The widely popular “Lord of the Rings” trilogy is known as a Catholic work – the author said so himself. The Lembas bread that sustains the characters on their harrowing journey clearly comes from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Eucharistic love. A key moment in “The Return of the King” reads: “The lembas had a virtue without which they would long ago have lain down to die. It did not satisfy desire, and at times Sam’s mind was filled with the memories of food, and the longing for simple bread and meats. And yet, this way bread of the Elves had potency that increased as travelers relied upon it alone and did not mingle it with other foods. It fed the will, and it gave strength to endure, and to master sinew and limb beyond the measure of mortal kind.” Fans of Tolkien’s work will enjoy learning more about how his faith intertwined with his writing in “Tolkien’s Faith,” a new spiritual biography of the famed author written by Holly Ordway for Word on Fire.
In “Sacred Art Every Catholic Should Know,” author Jem Sullivan, a catechetics professor, shares her knowledge of Christian masterpieces. The book reminds us that many of the world’s most admired and treasured artistic works are Christian in theme, origin and location – and many of those depict or allude to the Eucharist. Two such masterpieces in this new release from TAN Books are Raphael’s “Disputation of the Most Holy Sacrament” and Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”