Uncommon Sense - The Official Podcast of the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Matt Martinusen interviews our new Director of Evangelization, Adrian Ahlquist.

A conversation with Dale Ahlquist and his son, Adrian, about Chesterton's wisdom for our times. Read Dale's article, The Solution, which was published in The Catholic World Report.

This is a rebroadcast of a talk from Nancy Brown from the 2014 Chesterton Conference. Join us at our 2020 Chesterton Conference! Become a member of the Chesterton Society and support the Apostolate's work! Get Nancy's book!   

Nancy Brown joins to talk about what the Chestertons might be doing in a quarantine pandemic and things that we can be doing with our time! Support the podcast and the Society! Books Nancy mentions:  The Woman Who Was Chesterton  by Nancy Brown G.K. Chesterton: A Biography by Ian Ker

Dale recites poetry by Chesterton and it the poetry is amazing. Get (out of print!) books of collected Chesterton poetry at the Chesterton store here. Become a member to support our Apostolate! The poem's read in the podcast: Elegy in a Country Churchyard By G.K. Chesterton The men that worked for England They have their graves at home; And bees and birds of England About the cross can roam. By they that fought for England, Following a falling star, Alas, alas for England They have their graves afar. And they that rule in England, In stately conclave met, Alas, alas for England They have no graves as yet.   The Happy Man By G.K. Chesterton To teach the grey earth like a child, To bid the heavens repent, I only ask from Fate the gift Of one man well content. Him will I find: though when in vain I search the feast and mart, The fading flowers of liberty, The painted masks of art, I only find him at the last, On one old hill where nod Golgotha's ghastly trinity – Three persons and one god.   A Chord Of Colour By G.K. Chesterton My Lady clad herself in grey, That caught and clung about her throat; Then all the long grey winter day On me a living splendour smote; And why grey palmers holy are, And why grey minsters great in story, And grey skies ring the morning star, And grey hairs are a crown of glory. My Lady clad herself in green, Like meadows where the wind-waves pass;Then round my spirit spread, I ween, A splendour of forgotten grass. Then all that dropped of stem or sod, Hoarded as emeralds might be, I bowed to every bush, and trod Amid the live grass fearfully. My Lady clad herself in blue, Then on me, like the seer long gone, The likeness of a sapphire grew, The throne of him that sat thereon. Then knew I why the Fashioner Splashed reckless blue on sky and sea; And ere 'twas good enough for her, He tried it on Eternity. Beneath the gnarled old Knowledge-tree Sat, like an owl, the evil sage: 'The World's a bubble,' solemnly He read, and turned a second page. 'A bubble, then, old crow,' I cried, 'God keep you in your weary wit! 'A bubble - Have you ever spied The colours I have seen on it ?'   Fantasia By G.K. Chesterton The happy men that lose their heads They find their heads in heaven As cherub heads with cherub wings, And cherub haloes even: Out of the infinite evening lands Along the sunset sea, Leaving the purple fields behind, The cherub wings beat down the wind Back to the groping body and blind As the bird back to the tree. Whether the plumes be passion-red For him that truly dies By headsman's blade or battle-axe, Or blue like butterflies, For him that lost it in a lane In April's fits and starts, His folly is forgiven then: But higher, and far beyond our ken, Is the healing of the unhappy men, The men that lost their hearts. Is there not pardon for the brave And broad release above,Who lost their heads for liberty Or lost their hearts for love? Or is the wise man wise indeed Whom larger thoughts keep whole? Who sees life equal like a chart, Made strong to play the saner part, And keep his head and keep his heart, And only lose his soul.

Dale and Matt discuss an article: Common Sense Apostle & Cigar Smoking Mystic Watch the Chesterton Minute video series on YouTube. Become a member and support the podcast and other work we do! Join now

Dale and Matt go back and forth with more Great, Knowledgable Chesterton quotes. Read more Chesterton! Here are some essential quotes to start with. Support the Apostolate and become a Member of the Society: Join Now Donate to the Society to support our efforts to bring Chesterton to the world's mind. Donate Now

Dale Ahlquist talks about what GK Chesterton wrote about Easter and the Resurrection  of Christ.  Join the Chesterton Society! Watch the Chesterton Minute video series.

Brandon Vogt gives a talk from the 2018 Chesterton Conference on 5 things Chesterton would have loved about the internet, and 5 things he would have despised about the internet. Tell us your favorite part about this episode! Send us an email at live@chesterton.org or comment on our post on Instagram @chestertonsociety.  Buy the Apostle of Common Sense book Learn about the 2020 Chesterton Conference Become a Member of the Society of GKC

The Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton presents: Uncommon Sense In this episode, Dale Ahlquist and Matt Martinusen discuss the many, many, many prophecies the Chesterton wrote about and that came true! Read more Chesterton! And you can do that here: chesterton.org Become a Member of the Chesterton Society and support the apostolate: chesterton.org/membership