Thank you. I was reading over your first two posts about this the other day, and I really appreciate the time you have put into this. Tolkien in many ways through his writing was crucial in helping me return to the Catholic faith.
That is wonderful to hear and I firmly believe there are many others out there like us, too. As he intended, Tolkien's works are able to reach many who know little about the Faith or are even prejudiced against it; the Catholicism in his stories then inseminates the soul and flowers unto conversion. This is the power of Catholic art, music and literature which needs to be rediscovered today.
Just to let you know, I recently created a new personal Substack, called Saint Tolkien, focused specifically on the Catholic faith of Tolkien in his life and works. I invite you to subscribe! Here is a link: https://sainttolkien.substack.com/
One of the best proofs of sainthood is how powerfully someone brings others to Christ. Based on you, your niece and myself, and the people who hopefully pray for his intercession and venerate his grave, I believe this is a true sign. I pray for his intercession daily.
You and your niece are very fortunate to have visited his parish church, which is at the center of promoting his cause and even had a Mass offered for it, and his grave. Sadly I have never been to England, though I would love to make the pilgrimage someday. I hope that you and Tolkien will help your niece grow in the Faith.
I would certainly love to visit Oxford someday. It is sad what is happening to it and many other universities throughout Britain, though I suppose it is a reflection of the cultural decay in general. I know it was dear to Tolkien. Oxford, like the ruins of the abbeys from the Dissolution of the Monasteries, is a powerful reminder of Britain's Catholic heritage.
We do not have anything like pubs here in the U.S. What we call bars are just for drinking and entertainment; they don't have the social and cultural importance that pubs do in Britain. If you have or will ever play the video game Lord of the Rings Online, they have a pub in the Shire based on the Inklings' pub, with hobbits there named after the Inklings members. https://lotro-wiki.com/wiki/The_Bird_and_Baby_Inn
I thought Addison's Walk was where Tolkien helped convince Lewis to become Christian and your link confirmed it. Sad that Lewis could not go all the way and become Catholic, but it is amazing to think how many souls Tolkien led to Christ by his efforts at converting Lewis. As an American it's difficult to imagine such ancient history as you have in Britain, especially Catholic history. Our oldest Catholic structures are Spanish colonial missions from the 17th-18th centuries, e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Miguel_Mission
Tolkien did have a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin. He also agreed with a Jesuit friend, in the same letter you quote, that Galadriel directly mirrored her. (no pun intended) After all, England was once known as Mary's Dowry.
Thank you. I was reading over your first two posts about this the other day, and I really appreciate the time you have put into this. Tolkien in many ways through his writing was crucial in helping me return to the Catholic faith.
Thanks, Jonathon. This project is very important to me and I'm glad the people at Missio Dei have enjoyed it. I think Tolkien's evangelical power, which was one of his main motivations for his work, is highly underappreciated; there are many people, including us, who have been led to or back to Catholicism through the subtlety and beauty of his sacramental world. I recently learned that Holly Ordway is publishing a book with a similar premise to my essay later this year that you might find interesting - I hope to pre-order it at some point: https://www.amazon.com/Tolkiens-Faith-Spiritual-Holly-Ordway/dp/1685789919/ref=pd_ybh_a_sccl_1/134-7872625-0322440?pd_rd_w=3ypvs&content-id=amzn1.sym.67f8cf21-ade4-4299-b433-69e404eeecf1&pf_rd_p=67f8cf21-ade4-4299-b433-69e404eeecf1&pf_rd_r=9B1378C7SV0HQJDDPRE6&pd_rd_wg=AtI0q&pd_rd_r=1133eda1-67ad-4110-9c55-589caebf8382&pd_rd_i=1685789919&psc=1
That is wonderful to hear and I firmly believe there are many others out there like us, too. As he intended, Tolkien's works are able to reach many who know little about the Faith or are even prejudiced against it; the Catholicism in his stories then inseminates the soul and flowers unto conversion. This is the power of Catholic art, music and literature which needs to be rediscovered today.
Just to let you know, I recently created a new personal Substack, called Saint Tolkien, focused specifically on the Catholic faith of Tolkien in his life and works. I invite you to subscribe! Here is a link: https://sainttolkien.substack.com/
God bless!
One of the best proofs of sainthood is how powerfully someone brings others to Christ. Based on you, your niece and myself, and the people who hopefully pray for his intercession and venerate his grave, I believe this is a true sign. I pray for his intercession daily.
You and your niece are very fortunate to have visited his parish church, which is at the center of promoting his cause and even had a Mass offered for it, and his grave. Sadly I have never been to England, though I would love to make the pilgrimage someday. I hope that you and Tolkien will help your niece grow in the Faith.
I would certainly love to visit Oxford someday. It is sad what is happening to it and many other universities throughout Britain, though I suppose it is a reflection of the cultural decay in general. I know it was dear to Tolkien. Oxford, like the ruins of the abbeys from the Dissolution of the Monasteries, is a powerful reminder of Britain's Catholic heritage.
We do not have anything like pubs here in the U.S. What we call bars are just for drinking and entertainment; they don't have the social and cultural importance that pubs do in Britain. If you have or will ever play the video game Lord of the Rings Online, they have a pub in the Shire based on the Inklings' pub, with hobbits there named after the Inklings members. https://lotro-wiki.com/wiki/The_Bird_and_Baby_Inn
I thought Addison's Walk was where Tolkien helped convince Lewis to become Christian and your link confirmed it. Sad that Lewis could not go all the way and become Catholic, but it is amazing to think how many souls Tolkien led to Christ by his efforts at converting Lewis. As an American it's difficult to imagine such ancient history as you have in Britain, especially Catholic history. Our oldest Catholic structures are Spanish colonial missions from the 17th-18th centuries, e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Miguel_Mission
Tolkien did have a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin. He also agreed with a Jesuit friend, in the same letter you quote, that Galadriel directly mirrored her. (no pun intended) After all, England was once known as Mary's Dowry.