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The Catholic literary tradition is immense and prestigious. From the Church Fathers to Dante to Flannery O'Connor, Catholic writers have made indispensable contributions not only to Catholic letters but to the development of literature itself. In recent decades, this prestige has become increasingly obscured in culture. Familiarity with the tradition continues to dwindle, and Catholic writers no longer command the prominence they once enjoyed. The term Catholic literatures seems to carry only connotations of authors long dead. But in the twenty-first century, the tide has begun to turn. Catholic writers are once again cultivating a mainstream presence in the literary ecosystem and winning the highest awards. A rich new world of Catholic literature is beginning to appear, full of fiction writers and poets who are serious about craft — not simply about message.