J.R.R. Tolkien, Master Evangelist

The great novelist J.R.R. Tolkien has enchanted generations of readers with his “Hobbit” and ”Lord of the Rings,” and is the subject of a new feature film titled “Tolkien.” But in today's episode, I talk about Tolkien’s Catholic faith, which was mostly absent in the new film but critical to his upbringing and his stories of Middle-earth.

A listener asks what he should if he's unable to find a spiritual director.

BOOKS MENTIONED

- “The Battle for Middle-earth: Tolkien’s Divine Design in The Lord of the Rings” by Fleming Rutledge

- “Tolkien: Man and Myth” by Joseph Pearce

- “Bilbo’s Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of The Hobbit” by Joseph Pearce

- “Frodo’s Journey: Discover the Hidden Meaning of The Lord of the Rings” by Joseph Pearce

[marypinakat]

Bishop Barron your service to the Catholics is really praiseworthy. Thank you for being there for us.

[FEspinosa]

Tolkien ruined all fantasy books for me because it was so good.... nothing came close to this magical story.

[MikeFreesinger]

Even as an agnostic/atheist I seriously appreciate these insights.

[PrettyPortUK]

Started watching Lord of the Rings on Netflix yesterday. I had seen it years ago but never connected it to the Catholic faith but it is glaringly obvious now. I learn so much from you every time I watch one of your videos. You have helped me a great deal!

[Catholic-Redpilled-Spaniard]

My favourite novel writer of all time, and I'm a Spaniard, I have plenty of examples of fantastic novel writing. But man, Tolkien is just at another level.

[marypinakat]

Thank you Bishop Barron for the most valuable review. Thank you for your persistent emphasis on the value and necessity of Religion and for highlighting always the beauty of Catholicism.

[erikrandan]

Love Tolkien. The man was absolutely brilliant and his faith obviously permeated every part of his life and writing. I love his take on the creation story in The Silmarillion, where everything is sung into existence and that even "Melkor's dissonance" causing abberation in the creation of the world, yet Erú (God) informs his Valar and Maiar (the Angels) that this too can work to serve his will.
A lesson long forgotten by most i. Our Modern Age. As Gandalf says, "Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end;"

[Paseosguiados]

Thank you very much for all the information!

[marypinakat]

Your ''Welcome Back'' has an even extra vibrancy, Brandon. Hugely appealing!
Confirmations, Confirmations! Font of Grace! God Bless Bishop Barron and all the Bishops of our Church worldwide.

[angbandart]

Tolkien was my Guardian Angel my whole life, even when I abandoned Jesus Christ from 16-28 yo, reading and loving Tolkien kept my heart from going evil, kept my heart open to a higher truth and beauty that was beyond even life and death, and can be perceived in this creation of the world. Reading the Silmarillion taught me how to read the Bible.

[simasmarcelo]

Excellent interview, Brandon.
Thanks to both.

[IsaacEstrada]

where's the talk with Peterson? I haven't found it anywhere.
Also, I'm glad you're talking about Tolkien! Phenomenal writer.

[t.j.armendariz]

I might note, in LOTR the Ainur (Valar and Maiar, which include Gandalf, Saruman, Radagast, Sauron, and in the Silmarillion Morgoth) are more like angels, and the elves are more or less Man but without the effects of original sin (or perhaps we might instead think (unlike Tolkien), man after redemption, as they have power in ways we don’t, unending live unless they are killed, and have the Lembas bread which is painful to Gollum, and in a sort of way, is ordinarily reserved for one of their own members (as is the Eucharist)). Also it tends to get more explicit in it’s religious themes the deeper you go (the Simarillion is rather clear, having one Creator, who creates a group of angelic beings (often referred to by commentators as “gods”, who play a music, which is translated into being, by the Divine command for it to “be”, and Melkor the greatest of the angelic beings falls out of pride, bringing a number of the lesser angelic beings with him, who sow discord and evil in the world).

[lilliankopp]

Honestly, I wonder if Father Morgan has some parallels to Elrond. He was the person who raised him after his parents were gone (just like Elrond with Aragorn), filling the role of father and provider. He also had a stern stance on his relationship with his future wife, at first arguing against it, but allowing some sort of way for it (as with Aragorn and Arwen). Even though Tolkien is not synonymous with Aragorn, he was synonymous with Beren, and the Beren/Luthien story is compared to the Aragorn/Arwen story all the time. I think, with that in mind, we get an idea of the relationship between Tolkien and Father Morgan, one of respect, wisdom, compassion, but also sternness. Just some thoughts.

[stephendecaturjr.]

I reread The Lord of the Rings recently and I realized Catholic themes countless times throughout. I have grown up Catholic and have also known the story of the Lord of the Rings since I was a small child. Each time I connected something it was like a grand revelation to me connecting two things that have been present to me all my life.

[jim_and_suzy]

Great video, as always! Hey Brandon, don’t forget to add the blog links!

[trudyrawlins]

Just finished the new book. Outstanding. Truly a balm for a suffering Church as well as call to remain faithful because of our "treasures".

[normbabbitt]

Thank you! So many (not all) films today, because of "political correctness" or just ignorance leave out some of the most important aspects of stories, particularly relating to religion and faith; especially Christian, as well as the religious foundation of the greatness of western civilization. Traditional religion is looked down upon by Hollywood and just left out of its stories, except mainly in critical and cynical fashion. I watch some of the old classic films which are unafraid of displaying and affirming prayer and moral goodness.

[Merryss]

🤲J.R.R Tolkien era cristiano catolico romano ademas que le gustaba el folkor europeo antiguo, asi nacieron sus obras.
El es un escritor brillante y sus obras dan fe y esperanza las ultimas que se debe perder en los mommtos mas oscuros.

[MrEd]

Great talk, I shared with all my friends.