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Sunday, November 8, 2026

Chesterton: a single sword

Feast of Saints & Martyrs of England
Meditation:
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
—Psalm 34:6-7 (ESV)

Quotation:
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 honor 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.
... Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936), [1907] The Collected Works of G. K. Chesterton, v. X, Ignatius Press, 1994, p. 141 (see the book)
See also Ps. 34:6-7; Rom. 8:35-39; Eph. 6:14-18; Heb. 4:12

Quiet time reflection:
Lord, grant us peace.
 
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  by Robert McAnally Adams,
  Curator, Christian Quotation of the Day
with Robert Douglas, principal contributor
CQOD is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
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