Tag Archives: J.R.R. Tolkien

Blessed Gandolph the Gray?

by Brother André Marie December 30, 2009

This Franciscan holy man was entirely unknown to me until Brother David, a friar friend of ours, informed me of him. Considering that Blessed Gandolph lived in the time of Saint Francis himself, and that the Poverello’s habit was gray, we may conclude that Blessed Galdolph himself wore gray and is therefore entitled to the title we’ve given him. More →

Posted in Articles, Did you know?, Lives of the Saints | Tagged Gandalf, Gandolph of Binasco, J.R.R. Tolkien | 6 Comments

Longfellow and Tolkien: the Finnish Connection

by Brother André Marie September 30, 2009

What do the “shores of Gitche Gumee by the shining Big-Sea-Water” have in common with the “Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie”? The Protestant American author of Evangeline and The Song of Hiawatha is not generally associated with the Catholic British author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. But there is one literary connection at least — curiously, a Finnish one. … More →

Posted in Arts and Culture, Columns, Did you know?, Literature and Poetry | Tagged Finland, J.R.R. Tolkien, Kalevala, Longfellow, The Song of Hiawatha, Väinämöinen | Leave a comment

Concerning Palantíri and Blogses: Technology without Grace

by Brother André Marie November 28, 2007

A recent news story from the Los Angeles Times tells of a multi-level tragedy that reveals once again the the depravity of fallen human nature in its technologically-enhanced destructive ugliness. In brief, a teenage girl who was subject to depression was befriended by a sixteen-year-old boy online. After the six-week Internet friendship had developed to a point of apparent emotional attachment, the boy turned on … More →

Posted in Catholic Living, Politics and Society, «Ad Rem» A Weekly Email Message from the Prior | Tagged Dúnedain, Elves, Fangorn, Gollum, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord Denethor, Manicheanism, Middle Earth, Númenor, palantír, Saruman, Sauron, The Return of the King, The Silmarils | Leave a comment

The Shire, not the Borg

by Brother André Marie October 4, 2007

Recently, on two separate occasions, I discussed our apostolate with a couple of members of the media. One had something of a grasp of our community’s purpose. The other was far less aware and seemed swayed by some of the more ridiculous criticisms leveled against us. The contrasting lines of questioning from each was a bit amusing. It dawned on me in these conversations that … More →

Posted in Catholic Living, Literature and Poetry, Politics and Society, «Ad Rem» A Weekly Email Message from the Prior | Tagged Christendom, Dwarves, Elves, Gondor, Hobits, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lady Galadriel, Middle Earth, Rivendell, Rohan, Shire, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The American Conservative, The Borg, The Borg Queen, Wizards | Leave a comment

Tolkien and the Eucharist

by Brother André Marie June 8, 2007

In honor of yesterday’s Feast of Corpus Christi and its Octave, remnants of which still exist in the 1962 Liturgy, this is something of a literary tribute to the Bread of Life.