Posted on 10/21/2025 10:39:01 PM PDT by Cronos
Over Easter, the Catholic Church in France baptized nearly 18,000 people—the highest number ever recorded. The Catholic diocese in Westminster, at the heart of London, baptized 500. The Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, baptized 633, 30%more than the year before and the highest number in a decade. Stephen Foter, rector of the Anglican St. Aldates in Oxford, which caters to university students, had 1,000 show up for his Easter morning service—“more people in our building … than any time in the last thousand years,”
"Among the young Christian converts I speak to, an overwhelming theme is a sense of disaffection with and even contempt for the triviality and banality of secular society, A recent convert at St. Barts captures a widespread sentiment when he speaks of a yearning for ‘something huge and beautiful and awe-inspiring … for something bigger.’ At a Catholic church in prosperous west London—another remarkably young congregation, many of whom snap pictures of the high altar before Mass—I spoke to Emma, 23, who converted last year, attracted by the “beauty” of the church. ‘Catholicism,’ she says, ‘has been rooted for so long.’”
The new converts are reading Catholic authors like G. K. Chesterton or the conservative Anglican C. S. Lewis. And J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings gives a deep, though not immediately obvious, Catholic worldview, serving almost as a gateway drug. These three are probably the most influential modern authors to argue against atheism and secularism—and in today’s world, they point toward the Church.
The Catholic Church has encouraged this trend by making John Henry Newman a saint in 2019. This year he was given an even higher honor, made a doctor of the church, joining an elite group of just 38, including men like Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas and Hildegard of Bingen.
(Excerpt) Read more at thetrumpet.com ...
“The new converts are reading Catholic authors like G. K. Chesterton or the more conservative Anglican C. S. Lewis. And J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings gives a deep, though not immediately obvious, Catholic worldview, serving almost as a gateway drug. These three are probably the most influential modern authors to argue against atheism and secularism—and in today’s world, they generally point toward the Catholic Church.”
I read Lord of the rings, several times. I didn’t get a sense of it having a Catholic worldview, did I miss it?
list of key themes, copied from the Tolkien website
- God’s unseen hand directs events (e.g., Gandalf’s “return” mirrors resurrection; Bilbo finding the Ring fulfills a divine plan, like Romans 8:28—”All things work together for good”).
- **Eucharist and Fellowship**: The Fellowship and shared meals symbolize the Mass (Elven lembas as “Bread of Life,” sustaining like John 6:35; breaking bread at Rivendell foreshadows communion).
- **Temptation and Free Will**: Characters face moral choices (Boromir’s temptation; Galadriel rejects the Ring), reflecting original sin and grace (Genesis 3; 1 Corinthians 10:13—God provides escape).
- **Purgation and Mercy**: Gollum’s pitiful state shows hope for redemption; Sam’s compassion mirrors divine mercy (Matthew 25:40—”Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least”).
- **Confession and Penance**: Boromir’s deathbed repentance (confessing to Aragorn) leads to absolution and peace (James 5:16—”Confess your faults one to another”).
- **Resurrection and New Creation**: Gandalf’s death and return as White (2 Corinthians 5:17—”Old things passed away”); the Shire’s restoration symbolizes Easter renewal.
- **Hierarchy and Authority**: Aragorn’s kingship restores order (Romans 13:1—”Powers ordained by God”); the Council of Elrond as Church council (Acts 15).
- **Humility and the Poor**: Hobbits as “small folk” saving the world (1 Corinthians 1:27—”God hath chosen the foolish things”); Sam’s loyalty embodies servant love (John 13:34).
Tolkien called it a “fundamentally religious and Catholic work,” subtly woven without allegory. For deeper reading, see *The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien* (Letter 142).
I’m sure the martyr St. Thomas Becket is in heaven wishing he’d never heard of Canterbury Cathedral.
While I agree with you about the architectural monstrosities, I’ve been to parishes in such concrete blocks but which have been vibrant. I don’t know what’s the secret sauce, but I think its the people - not just the priest, but the laity combined with the priest(s)
We see the Lord's beauty in nature. Beautiful churches and cathedrals can be awe inspiring.
The Lord is not impressed with what we build with our hands or how we treat nature as much as He wants to see Christ in us.
The building where we worship can be a mud hut. Are will filled with the Holy Spirit? Are we filled with God's Word? Christ in us and through us is the secret sauce.
Re: Post 7. Just noticed this was a ‘Catholic Caucus’ discussion. Please delete post 7 and this post.
Hey, it is a Catholic Caucus (as I thought we should focus on what we in the Church should do to improve), but your post was in the same line - not some “attack” post but one calling us to focus on focusing on God.
God be with you
Every work that Bach composed was for the Glory of God.
We have exactly the wrong Pope for this moment, a querulous fence sitter when what we need is a fearless crusader.
Please contact the rm to have the caucus protection removed.
That ... thing ... is an architectural sin that cries out to Heaven for dynamite.
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