read for those haveing doubts and struggles of one kind or another or for those looking for spiritual, moral, and intellectual inspiritation. His work and interest was widem so there is much to choose from.

One immediately thinks of the Everlasting Man, Orthodoxy, and the Heretics. But you don’t have to stop there. He also wrote the Father Brown Mysteries, the Man Who was Thursday, Manalive, and the epic poem the Ballad of the White Horse.

What is your favorite Chesterton or what do you think of his work? How do you view him as a philosopher?

 

[chipeto]

Chesterton was instrumental to my conversion, not just to Catholicism, but to belief in God. He had a delightful way of cutting straight to the heart of a matter, sometimes with a simple sentence. Like when he responded to the claim that ‘truth is relative’ by asking: ‘To what is it relative?’ I get such a kick out of that.

On the other hand, Chesterton drives me to envy! I have always thought of myself (I admit) as a rather smart fellow, but reading Chesterton, particularly his essays, shows me what real genius is, and how far I am from it! I regard him as a sage, one of a handful of people throughout history who has an intuitive grasp of the nature of things, e.g. Aristotle, Aquinas. Yes, I really do place him in that league.

As for his writings, don’t neglect his essays! He was a journalist, after all, and wrote thousands of them. Ignatius Press publishes them in his Collected Works. Also, subscribe to Gilbert magazine from the American Chesterton Society. These are great people spreading the message of Chesterton.

As far as his philosophy, I think it is essentially Thomism, though he did us an invaluable service by rephrasing it in such a way that we moderns can understand, as opposed to those of Aquinas’ time who were steeped in the Catholic atmosphere of the thirteenth century.

 

[benjohnson]

I have always thought of myself (I admit) as a rather smart fellow, but reading Chesterton, particularly his essays, shows me what real genius is, and how far I am from it!

I also find him infuriating

Just when I think I have a novel idea, I find that Chesterton has already beat me to it.

 

[Crescentinus]

Chesterton is the ignored genius. His works are ignored by the mainstream.