Letter 64 to Christopher Tolkien |This letter begins with a lament of the horrors of war, followed by a bit about the parts of The Lord of the Rings Tolkien is currently working through, and ends with a few words of encouragement for his son. Letter 54 to Christopher Tolkien | In this short letter, Tolkien reminds his son of his guardian angel and instructs him to “make a habit of the ‘praises’” in prayer. “Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament … There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves upon earth.” - Letter 43 to Michael Tolkien However, at the end of the letter, Tolkien also shares about his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Letter 43 to Michael Tolkien | This letter is primarily a father’s advice to his son regarding marriage, love, and women. In particular, these letters are of interest: Recommended Letters
Six of these letters have also been published on the Tolkien Estate website and can be read for free here. This collection offers an unparalleled look into Tolkien’s writing process, his relationship with his children, and the influence of his faith on his works. Tolkien, compiled and edited by Humphrey Carpenter. Over three hundred of Tolkien’s letters can be found in The Letters of J.R.R. There are several letters in which Tolkien refers to his faith included in The Letters of JRR Tolkien, edited by Humphrey Carpenter. Tolkien’s Letters are the best source for information about Tolkien’s faith simply because they are written by Tolkien, in his own voice. I will be occasionally adding to this list as I come across new resources, so please add a comment below if you are aware of any that I’ve missed. I’ve created this page in hopes that it will be a helpful resource in this regard.
Tolkien, I often receive messages from folks interested in learning more about how Catholicism influenced his worldview and writings. Because our community is one inspired by the works and faith of J.R.R.