Oct 5

Oct 5 Tolkien and Catholicism: Recommended Resources

Because our community is one inspired by the works and faith of J.R.R. Tolkien, I often receive messages from folks interested in learning more about how Catholicism influenced his worldview and writings. I’ve created this page in hopes that it will be a helpful resource in this regard. I will be occasionally adding to this list as I come across new resources, so please add a comment below if you are aware of any that I’ve missed.

Tolkien’s Letters

Tolkien’s Letters are the best source for information about Tolkien’s faith simply because they are written by Tolkien, in his own voice. There are several letters in which Tolkien refers to his faith included in The Letters of JRR Tolkien, edited by Humphrey Carpenter.

Over three hundred of Tolkien’s letters can be found in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, compiled and edited by Humphrey Carpenter. This collection offers an unparalleled look into Tolkien’s writing process, his relationship with his children, and the influence of his faith on his works. Six of these letters have also been published on the Tolkien Estate website and can be read for free here.

In particular, these letters are of interest:

Recommended Letters

Letter 43 to Michael Tolkien | This letter is primarily a father’s advice to his son regarding marriage, love, and women. However, at the end of the letter, Tolkien also shares about his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

“Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament … There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves upon earth.” - Letter 43 to Michael Tolkien

Letter 54 to Christopher Tolkien | In this short letter, Tolkien reminds his son of his guardian angel and instructs him to “make a habit of the ‘praises’” in prayer.

Letter 64 to Christopher Tolkien |This letter begins with a lament of the horrors of war, followed by a bit about the parts of The Lord of the Rings Tolkien is currently working through, and ends with a few words of encouragement for his son.

“All we do know, and that to a large extent by direct experience, is that evil labours with vast power and perpetual success–in vain: preparing always only the soil for unexpected good to sprout in.”

Letter 89 to Christopher Tolkien | Tolkien introduces the term Eucatastrophe, stating that the Resurrection was the greatest eucatastrophe possible.

Letter 96 to Christopher Tolkien | In this letter Tolkien writes on ‘the tragedy of Gollum’, which is quite interesting. It touches on the idea of redemption, which I think is founded upon his Catholic faith.

Letter 131 to Milton Waldman | Tolkien attempts to explain the connections between The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, which he is hoping to publish. This is one of the longest letters included in this collection, and it provides a huge amount of detail regarding the history of Middle-Earth.

Letter 142 to Fr. Robert Murray, SJ | In a response to a letter from Robert Murray, a Jesuit priest and close friend of the Tolkien family, Tolkien writes about the order of Grace. It is also in this letter that Tolkien calls The Lord of the Rings a “fundamentally religious and Catholic work.”

“The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. That is why I have not put in, or have cut out, practically all references to anything like ‘religion’, to cults or practices, in the imaginary world. For the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism.”

Letter 213 to Deborah Webster |Tolkien provides several facts about himself at Deborah’s request, famously calling himself “a hobbit (in all but size)”. On the Tea with Tolkien podcast, we talked about this letter in Episode 13.