Fr. Patrick Briscoe, O.P., on G.K. Chesterton and What Is Wrong with the World

"At the end of the first chapter of part one [of his book, What’s Wrong with the World?], [G. K. Chesterton] writes, 'I have called this book "What Is Wrong with the World?" and the upshot of the title can be easily and clearly stated. What is wrong is that we do not ask what is right.'

"It is easy to agree on what is wrong. The COVID-19 pandemic should be resolved. There should be peace in the Middle East and in the Pacific. Abject poverty should be ended. Priests should be faithful and not cause scandal. No one should suffer injustice because of their race. Who in their right mind would disagree?

"But like doctors debating a course of treatment, it is the remedy which gives us pause.

"And so we quickly find ourselves back at our point of departure. Because although institutions and policies matter, for the Christian - that is, for every adopted Son and Daughter of the Father - my heart matters first."

In a recent commentary, Father Patrick Briscoe, O.P., reflected on some of the things we can do to help bring peace to the world, including praying prayers of gratitude, not passing along every feeling via social media, and resisting the urge to compare.

To access Fr Patrick's complete post, please visit: 

Aleteia: Fr. Patrick Briscoe, OP: Whence does conflict come? (18 SEP 21)