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G. K. Chesterton Preeminent Model for the New Evangelization

G. K. Chesterton Preeminent Model for the New Evangelization

Last updated on: May 29, 2025 at 8:44 am by Mark Wilson

G. K. Chesterton Preeminent Model for the New Evangelization 2025-05-29T08:44:04-05:00 Mark Wilson

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Normally the end of May on the 29th brings Catholics worldwide the feast day of St. Pope Paul VI . But instead this day is superseded with the celebration of the 2nd Glorious Mystery in which the pope had this to say.

Today the martyrology offers this title to our feast: “In monte Oliveti Ascensio Domini nostri Iesu Christi”. The Ascension therefore attracts and fixes the gaze of our souls on this splendid and luminous figure of the Lord, who rises into the sky, like a globe of fire, which becomes more ardent and dazzling as it moves away from us, until it surpasses the light of the cosmic sun, and makes Himself the splendour of the universe, revealing new and profound aspects resulting from that same revelatory illumination (cf. Is. 60, 19; Rev. 21, 23; 22, 5). The eyes are dazzled, and the brightness becomes mystery. But our joy remains and becomes awareness, it becomes word, it becomes song. Thus Christ’s Ascension into heaven illuminates, guides and sustains our journey on earth. –27 May 1976: Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord | Paul VI

St. Leo the great had this to say on the Ascension.

This Faith, increased by the Lord’s Ascension and established by the gift of the Holy Ghost, was not terrified by bonds, imprisonments, banishments, hunger, fire, attacks by wild beasts, refined torments of cruel persecutors. For this Faith throughout the world not only men, but even women, not only beardless boys, but even tender maids, fought to the shedding of their blood. This Faith cast out spirits, drove off sicknesses, raised the dead: and through it the blessed Apostles themselves also, who after being confirmed by so many miracles and instructed by so many discourses, had yet been panic-stricken by the horrors of the Lord’s Passion and had not accepted the truth of His resurrection without hesitation, made such progress after the Lord’s Ascension that everything which had previously filled them with fear was turned into joy. For they had lifted the whole contemplation of their mind to the Godhead of Him that sat at the Father’s right hand, and were no longer hindered by the barrier of corporeal sight from directing their mind.’ gaze to That Which had never quitted the Father’s side in descending to earth, and had not forsaken the disciples in ascending to heaven. CHURCH FATHERS: Sermon 74 (Leo the Great)

As part of our journey on earth, we are not just asked but sent on mission by Jesus just before he takes off into the other dimension of heaven.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” – Matthew 28: 18 – 20

The idea of Mission is very central in the teaching of another Leo which is the new pontiff, Pope Leo XIV

Therefore, I repeat to you what I said in my first greeting, in the evening of 8 May: “Together, we must look for ways to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges and encourages dialogue, a Church ever open to welcoming… with open arms, all those who are in need of our charity, our presence, our readiness to dialogue and our love”. These words were addressed to the Church of Rome. And now I repeat them, thinking of the mission of this Church towards all the Churches and the entire world, of serving communion, unity, in charity and in truth. The Lord gave this task to Peter and his successors, and you all collaborate in different ways in this great task. Each one of you gives your contribution, carrying out your daily work with commitment and also with faith, because faith and prayer are like salt for food; they impart flavour. Meeting of the Holy Father with Employees of the Holy See and the Vatican City State (24 May 2025) | LEO XIV

Different Catholics throughout history have taken up the mantle of being a missionary, The G. K. Chesterton Society is one example.

The Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton is a Catholic lay apostolate, recognized formally as a canonical private association of the Christian faithful. Our organization exists to draw people to the Catholic faith — or back to their Catholic faith — and to help them live joyful and holy lives.

Our mission is to promote Catholic education, evangelization, and the social teaching of the Church. We carry out our mission through our sponsored organizations, including member schools in the Chesterton Schools Network.

We look to G.K. Chesterton as the preeminent model for the New Evangelization: an articulate defender of the faith with charity for all (even with whom he disagreed); and a life permeated by an enduring sense of joy, wonder, and gratitude.

Our organization views education as an effective and essential tool for evangelization, one that has the potential to transform lives and sanctify entire families across generations.

We are committed to helping build up vibrant, joyful communities – local or virtual societies, schools, lay households, parishes – where people can experience the joy of learning and grow in holiness together. These communities will attract others so they, too, can experience Christ’s saving love.

Mission – Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton

I mention the G.K. Chesterton Society in particular because today on March 29 it is his 156th birthday.

If the missionary says, in fact, that he is exceptional in being a Christian, and that the rest of the races and religions can be collectively classified as heathen,{268} he is perfectly right. He may say it in quite the wrong spirit, in which case he is spiritually wrong. But in the cold light of philosophy and history, he is intellectually right. He may not be right-minded, but he is right. He may not even have a right to be right, but he is right. The outer world to which he brings his creed really is something subject to certain generalisations covering all its varieties, and is not merely a variety of similar creeds. Perhaps it is in any case too much of a temptation to pride or hypocrisy to call it heathenry. Perhaps it would be better simply to call it humanity. But there are certain broad characteristics of what we call humanity while it remains in what we call heathenry. They are not necessarily bad characteristics; some of them are worthy of the respect of Christendom; some of them have been absorbed and transfigured in the substance of Christendom. But they existed before Christendom and they still exist outside Christendom, as certainly as the sea existed before a boat and all round a boat; and they have as strong and as universal and as unmistakable a savour as the sea. –The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Everlasting Man, by G. K. Chesterton.

G.K. also shares his birthday with

1903 – Bob Hope, Extraordinary funny comedian who starred in several movies with White Christmas singer Bing Crosby (died 2003)
1906 – T. H. White, author of The Once and Future King which includes The Sword in the Stone, which was published as a stand-alone book in 1938. (died 1964)
1917 – John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States (died 1963)

Dying on this day in 1957 was James Whale (born 1889, English director of Frankenstein (1931), The Old Dark House (1932), The Invisible Man (1933) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935))

G.K. was an english writer who knew how to hook readers with his catchy wit and imaginative words. He wrote essays about Christianity, History, English Literature and is most famous for penning mystery stories featuring the priestly detective Fr. Brown.

Father Brown got to his feet, putting his hands behind him. “Odd, isn’t it,” he said, “that a thief and a vagabond should repent, when so many who are rich and secure remain hard and frivolous, and without fruit for God or man? But there, if you will excuse me, you trespass a little upon my province. If you doubt the penitence as a practical fact, there are your knives and forks. You are The Twelve True Fishers, and there are all your silver fish. But He has made me a fisher of men.” “Did you catch this man?” asked the colonel, frowning. Father Brown looked him full in his frowning face. “Yes,” he said, “I caught him, with an unseen hook and an invisible line which is long enough to let him wander to the ends of the world, and still to bring him back with a twitch upon the thread.” – The Innocence of Father Brown/The Queer Feet (1911)

A Twitch Upon the Thread is title for Part II of “Brideshead Revisited ” by Catholic writer Evelyn Waugh. Bishop Robert Barron who leads the very mission based Word on Fire considers this book “the finest Catholic novel of the twentieth century.”

Classic novels like Fr. Brown is a good way to evangelize others with normal everyday things that people talk about.

Reading classic literature shouldn’t just be about trying to pass your high school English test. Knowing the classics is a great way for Christians to better understand and share their faith. St. Paul even quoted Greek philosophers and writers in his own letters to better connect with his audience, and we should be able to do the same.

Classic novels also can help us better articulate Christian doctrine, classical virtue and give us a deeper understanding of our own humanity and how God redeems it. –10 Classic Novels Every Christian Should Read | Catholic Answers Podcasts

Chesterton believed very strongly in Christ and his church. He let his enthusiasm and joy direct his worldview which permeated his writings.

I conclude that miracles do happen. I am forced to it by a conspiracy of facts: the fact that the men who encounter elves or angels are not the mystics and the morbid dreamers, but fishermen, farmers, and all men at once coarse and cautious; the fact that we all know men who testify to spiritualistic incidents but are not spiritualists, the fact that science itself admits such things more and more every day. Science will even admit the Ascension if you call it Levitation, and will very likely admit the Resurrection when it has thought of another word for it. –Orthodoxy:

I want to close with talking about a young youtuber priest whose mission is to hook souls with his videos and now is heading to North Carolina to fish.

Three Franciscan friars, including a well-known YouTuber, will join the Diocese of Charlotte this summer in a new ministry to reach young adults and so-called “nones,” people who profess no religious affiliation.

Father Casey Cole, Father Roberto “Tito” Serrano and Father Jason Damon are members of the Order of Friars Minor, founded by St. Francis of Assisi. Their new ministry seeks to follow in the radical footsteps of their founder: meeting people where they are, sharing the Gospel and inspiring them to explore the Catholic faith. Three Franciscans launch unique outreach with Charlotte diocese

On this date May 29 these other interesting events also happened…

1790 – Rhode Island (where I live)becomes the last of North America’s original Thirteen Colonies to ratify the Constitution and become one of the United States.
1798 – United Irishmen Rebellion: Between 300 and 500 United Irishmen are executed as rebels by the British Army in County Kildare, Ireland. My father in-law is from Ireland.
1886 – The pharmacist John Pemberton places his first advertisement for Coca-Cola, which appeared in The Atlanta Journal.
1919 – Albert Einstein‘s theory of general relativity is tested (later confirmed) by Arthur Eddington and Andrew Claude de la Cherois Crommelin.
1950 – The St. Roch, the first ship to circumnavigate North America, arrives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
1973 – Tom Bradley is elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles, California.
1982 – Pope John Paul II another missionary pope becomes the first pontiff to visit Canterbury Cathedral.
1988 – U.S. President Ronald Reagan begins his first visit to the Soviet Union when he arrives in Moscow for a superpower summit with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
1989 – Signing of an agreement between Egypt and the United States, allowing the manufacture of parts of the F-16 jet fighter plane in Egypt.
1999 – Space Shuttle Discovery completes the first docking with the International Space Station.
2001 – The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the disabled golfer Casey Martin can use a cart to ride in tournaments.

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