Eeighth-grader’s poem ‘Answer to God’ wins prize
Published: May 1, 2007
One Nashville eighth-grader is ready to “say yes to the Trinity” as she takes vows of “poverty, obedience, and virginity.”
Those were the closing words of the prize-winning poem by Jill Nagle — a student at Overbrook School in Nashville. The 14-year-old girl won second place in the eighth-grade division of the “Try Prayer, It Works!” Contest, sponsored by Family Rosary. Her poem: “My Answer to God.”
“I was shocked,” said Nagle of her award. “Sister told us not to expect anything from it.”
The contest encourages K-12 students to express their faith through art, poetry and prose. It is open to children and teens in Catholic schools, parishes or other Catholic organizations. Each year, there is a different theme. This time, it was “There’s A Knock On The Door — It’s Jesus!”
Nagle’s poem focused on how “Jesus wants me to have a different way of life/He’s calling me to sisterhood, not to be a wife.” She continued, saying she would trust God with his calling and “research religious orders with all my might.”
“The most radical thing for me would be to become a sister,” said Nagle of the thought behind her poem. “We have to be ready for any extreme God calls us to.”
Nagle, from Brentwood, will receive a set of Family Theater Productions movies for second place.
In first place was a drawing by a student in Houston, who will receive $100 while his sponsoring organization will receive $200.
Family Rosary was founded in 1942 by the Rev. Patrick Peyton. He started the contest after he became ill and was told to “Try prayer. We have done all we can for you.” After praying the rosary, he made a full recovery.
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