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How about The Lord of the World by Benson

It's easy to add books to lists; at the top of the list, at the tab next to "all votes."

Pretty funny considering Lewis wasn't even Catholic. However he did write great books that are very catholic-like.

Why are the Lord of the Rings books on this list? Has Frodo suddenly become a missionary? Is Gandalf a monk? For the author to have been a catholic can't possibly be enough to be on this list.

I've wondered the same from time to time, but I think it's the struggle of good against evil no matter how hard or how great evil can feel at times. That we must keep going on the right path even when we don't want to. Just my guess. Kind of like The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe. However CS Lewis isn't even Catholic. But the story patterns Christ so it makes sense.

If we add any good against evil books here, we might end up adding Game of Thrones, The Da Vinci Code, and Frankenstein. There's not much Catholicism or even Christianity in that.

Neither Frodo nor Aragorn, nor Galadrial, good as they were, believed in Christ, let alone a pope, the virgin Mary, or St. Francis.

I can remove the Lord of the Rings from the list, if you want to.

"The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. That is why I have not put in, or have cut out, practically all references to anything like 'religion', to cults or practices, in the imaginary world. For the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism." JRR Tolkien


It's not that they characters or elements are overtly or allegorically about Catholicism; it's that they these elements are so deeply inspired by Catholicism. Now that we have 90 years of fantasy books hence, it is not quite as clear, but when you realize that these elements that are so common now, where devised by Tolkein and inspired by Catholicism. The most obviously, IMHO, is that of the Lembas bread. The similarities between that and Holy Eucharist cannot be denied. It's not that Galadrial believes in the Blessed Mother, it's that her character and grace is inspired by the Blessed Mother. It's easier now to say that Gandolf is a wizard like any other wizard, but at the time of his creation there was really only Merlin as a predicessor (that comes to my mind). Does not Gandalf resemble an early Franciscan. Especially, when he returns to his monastery to research the ring or when he finds his order corrupted. It's almost like a priest returning the Cardinal Wolsey for guidance, only to find out that he has accepted Henry VIII as the new head of the church. Frodo is the complete embodiment of "Unless, you become like Children." Frodo almost reminds me of St. Bernadette or the children of Fatima. I could go on and on... ask yourself what or who could have inspired each character. It's a fun game.

I am sick of seeing Bernanos and Greene listed as Catholic authors. On the contrary, the are perversely anti-Catholic authors in that the fundamental dynamics of the stories and characters deny the Catholic worldview. They are even diabolic in that they are steeped in obfuscation, trying to make evil look good and good look evil.

On the other hand Tolkien is wonderfully Catholic in that the fundamental dynamics of the stories and characters affirm the Catholic worldview.

Greene writes about very imperfect. He's not glorifying their sins; it's about sinful people being redeemed.

Emma wrote: "Why are the Lord of the Rings books on this list? Has Frodo suddenly become a missionary? Is Gandalf a monk? For the author to have been a catholic can't possibly be enough to be on this list."

There are some serious biblical allusions in there. The Ring is temptation. Frodo pushes Sam (one of the Christ-like characters) away as he tries to guide his friend away from Temptation. My boi Samwise even carried Frodo up a mountain (like a cross, lol) to cast Temptation away and into the fiery pits of hell...I mean Mordor.

There's more in there if you take a careful look. I suggest you give it a try and see what you find!!

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