He Made the Ordinary Seem Extraordinary

William Oddie of the Catholic Herald has a lovely article on G.K. Chesterton, suggesting, as it already has from many quarters, that the Cause of this brilliant writer be opened.  The article is well worth reading.  Was Chesterton a saint?  Well his conversion story is remarkable, a bit like Blessed John Henry Newman's.  His writing has been enormously influential and he has made major contributions to the understanding of the Catholic faith: he has proven himself to be one of the greatest apologists in the Church. 

I think his joy is the most compelling evidence of his holiness.  Reading Chesterton is like taking part in a riotous romp through faith.  Those who knew him said his joy and humour were infectious.  That joy must have been a divine gift, expanded through holiness.  Of course the powers that be in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (CCS) will want evidence of heroic virtue - no better man to produce it than Chesterton - he would probably sit down at his desk in heaven and toss off a treatise and drop it down to them. I think in the search for heroic virtue, his own saying may prove to be the case: "It has been often said, very truly, that religion is the thing that makes the ordinary man feel extraordinary; it is an equally important truth that religion is the thing that makes the extraordinary man feel ordinary." 

A few of my favourite Chesterton quotes to brighten up the day (he is the most quotable author of modern times!):

"If there were no God, there would be no atheists."

"When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing -- they believe in anything."

"The Bible tells us to love our neighbours, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people."

"The comedy of man survives the tragedy of man."

"Misers get up early in the morning; and burglars, I am informed, get up the night before."

"Artistic temperament is the disease that afflicts amateurs."

And timely for us in Ireland in these times:

"The reformer is always right about what is wrong. He is generally wrong about what is right."