Chesterton's poem on St. Francis Xavier

Yesterday, of course, was the feast day of St. Francis Xavier, who was the greatest missionary produced by the Church since St. Paul. In fact, he has been called the second St. Paul.

Like my correspondent I keep on retainer, I did not know about G. K. Chesterton's poem, "St. Francis Xavier," or the details surrounding it; but thought you might enjoy this:

I did not know that GK Chesterton's early school days poem on the Saint won a prize and sort of shoved him over the line into a lifetime of wordsmithing.

Sort of Pascalian, and not bad as far a school boys and poetry go.

... This then we say: let all things further rest
And this brave life, with many thousands more,
Be gathered up in the Eternal's breast
In that dim past his Love is bending o'er:
Healing all shattered hopes and failure sore:
Since he had bravely looked on death and pain
For what he chose to worship and adore,
Cast boldly down his life for loss or gain
In the eternal lottery: not to be in vain.

[Hat tip to JM]