O God of Earth and Altar

Yesterday I was listening to a Ave Maria Radio. Following Midday Mass there was a talk show that was so very interesting. I have 2 websites to research, thanks to the discussion. One is reformation.com and the other is Pop.org. The two priests talked about a fascinating woman called Bella Dodd and her orchestration of the communist infiltration of the Catholic Church in America. This same infiltration also occurred in soviet controlled countries.

What gave me a kick was a poem that was read that was written by GK Chesterton called “O God of Earth and Altar” . This poem made it’s way into the English Hymnal. I never heard it as a hymn, but I do know the first verse of the Song. It was used as the first verse of the Song “Revelations” from Iron maiden off their 1983 album “Piece of Mind”.

What a Riot!

Here is the Chesterton poem in it’s entirety:


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.