Poetry Archives

Faith still main inspiration for street cop’s hard-edged poetry, prose

Dec 13, 2020

Catholic essayist, poet, anthologist, academic, literary mentor and reserve police officer in Harris County, Texas — made the decision in midlife to leave a corporate career to sign up with the Houston area police service.

By Mike Mastromatteo

Brazilians intrigued by papal encyclical’s use of song based on Afro-Brazilian religion

Oct 8, 2020

A quote of the Brazilian poet and composer Vinícius de Moraes in Pope Francis’s encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” was received with surprise and joy by many in the South American country.

By Eduardo Campos Lima

Poet-theologian says isolation can bring gain as well as loss

Apr 3, 2020

Dominican Father Paul Murray is one of English-language Catholicism’s most prominent contemporary theologians and poets, and he reflects on the spiritual significance and fall out of the coronavirus pandemic.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Catholic poet explores the contradictions of the Congo

Feb 10, 2020

Moná Toirésa Ó Loideáin Rochelle, a Boston Irish Catholic, is a published poet that volunteers for Catholic Relief Services. She has written a poem about the contradictions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the poorest countries in Africa.

By Crux Staff

Priest-poet explores mysteries of life, what it means to be fully human

Jun 5, 2017

“People who are not in love are irresponsible,” Father Pier Giorgio Di Cicco writes. “A town that is not in love with itself is irresponsible, and civically apt for mistakes. Responsibility is a cold duty. It inspires no one. A citizenry is incited to action by the eros of mutual care, by having a common object of love — their city.”

By Michael Swan

Despite headaches, new Mass translation worth the effort

Jun 2, 2016

Why do so many priests, who have to say the words of the new translation, dislike them? Maybe because the principle of intentionally elevated language wasn’t explained.

By Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Poems to 'nourish the soul'

Jan 15, 2016

Roger Housden, writer and creator of the best-selling “Ten Poems” series, again this month is offering up poems to “nourish the soul” on the Spirituality and Practice website. My favorite so far is the famed poem, “What the Living Do,” by Marie Howe. It was written in memory of her

By margeryeagan

A powerful poem on the meaning of Christmas

Dec 2, 2015

Because in Him the Flesh is united to the Word without magical transformation …. Because in Him the Word is united to the Flesh without loss of perfection …. Because of His visitation, we may no longer desire God as if He were lacking: our redemption is no longer a

By margeryeagan