Contest Information

Guidelines for the Contest:

All poems submitted will be ekphrastic poems.  That is, they are literary responses to the art presented in this contest.   

We are looking for poems which display the following characteristics.

• Technical proficiency: the poet employs devices of sound and language, form and image, in fresh and powerful ways.

• Creativity: the poem reveals a unique, unexpected approach. The poem speaks to the power of the visual image and taps into the eternal perspective of a spiritual journey toward the Trinitarian God.

• The search for Truth: the poet grapples with some aspect/s of the human condition within the story of Salvation history.

Prizes:

• First place prize: $250

• Second place: $200

• Third place: $150

The first prize-winning poem will be published in Catholic Arts Today, an international publication of the Benedict XVI Institute, San Francisco.

The three prize-winning poems will be published on the Catholic Literary Arts website. The three winning poets will be awarded a year’s membership to Catholic Literary Arts.

Specifics:

• All poems must be original, unpublished in print, on the web, or in limited edition books.

• Simultaneous submissions are not allowed.

• Submissions will be primarily in the English language.

• International submissions are allowed, if Paypal will process the entry fee.

• Line maximum per poem: 48 lines (does not include title or stanza breaks)

• Format: all poems must be in 12 pt. font in a typeface of Times New Roman, Arial, or other easy to read typeface. We regret that we're unable to accept handwritten pages.

• Form: all forms and free verse are accepted.

• Entry Fee: $25 for up to three poems. Poets are limited to a single entry of up to three poems.

• Entry is open to poets aged 18 or older on the date of submission.

• All submissions are handled through Submittable.

Click the button to submit your poem.

Judging:

All judging is blind judging. The name of the poet must not appear on the poem itself or in the file name when submitted. There are no exceptions to the blind-judging requirements. The Submittable system will direct each poet to completion of a form that stores the poet's identifying information and other pertinent information related to the entry.

Text and Contest Parameters (Submittable): 

One fee of $25. Up to three poems may be submitted. Only one submission per poet. Files may be .doc, .docx.

Instructions for poets:

Please give the title of each poem and the number and title of the sacred image to which it is a response by completing the Submittable form designed for this purpose. Name of poet must not appear in or on poem itself or in the file name when submitted. A list of the images and artists is given for your convenience.

Click on an image for a larger view. Scroll through the larger images using the left and right arrows.

For more information about the artists, visit their website:

1. Mihaly Munkacsy – Christ Before Pilate (Public Domain)

2. Dan Delouise — For Love of You https://endersisland.org/dan-delouise

3. Br. A. Brian Zampier, SM — Guadalupe Breakthrough https://abrianzamp.wordpress.com/about

4. Lu Hongnian — Jesus with the Woman at the Well (Public Domain)

5. Henry Ossawa Tanner — The Annunciation (Public Domain)

6. Michelangelo M. da Caravaggio — The Conversion of St. Paul on the Road to Damascus (Public Domain)

7. Louis-Édouard Paul Fournier — The Crowning of the Virgin (Public Domain)

8. Piotr Stachiewicz — Three Holy Kings (Public Domain)

Deadlines and Dates:

• The contest opens 12/1/23 for submissions.

• The contest ends 3/31/24 at 11:59 p.m. CST.

• Winners will be announced on the Catholic Literary Arts website by May 1, 2024, 11:59 p.m. CST.

Winners posted on CLA website: May 1, 2024 by 11:59 pm.

The judge’s comments will be posted along with the text of the winning poems, visual image, and link to author’s websites, if applicable.

All non-winners will be notified by May 5, 2024 via Submittable.

Virtual Winners’ Reading:

Winners and finalists will be invited to read their entries at a virtual celebration via Zoom. Tuesday, May 7, 7:00 pm, CST.

Mr. Ryan Wilson will attend this virtual reading and read previously prepared comments on each of the three winning poems.

Ineligible to Enter:

• Catholic Literary Arts board members and charter members of the Catholic Poetry Society are ineligible to enter. Persons under age eighteen on the date of submission are ineligible to enter.

• Any winning entries that are found in non-adherence to contest guidelines will be disqualified.

Communication with Catholic Literary Arts and Submittable:

If you have a question, please email cathla.org@gmail.com and enter 2024 Sacred Poetry Contest in the subject line.

Please contact Submittable directly if you have questions about your entry or the process of your entry.