Chesterton's Prayer Life?

 

I was involved with a discussion with a Eastern Rite Catholic about some suggested Rosary mysteries. He said he was uneasy about taking such "liberties with our prayers." I pointed out that the Rosary had developed over centuries, and had been adapted and changed - most recently by Pope St. John Paul II adding the Luminous Mysteries.

The discussion was respectful, not contentious. 

But I then wondered if Chesterton said the Rosary, or if he observed other common spiritual practices.

I looked online, but found nothing about the Rosary or other devotional practices, or his prayer life. I skimmed through the indexes of several books about him that I own, and found nothing. I did find a commentary by him on The Way of the Cross, but that seemed more a commentary of the images used. 

Now we know he was deeply religious. After his conversion, he was a regular Mass goer. His writing is full of spiritual references and subjects, including his conversion and regard for the Catholic Church. In Knight of the Holy Ghost, Dale Ahlquist noted, "He reveals his prayer life the way it should be revealed: in his work."

One of his poems was even turned into a hymn.

O God of Earth and Altar
Bow down and hear our cry
Our earthly rulers falter
Our people drift and die
The walls of gold entomb us
The swords of scorn divide
Take not thy thunder from us
But take away our pride

From all that terror teaches
From lies of tongue and pen
From all the easy speeches
That comfort cruel men
From sale and profanation
Of honour and the sword
From sleep and from damnation
Deliver us, good lord

Tie in a living tether
The prince and priest and thrall
Bind all our lives together
Smite us and save us all
In ire and exultation
Aflame with faith and free
Lift up a living nation
A single sword to thee

Perhaps someone more knowledgeable of Chesterton life would be able to cite some specific practices. 

For now I'll just cite one quotation.

“You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”

Maybe we should say grace before enjoying Chesterton's writing!