"Sometimes we find that the best-loved Gospel stories become so familiar that we can no longer respond to them," says Rosenthal (The Poets' Jesus). "Poetry's special gift is to cast a fresh eye on the too-familiar." This book offers a poem for each Gospel passage used from Ash Wednesday to Easter, including readings for Holy Week and each Sunday in Lent. With the exception of George Herbert, the poets are all contemporary, including Kathleen Norris, Paul Mariani, David Craig and Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II). Rosenthal provides a brief introduction to each Scripture passage, inviting readers to "enter the scene with the poets." She concludes with a longer discussion of the poem and its relation to the Gospel story. This is an innovative, instructive guide to poetry and faith. (Jan.)
