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Views from the Choir Loft

Francis Thompson (1859 – 1907): Catholic, Addict, Poet

Guest Author · April 21, 2014

ERE IT NOT for one act of charity the world would not have had Francis Thompson’s poetry (the most famous of which is “The Hound of Heaven”), several paintings, a sketch of the poet by John Singer Sargent, at least one essay by G.K. Chesterton, “A Dead Poet,” and many other acts of charity. Thompson’s poetry is described as an “apocalypse.” An “experience with poetry in which fundamental truths of the Catholic faith were exquisitely fused with intense emotion, flawless expression, and mastery of technique.” On the death of the poet, Chesterton wrote, “with Francis Thompson we lose the greatest poetic energy since Browning.” Archbishop Kenealy said of the poet, “The intellect of the world has been corrupted. Francis Thompson is the antidote.”

In 1888 Francis Thompson was rescued from the streets of London – literally living under a bridge filthy, ragged and drug addicted – by Wilfrid Meynell, editor of a literary journal (Merry England) who was impressed with his submission entitled “The Passion of Mary.” The Capuchins later saw to Thompson’s material and spiritual needs during his most productive years.


We hope you enjoyed this guest post by Carmen Holston.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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Quick Thoughts

    Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)
    The organ accompaniment booklet (24 pages) which I created for the 4th Sunday of Lent (“Lætare Sunday”) may now be downloaded, for those who desire such a thing.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Vespers Booklet, 3rd Sunday of Lent
    The organ accompaniment I created for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (“Extraordinary Form”) may now be downloaded, if anyone is interested in this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Weeping For Joy! (We Hope!)
    Listening to this Easter Alleluia—an SATB arrangement I made twenty years ago based on the work of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel—one of our readers left this comment: “I get tears in my eyes each time I sing to this hymn.” I hope this person is weeping for joy!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Amid all these old liturgical books, I find that I am happy and at ease; I feel at home.

— Dom André Mocquereau (1884)

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