“God is the Lord of angels, and of [people]—and of elves. Legend and history have met and fused,” wrote J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings fantasy series. Each time I read from them, I see more connections with our modern-day world. – March 25th is National Tolkien Reading Day, but anytime is perfect to read and reflect on his amazing writing.

Tolkien is seen as the “father of modern fantasy,” with his land of Middle Earth and all its inhabitants, human and otherwise. A devout Catholic, he was Professor of English Language and Literature and a passionate creator of languages (you can tell from his languages for the elves and the dwarves). He first noticed Christian themes when he started “The Lord of the Rings,” and then consciously strengthened the parallels as he refined his words.