Uncommon Sense

In this episode, Grettelyn and Joe continue their conversation on the Church season of All Hallows' Tide, looking at Prayers for the Dead and the Church's discipline of Indulgences. Then, they wrap up with a brief chat about Halloween and how Christians can celebrate it, even some of the "spooky" bits like skeletons!

For the document Joe references in the episode, see https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-vi_apc_01011967_indulgentiarum-doctrina.html

For Chesterton's "A Defense of Skeletons" see https://library.chesterton.org/the-defendant-66905/#a-defence-of-skeletons

With the approach of All Souls' Day (November 2nd), Joe and Grettelyn chat about the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory, sharing a bit about Chesterton's views and trying to explain this very misunderstood and oft-maligned teaching to those unfamiliar.

For the document Joe references in the episode, see https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-vi_apc_01011967_indulgentiarum-doctrina.html

In this episode, Joe talks with Deacon Nathan Allen, who annotated ACS Books' version of Hilaire Belloc's delightful novelette, "The Four Men."

Learn more about Belloc, his poetry, and the Four Men Feast!

To buy ACS Book's "The Four Men" visit https://www.chesterton.org/store/product/four-men/

To learn more about The Four Men Feast, visit https://www.fourmenfeast.com/

Joe chats with Kerry McDonald ( @liberatedpodcast ) about the wave of interest in alternative options for education, including the Chesterton Schools Network (https://chestertonschoolsnetwork.org ) and the current state of school choice throughout the country.

For more about Kerry:
https://fee.org/people/kerry-mcdonald/
https://twitter.com/kerry_edu

To join the Knights of the Apostolate of Common Sense:
https://chesterton.org/knights

Joe speaks to Jason Craig of Fraternus (https://fraternus.net ) and Sword and Spade magazine(https://swordandspade.mykajabi.com/) .

Jason is also author of Leaving Boyhood Behind (https://www.osvcatholicbookstore.com/product/leaving-boyhood-behind-reclaiming-catholic-brotherhood) from OSV and a contributor to the new volume on Localism from Sophia Press co-edited by Dale Ahlquist (https://www.chesterton.org/store/product/localism-coming-home-to-catholic-social-teaching/) !

Come see Jason and other speakers at the Chesterton Conference! https://www.chesterton.org/43rd-annual-chesterton-conference/

In this special episode, Joe and Grettelyn talk about the Society of G.K. Chesterton's ambitious goal of recruiting 150 new members to the Knights and Ladies of the Apostolate of Common Sense, a special group of supporters who by their prayers and financial support help us bring Chesterton's wit and wisdom to a world direly in need of his joyful witness to the Gospel.

To learn more visit https://chesterton.org/knights .

To sign up for this year's Chesterton conference, visit https://www.chesterton.org/conference .

To join our Everlasting Man Online Book Club visit https://www.chesterton.org/everlastingman .

Thank you for your support, and may God bless you!

In this episode, Dale Ahlquist joins Grettelyn and Joe to remember the great Chestertonian, Aidan Mackey, who passed away on May 4th at the age of 101. Please join the Society in praying for the happy repose of Aidan's soul, and the comfort of his loved ones and friends.

We also chat about the upcoming 43rd Annual Chesterton Conference and preview some of the great talks you'll hear if you join us, either in-person or online! To learn more, visit chesterton.org/conference .

In this episode, Joe talks with James Matthew Wilson - poet, author and scholar - about G.K. Chesterton, T.S. Eliot, modern poetry, and more. Plus, James shares some of his own work from his upcoming publication, "Saint Thomas and the Forbidden Birds." Don't miss it!

To get James's book or to learn more, visit jamesmatthewwilson.com .

To sign up for this year's Chesterton conference, visit chesterton.org/conference .

In this episode, Joe and Grettelyn speak with Noelle Mering about her book, "Awake, Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology," as well as the "Theology of Home" initiative.

To buy the book or learn more, visit https://theologyofhome.com/ .

IN THIS VIDEO:

0:00 Introduction

1:39 What is Wokeism?

3:25 The Mechanisms of Manipulation

6:31 Chesterton and the Breakdown of Society

10:15 Confusion and Compassion

12:38 "The Capture of the Institutions"

15:55 Needing a "Manalive" Moment

17:46 Chesterton a Helpful Antidote

19:48 The Absence of Teleology & The Problem of Progress

23:19 A Movement of Destruction

27:43 The Curse of Babel

29:28 The Theology of Home

36:58 The Importance of Reconciliation 45:40 Wrapping Up

In this episode, Joe and Grettelyn speak with Chris Stefanick about spreading the love of Christ, helping people live holier lives and marriages, and more!

Chris is the founder and president of Real Life Catholic. Real Life Catholic is an organization that shares the love of Jesus and helps others do the same. Go check out their life-changing courses today coaching.reallifecatholic.com .

For the new marriage course mentioned in the video, visit reallifecatholic.com/marriage .

For Dale Ahlquist's book, The Story of the Family, visit chesterton.org/store/product/the-story-of-the-family .

For the Annual Chesterton Conference, visit chesterton.org/conference .

For the Chesterton Schools Network: chestertonschoolsnetwork.org .

# # # # #

IN THIS EPISODE:

0:00 Introduction
1:20 Focusing on the local
3:09 What is Real Life Catholic?
4:09 Back to basics
6:38 The transforming love of Christ
8:25 Quoting Chesterton!
10:57 Chris's experience of the Chesterton Schools Network
12:29 The mystery of the Incarnation (and no heresy)
14:25 Renewed: Real Life Catholic's new marriage initiative
17:36 The gift of marriage
19:09 The importance of renewing marriage commitments
21:37 How God forms us in marriage
25:20 Signing off

Grettelyn talks to Susan Sucher, the Local Societies Coordinator for the Society of G.K. Chesterton, about the great gift of our local societies and how she's helping people form and sustain ones of their own.

To learn more, to find a local society near you, or to inquire into getting one started in your area, visit https://www.chesterton.org/local-societies/ .

To learn about the Frances Chesterton Rosary League, visit https://www.chesterton.org/frances-chesterton-rosary-league/ .

For the essay discussed in today's episode, visit https://library.chesterton.org/the-extension-of-the-family-33027/ .

Joe talks with Dr. Robert L. Jackson, an expert in classical education and the new Senior Fellow for the Chesterton Schools Network (CSN). Hear about the new renaissance in classical education, the origins of the movement, and the difference that Chesterton makes.

Links:

https://chestertonschoolsnetwork.org/careers

https://chesterton.org/give

IN THIS VIDEO:
0:00 Introduction 1:17 Rob's background 3:57 Joining the CSN 4:52 What is a classical education? 5:46 The liberal arts 8:30 What we mean by classical 10:12 G.K. Chesterton's education 11:50 What changed in education? 12:35 The rise of Pragmatism 17:27 The recovery of classical 22:20 Rob's work with CSN 30:36 Importance of this work 33:42 The CSN is hiring! 38:21 We need your help 41:13 The Chesterton difference 47:20 Closing thoughts

Joe and Grettelyn speak with Andrew Youngblood about his exciting new popular book from Word on Fire, "Know Thyself: Classical Catholic Education and the Discovery of Self." Learn more about the exciting momentum in the classical education movement!

To register for November 15th's Virtual Open House visit here: https://chestertonschoolsnetwork.org/virtual-open-house-november-2023

To buy Andrew's book (on backorder) write to orders@chesterton.org.

Joe and Grettelyn speak with Alan Harrelson of Pipe Cottage about his journey to the Catholic Church, his experience reading Chesterton, his love nature, and more!

To learn more about Alan, visit pipecottage.com or his channel.

To learn more about the Southern Agrarians, visit Wikipedia .

Our past interview about Father Vincent McNabb .

Alan Cornett's talk on Russell Kirk .

Joe and Grettelyn talk about the call issued by the Bishops of the United States, in solidarity with that of the Bishops of the Holy Land, for a day of prayer and fasting for peace.

Episode resources:

ِA Call for Prayer and Fasting for Peace from Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land

Salvifici Doloris - on Human Suffering, by Pope Saint John Paul II

Hope through Suffering by Karlo Broussard (Catholic Answers Magazine)

Fatima Shrine Boston (Prayers and Resources)

The Queen of Seven Swords by G.K. Chesterton

Message for the 46th World Day of Peace by Pope Benedict XVI

Saint Francis's Prayer for Peace

Psalm 83 , Psalm 85 , and Psalm 90

In honor of this coming Saturday's feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and the anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto, we are re-airing this interview from the archives with Christopher Check, President of Catholic Answers.

Buy Chesterton's poem Lepanto with Dale Ahlquist's commentary here: https://www.chesterton.org/shop/lepanto/

Chris's longer talk on the battle with his recitation of the poem: https://shop.catholic.com/lepanto-the-battle-that-saved-the-west-mp3/

In this episode, Joe and Grettelyn speak with W. Joseph DeReuil, Editor Emeritus of The Irish Rover, an independent student newspaper at the University of Notre Dame.

To learn more about Joseph, the Rover, and the lawsuit mentioned in this episode - or to donate to help - visit:

https://irishrover.net/author/joe-dereuil/

https://irishrover.net/2023/07/we-will-not-be-silenced/

https://irishrover.net/2023/07/donate/

In this episode, Grettelyn interviews Katherine Kersten, Society Board Member and Senior Policy Fellow at the Center of the American Experiment, about her work advocating in education and the promise she finds in the Chesterton Schools Network model.

https://www.americanexperiment.org/

https://www.chesterton.org/

https://www.chesterton.org/42nd-annual-chesterton-conference/

https://chestertonschoolsnetwork.org/

Join us for this short special episode as we share some quotations from Chesterton about patriotism, politics, and liberty, along with music and images celebrating the heritage of the United States of America. Happy Fourth of July!

All music is in the public domain.

Works cited:
"To the Americans" (1917) "Revolutions in History," Illustrated London News 7-21-1928 "Some American Cities" in What I Saw in America (1922) "The Future of Democracy" in What I Saw in America (1922) "A Defence of Patriotism" in The Defendant (1901) "Patriotic Poetry: What Is Patriotism?," Illustrated London News 11-11-1901 "What Is America?" in What I Saw in America (1922) "The American King and the English President," The New Witness 7-29-1921 "Publicity and the Psycho-Analyst," G.K.'s Weekly , 8-18-1928 "The Story of the Family" in The Superstition of Divorce (1920)

We speak with Haley Stewart, Author and Editor of Word on Fire Spark and of the Sister Seraphina mysteries, about children's literature, detective fiction, our upcoming conference, and more!

LINKS:

This year's Chesterton conference: https://www.chesterton.org/conference

Haley's Pauline media author page: https://paulinestore.com/books/featured-authors/haley-stewart.html

Haley's website: https://www.carrotsformichaelmas.com/

Haley's previous UncommonSense interview: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/24654408

Word on Fire Spark: https://books.wordonfire.org/sparkwaitlist

We speak with Christopher Check, President of Catholic Answers, about the power of storytelling in evangelization and apologetics, and more!

LINKS:

This year's Chesterton conference: https://www.chesterton.org/conference

Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/

Catholic Answers Conference: https://www.catholicanswersconference.com

Dan Burke Conversion Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHuouyFQ2GQ

On this episode of Uncommon Sense, Grettelyn speaks with Maria Jansen, co-founded of Chesterton Academy of St. Louis, about the difference the Chesterton model makes and how the Chesterton Schools Network guides parents to success.

LINKS:

UncommonSense: https://chesterton.org/uncommonsense

Chesterton Schools Network (CSN) https://chestertonschoolsnetwork.org

Annual Chesterton Conference: https://chesterton.org/conference

In this episode of Uncommon Sense, we talk with Troubadour Dan Kerr, President of St. Martin's Academy , about the unique boarding school experience offered there and how it helps to shape young men.

https://chesterton.org/uncommonsense

St. Martin's Academy: https://saintmartinsacademy.org/

The Troubadours: https://saintmartinsacademy.org/troubadours/

42nd Annual Chesterton Conference: https://chesterton.org/conference

Alan Cornett of the Cultural Debris Podcast joins us on this episode of Uncommon Sense to talk about Russell Kirk's conservative vision and its Chestertonian resonances.

https://chesterton.org/uncommonsense

Cultural Debris Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cultural-debris/id1535399801

Cultural Debris Twitter: https://twitter.com/culturaldebris

Cultural Debris excursions: https://bgcts.com/the-leadership-experience/

Annual Chesterton Conference: https://chesterton.org/conference

In this episode, we speak with Jacob Imam, co-editor of New Polity and co-founder of the College of St. Joseph the Worker in Steubenville, OH. We speak about economics, almsgiving, and the importance of friendship and localism.

https://chesterton.org/uncommonsense

New Polity website: https://newpolity.com/

New Polity "Redeeming Politics" conference: https://newpolity.com/events/redeeming-politics-2023

Annual Chesterton Conference: https://chesterton.org/conference

On this episode of Uncommon Sense, Grettelyn and Albert interview JonMarc Grodi, the Executive Director of The Coming Home Network. JonMarc discusses how he discovered Chesterton and the great Chesterton adventure that brings so much joy to his own life. All of that on this episode of Uncommon Sense.

https://chesterton.org/uncommonsense

The Coming Home Network

https://chnetwork.org/

Take a Lenten journey with G.K. Chesterton. Grettelyn and Albert look at the 2023 Lenten Campaign, Mercy Triumphs . They will take a some of their favorite relfections from the campaign and share their thoughts on Chesterton and what it means for us today.
You are invited to join the Lenten campaign and have those reflections emailed to your inbox everyday. Please find the link below and tune in to this episode!

Lent 2023 Campaign:
https://chesterton.org/lent

On this episode of Uncommon Sense Grettelyn and Albert interview Matt Swaim, the Director of Outreach for the Coming Home Network. Matt talks about his own conversion and the role that Chesterton played. This rocker turned radio host shares all that and more on this episode!

https://chesterton.org/uncommonsense

41st Annual Conference Talk featuring Matt Swaim:
https://www.chesterton.org/store/product/chestertonian-conversions-panel/

Join the Uncommon Sense team as they make a triumphant return to video! For this special episode Grettely and Albert have Dale Ahlquist back on the show to take a look at the year ahead as well as some very special celebrations that rounded out the last year. Tune in to this episode of Uncommon Sense!

https://chesterton.org/uncommonsense

https://chesterton.org/conference

In this episode of Uncommon Sense, it's a Headmaster Highlight. Grettelyn and Albert talk with Fr. Ryan Adorjan, the Headmaster of Chesterton Academy of the Holy Family in Lisle, IL. They both talk with Fr. Ryan about his journey of faith and how the role of being a priest impacts his role as a headmaster. All that and more on this episode!

https://www.chestertonschoolsnetwork.org/

https://www.chesterton.org/uncommonsense

On this special bonus episode of Uncommon Sense , Albert and Grettelyn are joined by Joe Grabowski, VP of Evangelization and Mission for the Society, and Father Spencer Howe, the Society's chaplain.
Together, they discuss the life and legacy of Pope Benedict XVI and how he touched their lives, along the way noting some Chestertonian connections. You don't want to miss it!

Uncommon Sense Website

Start your New Year, with and old and reliable friend. Who might that be? G.K. Chesterton of course! For the first Uncommon Sense episode of 2023, Grettelyn and Albert expand upon commentary from Chesterton on the New Year and find out that there is much more to consider than waiting for a shiny ball to drop. Tune in to this episode of Uncommon Sense. Happy New Year!

https://www.chesterton.org/january-one-essay/

https://chesterton.org/uncommonsense

This week on Uncommon Sense, Dr. Eric DeMeuse, a Chesterton Schools Network Academic Dean, returns to the show to talk about all things Chesterton Academy. We get his take on the importance of forming saints for a brighter future and how a classical education modeled after G.K. Chesterton plays a role in that formation. It will be a truly educational experience!

https://chestertonschoolsnetwork.org

Advent is almost upon us! Join Grettelyn and Albert as they take a sneak peek into the 2022 Advent Campaign for the Society of G.K. Chesterton. They talk about Chesterton's own thoughts on the importance of wonder as well as pick out a few of the reflections to discuss. Please enjoy this preparation for the coming Advent season as we ready ourselves for the coming of our saviour, Jesus Christ.

To sign up for the campaign, please visit: chesterton.org/advent

In this epsiode of Uncommon Sense, we feature in our Headmaster Highlight, Dr. Joshua Russell, the Headmaster of Chesterton Academy of the Sacred Heart in Peoria, IL. We talk to this once commercial-pilot-turned-headmaster about what it's like to lead a Chesterton Academy. Dr. Russell also talks about the importance of music in the lives of the students. All that and more coming up in this episode.

In this episode of Uncommon Sense, Grettelyn and Albert interview Gregory K. Martin, the founder of the Squires, a new part of the Society of G.K. Chesterton that involves teenagers in the mission to pray, read and support the mission of The Society with G.K. Chesterton as their guide. Tune in to this episode to hear this energetic youth who is paving the way for future Chestertonian youth.

In this episode of Uncommon Sense, Grettely and Albert interview Haley Stewart, an author who has released her first children's fiction story, entitled, The Pursuit of Pilfered Cheese . They talk with Haley about her inspiration for creating these wonderful characters that just happen to live under the floor of G.K. Chesterton's house. We find out more about Haley and her love of literature, all in this episode of Uncommon Sense. Tune in!

The Pursuit of the Pilfered Cheese | Pauline Books and Media (paulinestore.com)

In this episode of Uncommon Sense, Grettelyn and Albert talk with Joe Grabowski, the new VP of Evangelization and Mission for the Society of G.K. Chesterton. They discuss with Joe the plans in store to help the community of Chestertonians that are engaged with The Society. Great things ahead! Tune in to find out more!

https://chesterton.org
https://chesterton.org/knights