Why You Should Read G.K. Chesterton’s “Lepanto” Today

I just posted the poem and here are the reasons you should read it today of all days since it is the anniversary of the battle in 1571.

From Brandon Vogt

Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which was commissioned after the pivotal Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571, a key turning point in the history of the world. Muslim forces were threatening to attack both Venice and Rome, which would likely have led to the collapse of Christian Europe. If the Islamic forces had won (and most people thought they would) our world today would likely be majority Muslim.

But Pope Pius V called all the faithful to pray the Rosary—including the fighters—and through the intercession of Our Lady, a miraculous turn of events swayed the battle in favor of the Christians.

The great G.K. Chesterton wrote a poem about these events, appropriately titled “Lepanto”, which I’ve enjoyed several times. I must say, after devouring all of Chesterton’s novels, poetry, short stories, and the majority of his essays, I think “Lepanto” is my favorite piece of his writing. I’m not alone. Hilaire Belloc, Chesterton’s good friend, considered “Lepanto” not only Chesterton’s greatest poem, but the greatest poem of their generation, staggering praise from the usually reserved historian:

“[I]ndeed the whole of that poem is not only the summit of Chesterton’s achievement in verse but the summit of high rhetorical verse in all our generation. I have said this so often that I am almost tired of saying it again, but I must continue to say it. People who cannot see the value of “Lepanto” are half dead. Let them so remain.”

You can read the whole poem above in 10-15 minutes—it’s relatively sort. But I highly recommend buying the slim Lepanto paperback published by Ignatius Press. It features the whole poem along with helpful notes and commentary by Dale Ahlquist, along with several essays that provide background on the battle and the poem:

On this Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, read and remember this pivotal battle upon which the feast is based, and renew your trust in the intercession of Our Lady.

O God, Whose Only-begotten Son, by living, dying, and rising again, hath purchased everlasting joy for us, mercifully grant that, by calling these things to mind in the Blessed Virgin Mary's most holy Rosary, we may learn better both to follow what they set forth, and to strive after what they promise.
Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. 
R. Amen.