Holly Ordway

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Articles

„Wiara Tolkiena. Duchowa biografia”. Czy w okopach są ateiści

Jan 10, 2025 | rp.pl | Holly Ordway

Plus Minus Choć I wojna światowa niewątpliwie pogłębiła skłonności depresyjne J.R.R. Tolkiena, sprowadzając go nad otchłań mroku, którego do końca życia nie mógł zapomnieć, nie spowodowała u niego kryzysu wiary. Aktualizacja: 10.01.2025 16:06 Publikacja: 10.01.2025 16:02 Pod koniec października 1916 roku Tolkiena zabrała z frontu nie kula wystrzelona z karabinu maszynowego czy eksplodujący pocisk, ale nowy i podstępny czynnik pierwszej wojny światowej.
Liberal Arts in Action: An Interview with Dr. Josh Herring

Nov 4, 2024 | wordonfire.org | Holly Ordway

The growth of classical schools in the United States is a trend that I find encouraging and hopeful. Young people can best learn the skills of critical thinking if they have worthwhile things to think about, and they can best learn the kind of intellectual hospitality that is needed for life in a functioning democracy if they have practice in discussing challenging ideas with charity and clarity.
A First Look at ‘The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien’

Sep 30, 2024 | wordonfire.org | Holly Ordway

“Writer, Poet, Scholar”: these words appear on the UK Royal Mint’s £2 coin commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Tolkien’s death in 2023. Writer, of course: Tolkien has worldwide fame as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Scholar, yes, for Tolkien was an Oxford professor, a master of medieval literature and languages. But surprising though it might seem, it is no accident that “Poet” has central placement here.
Escape Is Not Escapism

Sep 13, 2024 | wordonfire.org | Holly Ordway

Fantasy and science fiction are both exceptionally popular genres, in books and on the screen (big and small). Those of us who enjoy stories set in places like Middle-earth, Narnia, or Hogwarts, or featuring superheroes or starships, have probably come across a dismissive reaction at some point: the attitude that it’s all silly and childish, an immature, even anti-social preference. We should attend to “real life” and not escape into imaginary worlds. It’s worth pausing to consider this criticism.
Advice from St. Philip Neri on Our Journey of Faith - Word on Fire

Aug 20, 2024 | wordonfire.org | Holly Ordway

St. Philip Neri, the founder of the Congregation of the Oratory, is not nearly as well known as he should be. The “Saint of Joy,” as he is called, was known for his cheerfulness and sense of humor as well as his profound insights in the confessional and his mentoring of young people through friendship and fellowship.
Celebrating the Epochal Publication of “The Fellowship of the Ring” 70 Years On

Jul 29, 2024 | wordonfire.org | Holly Ordway

On July 29, 1954, a UK publisher called George Allen & Unwin published a volume titled The Fellowship of the Ring, the first part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic novel The Lord of the Rings. The modern fantasy novel existed before The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings; Tolkien was himself an enthusiastic reader of fantasies set in ‘secondary worlds’ by authors such as William Morris and E.R. Eddison.
Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography, By Holly Ordway

May 27, 2024 | academic.oup.com | Holly Ordway |Oxford Academic |Beatrice Marovich |Kevin Hart

While J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and other creations enthrall readers through immersive adventures and captivating characters, a deeper understanding of the author’s faith unlocks a new dimension of appreciation. Tolkien declared his works “fundamentally religious and Catholic,” but their subtle nuances often escape surface-level readings. Delving into his faith journey unveils crucial threads woven into the very fabric of his narratives.
Developing a Vision of the Good

Apr 1, 2024 | wordonfire.org | Holly Ordway

If I may state the obvious, there is a lot of suffering in the world, a great deal of wickedness, folly, exploitation, and general disregard for the good, true, and beautiful—and our media ecosystem is perfectly calibrated to deliver a constant stream of disturbing and distressing news about this into our daily life. We do need to know about some of this, to be sure, but if we subsist on a steady diet of reports of the evil, false, and ugly, disturbing changes can happen in our psyche.
5 Recommended Reads for the New Year

Jan 31, 2024 | positionpapers.ie | Holly Ordway

For many years I have kept up the practice of noting down the title of each book that I finish reading. There’s no self-improvement goal here, and certainly no competitive element (which is why I don’t post them on social media): I simply find it oddly satisfying to do so, and as years went on (and became decades, in fact) it has become a pleasant way to look back at the ebbs and flows of my reading life. I began this habit by using a notebook; now I use my phone’s note feature.
Tolkien, “Beloved Bernadette,” and the Immaculate Conception - Word on Fire

Dec 7, 2023 | wordonfire.org | Holly Ordway

December 8th marks the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It was a date of great importance to J.R.R. Tolkien, who had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.