In the opening pages of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Silmarillion, we meet the character of Eru, also called Ilúvatar, (representing God in Tolkien’s universe) who creates a great theme of music in which he allows the Ainur, (representing the angels in Tolkien’s universe) his first creations to partake in. In this great theme there is a beautiful […]
Tolkien’s ‘Silmarillion’ and the problem of evil Read More »
Roverandom is the endearing tale of a little dog’s adventures after being turned into a toy by a wizard. Tolkien originally told this story to his children after one of them had lost a toy dog on vacation. After searching for the lost toy unsuccessfully, Tolkien devised Roverandom to help explain what happened to the
‘Roverandom:’ Tolkien’s little-known children’s story Read More »
Throughout salvation history, God calls individuals who see themselves as terribly unqualified for the tasks He has in store for them. Yet, He calls them to holiness in service nonetheless. These men and women became instruments of God’s peace, working for the salvation of souls and working to lead God’s people along a path to
‘LEGO Movie:’ Overcoming self-doubt to follow God’s call to greatness Read More »
In The Lord of the Rings, nothing holds sway so much upon the imaginations, fears, and aspirations of those in Middle-earth as much as the One Ring. Attached to the Great Ring is the covetous spirit of the Dark Lord Sauron, who always seeks to corrupt others and bend them to be subservient to his
What Tolkien’s One Ring can teach us about willpower, pride, and humility Read More »
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy epic, The Lord of the Rings, there are many hidden elements of Tolkien’s Catholic faith. One of these, I believe is Boromir’s confession to Aragorn about trying to take the ring away from Frodo, the designated “ring bearer” in the first book of The Two Towers. The scene seems to me
Boromir’s deathbed confession and the Sacrament of Reconciliation Read More »
“The day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying, ‘Peace and security,’ then sudden disaster comes upon them.” (1 Thess. 5:2-3) As the final weeks of the Liturgical Year transition into the first days of Advent, the readings for the Mass become more and more Apocalyptic – that
‘The Dragonriders of Pern’ and the Advent command to remain vigilant Read More »
The Feast of Our Lord, Jesus Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 with his encyclical Qua Primas. At that time, communist and fascist ideologies were running rampant and regimes built on such ideologies were steadily gaining power even in Catholic countries like Spain, Mexico and Italy. The pontiff explained his
Why the Fellowship left Rivendell on December 25 Read More »
During November in the United States of America, families will celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a national holiday where we reflect upon our state in life and express our gratitude to God for His providential care. It is also a time to be with friends and family and to be thankful for the gift of their presence. In
Praying before meals in Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Read More »
Borrowing momentum from the sensational updraft and intrigue in sci-fi/fantasy features following the success of the original Star Wars trilogy, the fantasy film The NeverEnding Story was released in 1984. Evidently, it was popular enough with audiences to secure two subsequent films. Everything, from its music to its traditional storytelling stylistic choices, contributes to an
‘The NeverEnding Story’ and the true nature of evil Read More »
Forty days after His Resurrection, in the presence of His disciples, Our Blessed Lord ascended bodily into Heaven. All the Synoptic Gospels record this event, but the best known account comes from the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles: “And when He had said this, as they were looking on, He was lifted up,
Into the West: Ascension and Assumption in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth Read More »
