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Voronwë_the_Faithful
Valinor
Nov 26 2017, 11:51pm
Post #1 of 18
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Saint Tolkien?
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I learned through John Rateliff's blog that there is a movement to have Tolkien canonized. There is even a website, https://causefortolkien.org. I find it all very odd. Not being Catholic, I don't really have an opinion on the subject. But I find it very odd. Very odd indeed!
'But very bright were the stars upon the margin of the world, when at times the clouds about the West were drawn aside.'
The Hall of Fire
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Otaku-sempai
Immortal
Nov 27 2017, 1:16am
Post #2 of 18
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I am a former Roman Catholic and I am mystified as well.
"I may be on the side of the angels, but do not think for one second that I am one of them." - Sherlock
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Otaku-sempai
Immortal
Nov 27 2017, 2:00am
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For full sainthood to be granted I believe that at least two authenticated miracles have to be attributed to J.R.R. Tolkien's intervention (usually posthumous). I'm sure that there is much more to it, and someone will correct me if I am mistaken.
"I may be on the side of the angels, but do not think for one second that I am one of them." - Sherlock
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dormouse
Half-elven
Nov 27 2017, 9:50am
Post #5 of 18
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...I'm not a Catholic either so have no business having an opinion about it. Last year I gave a copy of Smith of Wootton Major to a friend, an elderly Catholic priest - we'd often talked about Tolkien, though he'd never read anything by him, and I thought he might like it. He was very enthusiastic - tells me it's all about prayer. So maybe he would agree, or at least see what has prompted this movement.
A similar thing has happened and is happening in relation to the Russian imperial family. Many of those who were killed in the revolution or died earlier have been canonized in the Orthodox church - others seem to be on the way to canonization. As a historian studying and writing about them as human beings I can't help finding it strange. I always wonder how they would have felt about it. I wonder how Tolkien would feel about it.
For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood and every spring
there is a different green. . .
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SirDennisC
Half-elven
Nov 27 2017, 2:23pm
Post #6 of 18
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I guess it would depend on how one defines ‘miracle.’
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Apart from his life’s work, which to Christians seem infused with reflections of his faith — in spite of any effort on his part to scrub such from his works — Tolkien is known for his role in C.S. Lewis’ conversion from atheist to Christian. This may be considered a miracle given that Lewis went on to write some of the most important Christian books of the 20th Century... kind of a slow burn, but a miracle nonetheless.
(This post was edited by SirDennisC on Nov 27 2017, 2:25pm)
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FarFromHome
Valinor
Nov 27 2017, 3:38pm
Post #7 of 18
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There are probably many potential "saints"
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who have devoted followers or fans hoping to spread the word and get support for their cause. We just happen to have heard of this one because we follow all things Tolkien, but I imagine there are always hundreds of petitions being put forward to the Catholic authorities for consideration, and this one seems to be very far from even being eligible for consideration. I imagine bishops have to send out a lot of "thank you for your application but..." letters all the time!
Even by his own admission, Tolkien wasn't always devout and didn't pass his faith on very successfully to his own children (he mentions his regrets in Letter 250 for example). His faith was a very personal one, and tied up closely with his love for his mother and his need to honour her memory after her early death. Saints normally have done something much more active and sacrificial on behalf of their faith than anything I have ever heard about Tolkien's life. I'd say Tolkien's Catholic faith helped him in his life's work, but his life's work was not really dedicated to his faith, as it should be for anyone being considered for sainthood.
They went in, and Sam shut the door.
But even as he did so, he heard suddenly,
deep and unstilled,
the sigh and murmur of the Sea upon the shores of Middle-earth.
From the unpublished Epilogue to the Lord of the Rings
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Nov 27 2017, 5:21pm
Post #8 of 18
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Saint Tolkien! And you can purchase his icon on pictures, mugs, T-shirts, devotional candles...
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Just follow the link: https://www.trinitystores.com/...rr-tolkien-1892-1973
(I found this several years ago. I like the background, but it looks like he's blowing bubbles out of his pipe...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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sador
Half-elven
Nov 27 2017, 6:53pm
Post #9 of 18
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I was reminded of this fellow:
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http://www.tolkientruth.info/
Does anybody remember him? He was an active member of TORn a few years ago. I always found his posts very entertaining.
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tinkermarm
Bree
Nov 28 2017, 2:06am
Post #10 of 18
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This reminds me of the fact that apparently some people are trying to canonize G.K. Chesterton. I thoroughly enjoy both Tolkien and Chesterton's works, but it just seems a bit silly to me that anyone would try to canonize them. I mean, sure, they've written some great stuff--but saints? Really?
Although I am not Roman Catholic, either, so perhaps I am missing something here...
The road goes ever on and on...
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Morthoron
Gondor
Nov 28 2017, 3:43am
Post #11 of 18
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but since reading The Hobbit, I've got much better.
Please visit my blog...The Dark Elf File...a slighty skewed journal of music and literary comment, fan-fiction and interminable essays.
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SirDennisC
Half-elven
Nov 29 2017, 4:11am
Post #13 of 18
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I used to be a coyote but I’m alright nowooooooo! /
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Petty Dwarf
Bree
Nov 30 2017, 1:44am
Post #14 of 18
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...much more easily than I could see Tolkien, given that a lot of Chesterton's writing was about his faith at least tangentially. Tolkien's is, as has been said, a bit more buried in his works.
As a Catholic, I would be pretty happy if Tolkien was declared a Saint, but it seems unlikely.
"No words were laid on stream or stone
When Durin woke and walked alone."
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sador
Half-elven
Nov 30 2017, 2:45pm
Post #15 of 18
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That would seem far more appropriate. //
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tinkermarm
Bree
Dec 5 2017, 12:54am
Post #16 of 18
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I'm going to look up sainthood more because I'm curious to know more about what Catholicism holds to be true of people who are given sainthood.
I appreciate the response because I was wondering what the someone with a Catholic background would think of that. Good to know your thoughts on it. :)
The road goes ever on and on...
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Petty Dwarf
Bree
Dec 6 2017, 12:00am
Post #17 of 18
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Sainthood takes a long time to go through
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In fact, there are two orders below Sainthood, Venerable and Blessed.
There was one priest who was Venerable for so long that when he eventually was made a saint, they gave him the title of Saint Bede the Venerable so that everyone would know who was being talked about! 
In any case, the person being considered for Sainthood has to have lived a life of extraordinary virtue, have done something good for the Church, and have three miracles attributed to them. Many fewer people are rejected than are canonized.
Could Tolkien make it? I don't know.
"No words were laid on stream or stone
When Durin woke and walked alone."
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tinkermarm
Bree
Dec 9 2017, 4:39pm
Post #18 of 18
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I've read some of his stuff before. It has been many many years, and at the time I didn't realize that "Venerable" was an order. Definitely going to have to look at this in deeper detail sometime.
Thanks for the info, Petty Dwarf! 
The road goes ever on and on...
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