An exemplary study of Tolkien’s spiritual life and Catholic faith

Dr. Holly Ordway has graced us with another wonderful addition to Tolkien scholarship. Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography is unique among biographies of Tolkien in that it does not focus so much on the man’s famous and fictional writings, but on the man himself—and especially his Catholic Faith and spiritual life.

Ordway’s hope in writing this biography of faith is to be able to “gain a richer, deeper, more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of his writings—and their fundamental but implicit religious dimension.”

Ordway offers us a portrait of Tolkien’s faith journey throughout his entire life. She breaks this down into three sections, titled “Beginning” “Middle” and “End”, together covering the years of Tolkien’s life from 1892 to 1973. He converted to the Catholic Faith from Anglicanism, along with his mother Mabel, when he was eight years old. Tolkien’s father Arthur died in South Africa when John Ronald Reuel was only four years old. Mabel had moved with John Ronald and Hilary to England before Arthur’s death. She became close to the priests at the Birmingham Oratory in London, mainly because a good number of their priests were also converts to the Catholic Faith from Anglicanism and could relate well with Anglicans wishing to know more about the Catholic Faith or convert to it. This was not an easy decision for Mabel since her family practically disowned her after she converted and offered no financial support.

The influence of the Oratorians on the life of Tolkien is a central aspect of Ordway’s book. The Oratorians were founded by St. Philip Neri in the 16th-century. Each Oratory is self-governing and independent of any other Oratory. Ordway describes the mission of the Oratorians as follows: “Oratories are always established in cities; their mission is to the more highly educated in the community; and they emphasize outreach and evangelization through the beauty of liturgy and music and through the sacrament of Reconciliation (‘confession’).”

Tolkien was largely associated with the Birmingham Oratory, the first to be established in England, which is famous for one of its greatest members and founders: St. John Henry Newman. After Tolkien’s mother died, Fr. Francis Morgan became the legal guardian to John Ronald and his brother Hilary. Fr. Francis himself was the secretary to Cardinal Newman and knew him quite well. Ordway also notes that when Tolkien received the sacrament of Confirmation, he took the name Philip in honor of St. Philip Neri. He even added a “P” to his typical monogram of initials. One hallmark of St. Philip Neri was his humor, which Ordway points out was also a hallmark of Tolkien himself and one that was probably influenced by the example of the Oratorians in his life.

Fr. Francis ensured that the boys received a Catholic education at a time when Catholicism was still viewed with much suspicion and looked down upon by many who were a part of the state religion: the Church of England. Indeed, Tolkien, being a Catholic, was a minority during his time at Oxford and in England in general. While there was some strain in his relationship with Fr. Francis due to Tolkien’s desire to marry Edith Bratt (who was not Catholic at the time), he still had a great deal of affection for Fr. Francis, whom he called his “second father.”

The sacraments played a major role in Tolkien’s life, particularly the Blessed Sacrament. Tolkien describes the Eucharist as the “one great thing to love on earth” since the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ Himself. Reception of Holy Communion, at the time, was not always a daily practice. But Tolkien greatly recommended it to others and would frequently receive Holy Communion daily as well as encouraging Eucharistic Adoration. Tolkien compares the frequent reception of Holy Communion to the act of Faith and says that it does not act once and for all but “must be continuous and grow by exercise.” Ordway also notes an etymological connection between the lembas from The Lord of the Rings and “waybread” or viaticum, “food for the journey.”

Ordway does not sugarcoat the difficulties Tolkien experienced throughout his life. She discusses Tolkien’s lack of fervor while at Oxford, his being forbidden to write to Edith Bratt by his guardian until he was old enough, and his struggle with the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Through it all, however, there is one major fact that Ordway makes clear: Tolkien had a deep and abiding loyalty to the Catholic Church throughout the many hardships that he endured. Ordway quotes Tolkien from one of his letters as writing “I think there is nothing to do but to pray, for the Church, the Vicar of Christ, and for ourselves; and meanwhile to exercise the virtue of loyalty, which indeed only becomes a virtue when one is under pressure to desert it.”

In concluding her biography of Tolkien, Ordway ends with a discussion of one of Tolkien’s names Reuel which means “friend of God.” Here she notes Tolkien’s imperfections but also notes the goal for which he lived his life: sainthood. She briefly recapitulates how Tolkien received the Blessed Sacrament in Holy Communion frequently, made frequent use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, read from Sacred Scripture, and gave alms. In short, Ordway has painted a picture of Tolkien’s life, one that is not perfect by any means, but one that is truly inspiring for anyone else living the Catholic Faith.

Ordway’s book is readable not only for Catholics who are familiar with Tolkien but also for non-Catholics alike. She offers explanations and elucidations on the Catholic Faith, its customs, and traditions throughout. Included in this volume is a gallery of photos showcasing various places from Tolkien’s life, such as the churches he attended, his marriage certificate, and the record of his Baptism. She also offers an appendix with a collection of Catholic prayers and devotions with which Tolkien himself would have been familiar. It is accessible for Tolkien fans as well as for the Tolkien scholar, as Ordway provides extensive footnotes and a thorough bibliography of her research.

• Related at CWR: “The magnanimous faith of J.R.R. Tolkien” (September 1, 2023) by Holly Ordway

Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography
by Holly Ordway
Word on Fire Academic, 2023
Hardcover, 480 pages