Joyce Kilmer's supreme compilation arranges classic Catholic poems by their creators, their verses spanning many topics as well as centuries of Christian history and worship.
With works collected from dozens of authors from the 17th to the early 20th centuries, this anthology of Catholic poetry is both thorough and authentic. With contributions sourced from figures as diverse as John Henry Newman, Edmund Leamy and Alice Meynell, this vast assemblage of poems seeks to represent the essence of belief in Christ as Savior, and to affirm holy Catholicism as the truest essence of Christian faith on Earth.
The poems range from simple but heartfelt devotional praise to Jesus, to expositions of Bible lessons and celebrations of Christian ceremonies. Some carry seasonal themes, marking Christ's birth on Christmas Day or his rebirth on Easter. Many tribute Biblical events, with particular emphasis being on the birth, life and death of Jesus as portrayed in the New Testament.
Other entries allude to the glories of the Lord's creation; the natural beauty of certain rivers and landscapes of North America feature. We also hear poems and songs which commemorate historical wars, and even the discovery of the Americas by Columbus. All carry a common theme of spiritual devotion to God, and retain their emotional depth in modern times.