G. K. Chesterton’s Cause for Sainthood Could Soon Be Opened

The investigation into the cause for canonization for the G. K. Chesterton, the “prince of paradox”, is expected to be completed at the end of the summer with many hopeful it could be opened.

In September of 2013, the Diocese of Northampton in Westminster, England appointed Canon John Udris to investigate the possibility of opening the Cause of G. K. Chesterton.

Less than a year later in March of 2014, Udris during his investigation hailed the writer “as potentially a huge model for the Church who breaks the mould of conventional holiness.” He said that Chesterton, a married layman who “liked his beer and Burgundy”, was not conventionally devout and could show Catholics “you don’t have to say your rosary every five minutes to be holy.”

John Udris is expected to complete his investigation at the end of the summer and his findings will be sent to Bishop Peter Doyle of Northampton, who will consult with the Vatican about whether to open the beatification cause. He says that he cannot make the decision himself, but “it will probably be obvious where I stand.”

President of the American Chesterton Society, Dale Ahlquist, said that in Chesterton’s contradiction many find the Faith.

“Chesterton is someone who has really contradicted the age. He is in fact a maker of converts. There are hundreds of people who have come to the Catholic faith as a result of encountering G.K. Chesterton, and I’m certainly one of them.”

Ahlquist said the final decision will most likely be announced by this fall:

“We are hoping and praying that Bishop Doyle makes a positive decision and will be recommending to the Congregation for Saints that they officially open the cause.”