Bishop puts Father Brown creator up for sainthood
A RENOWNED author may become England’s first saint for 300 years after Catholic couples claimed he answered their prayers for “miracle” children.
GK Chesterton is best known for his short stories featuring Father Brown, a priest who solves crimes using his intuition and keen understanding of human nature, who was loosely based on the man who converted him to Catholicism in 1922.
But now he could become England’s first Roman Catholic saint since the 17th century, once an official report examining the strength of his case is published next month.
The Daily Telegraph understands that the document, commissioned by the Bishop of Northampton, will show that Catholics are praying to Chesterton and asking for intercession – his intervention in their lives.
It will also dispute claims that Chesterton held anti-semitic views. After the report is published, the bishop will decide whether to open a “cause” with the Vatican, which begins the formal investigation into the extent of Chesterton’s holiness and the sanctity of his life.
Pope Francis may look favourably on the application, having reportedly been a member of the GK Chesterton Society in his home country of Argentina. At a later stage of the canonisation process, the Vatican will look for evidence that he has performed posthumous miracles by answering prayers.
The report’s findings show that infertile couples, in particular, are said to have singled out Chesterton, himself childless, to ask for miracle conceptions, said Canon John Udris, who compiled the report.
“I have noticed people saying that they are praying for him,” he said.
“Because Frances and Gilbert [Chesterton] didn’t have any children, so they are finding him as a bit of a go-to person, if for example a couple is infertile and looking to have a child.”
Chesterton lived in Beaconsfield, Bucks, and died in 1936.