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There are a ton of great fantasy books out there. Yet, none of them rise to the heights of that grandfather of modern fantasy adventures, J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”.

Why is it that this story touches hearts in a way most other books can’t? After all, modern fantasy has increasingly adapted contemporary themes, standing in stark contrast to the quasi-medieval flavor of Tolkien’s Middle Earth.

Here are a few reasons why we think “The Lord of the Rings” continues to touch us so deeply.

 

 

 

 

 

1. Middle Earth feels like a real place.
Tolkien liked to say he “discovered” Middle Earth, rather than created it. It’s not hard to accept this answer. Few works rival “The Lord of the Rings” in the sheer breadth and depth of worldbuilding. Tolkien labored over his maps and languages as if he were talking about an actual place and writing home about it.

2. It makes the homey just as important as the sublime.
“The Lord of the Rings” is a work of fantasy, so of course you expect to explore mystical forests and dark caverns and confront incredible creatures.

Yet, homeyness is just as strong in the books. It celebrates the simple, humble things in life, such as a good meal, good drink, good friends, and a simple roof over one’s head.

Simplicity wedded to grandeur — sounds a lot like the Incarnation, doesn’t it?

3. It has influenced countless other fantasy books, movies, music, and video games.
Many famous fantasy authors, such as George R.R. Martin, have named Tolkien as a key influence. We see echoes of Middle Earth in everything from folk songs to Harry Potter to the Legend of Zelda video games.

While not all of the work inspired by Tolkien rises to his artistic and moral heights, they’re a testament to the fascination many of us still have with Middle Earth.

4. Catholic themes abound.
Granted, Tolkien didn’t write “The Lord of Rings” to be an allegory for Catholicism. It’s not an in-your-face moral story like “The Chronicles of Narnia” (though we still love that work too).

But Tolkien did once refer to “The Lord of the Rings” as a “fundamentally religious and Catholic work.” Its treatment of the nature of evil, suffering, and perseverance is Catholic to the core. Subtle Marian and Eucharistic themes also abound.

5. It makes you want to become a better person.
A popular trend in modern fiction is to make the hero a morally gray character. This isn’t always a bad thing, but it may also reflect the moral fogginess of our age.

In “The Lord of the Rings”, there’s a clear demarcation between good and evil. Goodness is presented as something attractive and necessary. The characters we fall in love with are not without flaws, but they inspire us with their unrelenting pursuit of virtue. It’s a breath of fresh air in our current moral climate.

I’m sure there are several dozen other reasons you could find as to why “The Lord of the Rings” is the GOAT. But we’d better stop here, otherwise this blog will become as long and detailed as the work’s famously lengthy appendices!

We Catholics profess belief in everlasting life. Each of us will spend eternity in either heaven or hell.

While we will undergo a particular judgment and know our fate after our death, there will also be the General Judgment at the end of the world. This is where we’ll all be judged together.

The Church has a rich tradition of reflection on the General Judgment. Some of it is based on beliefs we hold as immutable truths; some are based on speculation.

To get you up to speed in preparation for that day, here are four things to know about the General Judgment of the whole human race.

1. You’ll get your body back. This we hold as fact based on God’s revelation. God created us as a union of body and soul. At death, the two are separated for a period of time. Our bodies will rise again at the General Resurrection, which will take place around the General Judgment.

At this reunion of body and soul, you’ll experience great joy — not because you were feeling “sad” over the absence of your body. If you’re in heaven, the vision of God precludes such sadness. But you’ll experience an overflow of joy because you’ll have that union of body and soul that God intended.

2. It’s a communal event. At our individual deaths, God renders to us our due based on how we lived our lives. At the General Judgment, God will give communities their due. He’ll reward the Church, which is His Mystical Body. As members of this Mystical Body, we’ll experience His love not only individually, but also through our communion with one another.

3. Everything will be made manifest. We often hear of the General Judgment as being a sort of bombshell event, where everyone’s secret sins are put on display for all to see. Maybe you’re feeling nervous about some of your sins being seen by family members or friends.

To be honest, we can only speculate about what this great manifestation entails. Church teachings don’t give us the details. Here’s one way to picture it: Everyone’s focus will be on Christ and we’ll see each person as they’ve been transfigured by his grace. In other words, at least for the saved, no one’s going to be hyper-focused on the awful things you’ve done. If they see your sins, they’ll also see how Christ’s mercy has purified you of them.

4. We’ll finally realize the common good. Throughout our lives, we seek not only our own good but the common good of the communities we belong to: family, city, nation, and Church. We are, after all, social beings.

But due to the reign of sin, this effort is marred by mistaken ideas of what our true good — the good of the human race — actually is.

That will be cleared up in heaven. We’ll see God as our ultimate good and the relationships we had on earth as steps to our union with Him.

We don’t know when the General Judgment will happen. But we do know that we are all going to die. If you spend your life properly preparing for your death, you can breathe easily and know you’ll be ready.

Chances are you’ve heard of “The Lord of the Rings”, “The Hobbit”, and “The Chronicles of Narnia”. You may have read them, too. Or watched them … but, let’s be honest, the books are the real deal.

But C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a ton more stuff that’s just as amazing. So if your fantastical first steps into Middle Earth and Narnia have you hungering for more, then here are five more titles from these two blokes you absolutely cannot miss!

 

 

1. The Space Trilogy
We’re sort of cheating here since it’s three books, but we couldn’t leave out this brilliant sci-fi fantasy adventure by Lewis. Following the interplanetary travels of a philologist named Ransom (based on Lewis’ friend Tolkien), you’ll go from Earth to Mars to Venus and back to a more terrifying Earth.

All the while, Lewis subtly challenges the scientific reductionism and demythologization of our age.

2. “The Silmarillion”
Wonder where all the really, really old characters in “The Lord of the Rings“ came from? In “The Silmarillion“, Tolkien takes us back to the creation of Middle Earth. We learn of the origin of elves, dwarves, men, and Sauron himself — plus Sauron’s even more wicked boss, Morgoth.

As with “The Lord of the Rings”, “The Silmarillion” reveals Tolkien’s Catholic sensibilities, especially through its treatment of creation, free will, and evil.

3. “The Great Divorce”
The curious thing about this classic by Lewis is that while it’s a work of fiction, it gives one of the best explanations of hell in all literature. It really hits home the point that anyone who goes to hell has, in reality, chosen it. God doesn’t force anyone to go there.

This is a beautiful work full of rich theological themes. It’s also a fairly short read — perfect for a rainy weekend when you’re stuck inside.

4. “Tales from the Perilous Realm”
This is a collection of delightful short stories by Tolkien. Depending on which edition you get, it may have four or five stories. “Leaf by Niggle” is one of the most beautiful gems in the collection. Many interpreters think it’s a symbolic portrayal of Purgatory.

And if you couldn’t get enough of Tom Bombadil in “The Lord of the Rings”, then you’ve got “The Adventures of Tom Bombadil” to look forward to! (For those who’ve only watched “The Lord of the Rings” movies, stop giving us that blank stare!)

5. “On Fairy Stories”
This essay is based on a lecture Tolkien gave in 1939, and it is a gem! Not only does Tolkien go into the history of fairy tales, but he even begins to sketch out a theology of fantasy. He draws a powerful connection between the Gospel and elements of classic fairy tales.

Well, looks like you have some awesome reading to look forward to. Go grab these books and your favorite beverage, kick back, and prepare to be amazed by these two incredible storytellers!

Marriage is a vocation, just like the priesthood and religious life. Many people forget this and treat marriage as the place “ordinary” people go to who don’t have a special call from God.

But God Himself created marriage as a special vocation where Trinitarian love is reflected and where the spouses help each other and their children get to heaven.

If you’re single, how do you discern whether marriage is the right vocation for you? Here are four suggestions for how to discern your vocation.

1. Pay attention to your recurring thoughts during prayer
We’re not talking about simply feeling attracted to marriage. We mean thoughts inclining your will to embrace everything — even the suffering — within marriage to become a saint.

Bring your desire for marriage to Jesus in prayer, especially during Eucharistic adoration. Also, does any particular person pop into your mind at that time? Someone you feel needs to be next to you, adoring our Lord at your side?

Take note of such thoughts.

2. Pay attention to possible signs
Be careful with this one: God doesn’t guarantee explicit signs to anyone. Some people make the mistake of demanding a super clear sign from God before choosing a vocation.

Still, God does send little signs throughout your life, and occasionally He sends big signs. Don’t demand signs, but be open to what the Lord may be communicating to you through the people you meet and the experiences you have.

3. Honestly ask yourself what you want
Again, caution is needed here. You can’t always go with your first instinct. But if the desire persists, then that may be an indication that it’s your vocation. On the other hand, if the desire for priesthood or religious life grows, then you may want to shift focus.

The point is that God won’t call you to anything that would make you miserable. It may be a vocation that purges you of your selfishness, but it will also answer the deep longings of your heart.

4. Talk to a spiritual director
This may be the most important point of all. We are masters of self-deception. Our imagination, fears, impulses, sins, and desires often blur our vision.

You need an outside opinion. A wise spiritual director will help you make sense of all the conflicting signs and feelings you’re experiencing. While he may not always tell you with certainty what your vocation is, he’ll point you in the right direction.

These four things aren’t infallible signs. The truth is that you simply won’t have confirmation of your calling unless you’ve exchanged vows with your spouse (or made religious vows or become a priest).

But these are signposts pointing you in the right direction. The rest is a leap of faith. Trust God, for He doesn’t call you to anything without clearing a path for you to get there.

There are a ton of books out there for people just starting to learn the faith — some good, some bad, and some downright heretical.

If you’re just getting started exploring the truth and beauty of Catholicism, or if you know someone else who is, here are the best books for learning the Catholic faith (aside from the Bible, of course).

 

 

1. “Compendium: Catechism of the Catholic Church”
Not that we’ll stand in your way if you want to read the big Catechism in its entirety, but the Compendium to the Catechism is much easier. It’s divided into the same four parts: the Creed, liturgy and sacraments, morality, and prayer.

But it cuts these down to the essentials, and its helpful index makes it easy to quickly look up a topic and find the answer. Once you read through the Compendium, you’ll have a thorough overview of the entire Catholic faith.

2. “Why We’re Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love” by Trent Horn
We’ve had Trent Horn on our podcast before. He’s one of the most effective communicators of the truth of Catholicism.

His book, “Why We’re Catholic“, may be the simplest introduction to Catholicism, making it a great choice if you’re not looking to cover everything like the Catechism does.

It also answers many common objections to the faith, making it a great gift to give someone who just doesn’t get why you’re Catholic.

3. “A Biblical Walk Through The Mass: Understanding What We Say And Do In The Liturgy” by Edward Sri
The Mass is the focal point of Catholic life. If you don’t get the Mass, you don’t really get your faith.

Edward Sri’s “A Biblical Walk Through The Mass” is a real eye-opener into the glory of the Mass. Not only does he make what we say and do each Sunday intelligible, but he also shows how it’s all deeply rooted in Scripture.

Definitely don’t miss this one!

4. “Defend the Faith!” by Robert Haddad
This book grew out of Robert Haddad’s more than thirty years experience of personal encounters with non-Catholics. “Defend the Faith!” answers 165 objections against the Catholic Faith in 50 easily digestible chapters.

A lot of the book responds to common Protestant objections, but the expanded addition also includes responses to atheist and Muslim objections to Catholicism.

If you’re just getting started learning your faith, you don’t want to jump too far ahead. Build a solid foundation in the basics first. These books will provide you with that sturdy base on which to further explore your faith in the future.

 

Muslims often try to convert non-believers — including Christians — to their religion, and they are succeeding far too often.

As Islam becomes more widely practiced in the U.S. and Europe, you’re likely to meet a Muslim at some point who will challenge your Christian beliefs.

Make sure to familiarize yourself with these three ways a Muslim may try to convert you.

1. They compare their rigorous fasting to Christians’ lighter fast
During their holy month of Ramadan, Muslims completely abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Definitely more rigorous than the Church’s current laws on fasting! We only have to fast a couple of times a year, and when we do fast, we just eat less — fasting usually doesn’t mean complete abstinence from food.

The greater self-discipline required for the Muslim fast definitely makes Islam seem like a tougher, more masculine religion than Christianity. If you tell a Muslim you’re fasting and then proceed to eat a small, meatless salad, they’ll be confused.

2. They boldly practice their faith in public
It’s not uncommon to see Muslims lay out their prayer mats in public, kneel down, face Mecca and begin to pray. Many will use their break times at work to pray. Some have even been spotted praying on the side of the highway!

That’s some real dedication. And they’ll note it to convince you of the truth of their religion.

Of course, there are Catholics who have no qualms about publicly expressing their faith. But many of us are just too timid. For example, does your family pray out loud together while eating at home, but not in a restaurant? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us hide our faith in public.

Which makes it easier for Muslims to convince people that their religion is more sincere.

3. They may try to trap you on the Trinity
To be fair, most Muslims have never studied the Christian doctrine of the Trinity from Christian sources. They often depend on hearsay from their fellow Muslims. The result is that they usually have a mistaken idea of what Christians actually believe about the Trinity.

For example, expect them to question you on how Jesus can be both God and the Son of God. And they may challenge you on Jesus’ divine sonship by claiming that God has no wife, and therefore cannot have a son.

Of course, the Trinity is a tricky subject even for most Christians. Check out this post we made on how to explain the Trinity to your Muslim friends.

Many Catholics falter in their faith because they’re caught off guard by unexpected challenges. Don’t let this happen to you! Bolster your faith now so that you can be prepared when anyone, including your Muslim friends, challenges you. And maybe you can even turn the tables and lead them to Jesus!

 

 

Let’s talk about heaven. After all, getting there is the main point of our lives.

Granted, we’re limited in what we can say. As St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

There are some things we know for certain about heaven. Here are five.

1. There will be no more sin or temptation
Since we have free will in our earthly lives, is it possible to sin or experience temptation in heaven?

The answer is “no.”

This is because the vision of God in heaven is the fulfillment of all human desire, making it impossible to want anything else apart from God. The problem on earth is that we don’t have this vision of God and the fulfillment that it brings. This makes us susceptible to looking for “heaven” in the wrong places.

2. We will enjoy the fruits of our merits from our lives on earth
At judgment, we will face an accounting of our lives. For those destined for heaven, this accounting will be a blessing. All of the acts of love and sacrifice we carried out on earth will bear fruits of joy and love in heaven.

3. We will finally know the full truth about ourselves
Not only will heaven reveal the full truth of God to us, but we’ll also see the full truth about ourselves for the first time, as living icons of God’s love and conduits of His grace.

4. Not everyone will have an equal amount of glory in heaven
Our degree of glory in heaven will be based on how we loved and served God on earth. Since people don’t serve God with the same level of commitment, not everyone will harvest the same fruit.

Don’t worry, though. No one in heaven will be jealous or sad about this inequality. Think of each of us as different-sized cups. While each of us will only be able to hold the amount of heavenly glory our cups allow us, we will all be filled to the brim.

5. We will fully possess Christ and be possessed by Him
Heaven is where our spousal relationship with Christ reaches perfection. This will not have any of the limitations of spouses on earth. Christ will fully possess each one of us as if we were the only person in heaven. Imagine that!

So that’s just a sketch of some of the things we know about heaven. And here’s one more: In heaven, we will forever be enraptured in the sight of truth, beauty, and goodness Himself and finally come to that fulness of love and knowledge we so deeply yearned for on earth.

 

 

There are some beliefs Catholics share with Muslims, such as the importance of prayer and fasting.

Then there are beliefs we vehemently disagree on, such as Jesus being the Son of God.

Many Muslims assume that calling Jesus God’s son means that God must have had a wife. Because of this misconception, they can easily brush off the teaching of the Son of God as blasphemy.

But when correctly explained, the question of Divine Sonship cannot be refuted.

Here’s how to walk through it.

 

1. Start with the Book of Genesis
Genesis begins with God as the creator: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” But it also intimates all three persons of the Holy Trinity.

We read that the “Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters.” As we move into passages from Wisdom, we know Jesus as the Word that spoke creation into existence: “Let there be light.”

So there, even in the Old Testament and at the beginning of all things, we have a hint of the Trinity.

2. Ask your Muslim friends what God was doing before creation
We agree with Muslims that God is Lord and creator. But He’s not Lord without subjects, nor is He creator with creatures.

So what was He before creation? I actually once heard about a Muslim who responded that at this point God was “nothing.” He was then pressed on what God was doing. Again, he responded, “Nothing.”

Really?

In Islam, one of the 99 names of Allah (God) is “Loving.” But what — or whom — was He loving before creation? A Muslim may respond with “He loved Himself.” But loving yourself isn’t really love, at least not in the full sense.

If God is eternal and eternally loving, then God must have loved another person. An eternal person. And that eternal person receives that love and then responds to it with love. And that exchange of love is so real that it’s a third person.

God the Father, from all eternity, loved God the Son. The Son receives that love and returns it back to the Father as the Holy Spirit. Three divine persons, equally loving.

Wow!

3. Ask them whether God needs us
They may say “yes.” There are some Muslims who believe that God actually needs us to worship Him.

But isn’t God self-sufficient through all of eternity? To say that God “needs” us actually diminishes His self-sufficiency — something no devout Muslim wants to say!

God existing and loving as a Trinity doesn’t need us, because He’s already a family of love. Three persons each fully possessing the one divine nature, co-equal and co-eternal.

Doesn’t this make our existence all the more wonderful? God didn’t need us, but He freely chose to create us as His children to freely love Him back. All of this simply because of His overflowing love that comes from the fellowship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

What could be more awesome than that?

 

Jesus commanded us to help spread the faith, each according to our state in life and our abilities.

But how do we witness effectively? Do we speak the truth bluntly and make our listeners aware of the eternal consequences of their actions? Or do we focus on what we have in common as a starting point?

While each situation calls for a different approach, there are certain general guidelines to follow to make your witness more effective.

1. Start with God and happiness
It can be tempting to start a conversation with non-Catholics or cafeteria Catholics by pointing your finger at them and unleashing a tirade of “Thou shalt nots,” attempting to induce fear in their hearts of God’s judgment.

Only in such cases is your listener likely to look at you as a holier-than-thou control freak.

While a stern approach is sometimes needed, it’s often ineffective. You need to start with something positive: God and His plan for our eternal happiness.

Every command He gives us is ordered to the fullness of love and joy we will experience in heaven. You need to show how the Catholic position on abortion, marriage, or whatever you’re discussing fits into this big picture.

Otherwise, it just sounds like you’re throwing out soundbites or random rules to follow. Setting Church teaching within the larger context of our happiness makes that teaching more appealing and sensible.

2. Be blunt
Don’t be harsh, but be blunt. We hear so much today about dialoguing. This is necessary, but not at the expense of truth.

Be honest about your intentions. Atheists are, in general, good at this. They don’t fool around with weak statements like “I want to encourage you to x, y, z.” They say it like it is: “Your religion is full of [insert swear word].”

To which you can reply, “Maybe it is. Let’s fight it out.” This is so much more productive than someone saying, “I just want to have a conversation.” Which often translates to “I want to have a sneaky conversation to sneakily work my beliefs into your heart.”

3. Make sure you and your listener are speaking the same language
Words are tricky. You may use them in one way, and your listener in another. What happens is that you both end up talking past each other.

This often happens in conversations around abortion. You may speak about the right to life and understand the word “right” within the context of the virtue of justice and the theology of creation. Some abortion defenders use it as more of a violent affirmation of the way in which they can give expression to their liberty.

So start the conversation by asking your listeners what they mean by the terms they use.

4. Do the research if you can
Have you ever had someone refuse to debate you and simply point you to resources? It’s annoying, right? You want to shout, “If you want to convert me, you do the work and try to convince me. I don’t have the time to read a dozen books.”

You should make the same effort when witnessing to the faith. Do the research, rather than make your listener do it.

Obviously, there are moments when you just don’t have the time. Then, it’s fine to point them to resources. But at least make an effort to know what you’re talking about.

Give these four tips a try next time you’re talking to a non-Catholic or cafeteria Catholic. Again, these are not hard-and-fast rules. You may have to adapt from time to time. But they’re generally the most effective ways to share the faith with those around us.