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| (Kilmer in 1908) |
When Alfred Joyce Kilmer famously wrote "But only God can make a tree," he wasn't just trying to sound poetic. Kilmer believed these words with all of his Catholic heart and soul.
Christianity loomed large in Kilmer's life from the get-go.
Born into an
Episcopalian family that worshipped at Christ Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Kilmer was named after two of the priests there.
Later in life, Kilmer converted to Roman Catholicism.
John Covell of
Catholic Men's
Quarterly compares Kilmer's conversion to that of Cardinal John Henry Newman.
Newman had first been what Kilmer
had almost become – an Episcopalian priest.
had almost become – an Episcopalian priest.
Much of Kilmer's writing became infused with his Catholic faith. He
once said: The Catholic Faith is such a thing that I'd rather write moderately well about it than magnificently well about anything else.
once said: The Catholic Faith is such a thing that I'd rather write moderately well about it than magnificently well about anything else.
For Kilmer, Catholicism went way beyond theology. Although
he did believe in what he called "the Catholic position," he mostly yearned for something greater than intellectual principles.
He yearned for Faith with a capital "F." Faith in the God who not only created trees, but also created poets to glorify them…
Resources
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1812293/posts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Kilmer
Copyright December 6, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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