Thomas Merton Prize in Poetry of the Sacred A project of Center for Interfaith Relations About For over fourteen years, the Poetry of the Sacred contest has received thousands of submissions touching every aspect of spiritual life. Poetry has been called ‘the language of the soul’ and this annual contest encourages poets to awaken the reader to the deep meaning and beauty of a contemplative life. Poems are evaluated based on literary excellence, authenticity and spiritual tenor. Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions, except for some fee waivers available on a limited basis. The fee is USD $15 (average for contests). Want more insight into the editors' preferences? Read our interview with the editor(s). Country of Publication United States Publication Media & Contest Frequency Electronic Publication Electronic PublicationAwarded 1 x per yearPrint Publication Print PublicationAwarded 1 x per year AI Policy Unknown AI policy Poetry Temp Closed Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Poem: No line limits known.Poetry Forms:Open to all/most Forms.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Religion/Spirituality: General, Spirituality.Winner's Prize:Professional payment (US$50 or more per poem) Professional payment. Details: USD $500 grand prize.Submissions:Method: Submittable submission manager. Reprints: Unknown.Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.Multiple entries: Unknown.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to contest webpage Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Facebook FacebookInstagram @festoffaithsX (Twitter) @FestofFaiths Support this Publisher: Make a Donation Shop their Store For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Thomas Merton Prize in Poetry of the Sacred Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. Filter: Category: Group by submission Include outliers Accuracy: We have not received any complete reports within the past 12 months. Pending 12 responses are pending (30 min | 47.2 mean avg | 46.0 median | 63 max days waiting | 1,088.3 std dev) from 12 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information The most common submission fee paid: USD $15.00. Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 31 Aug 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only