Spiritual Companions on the Journey of Faith
In our spiritual journey, we are not alone. We walk in the company of those who have gone before us, marked with the sign of faith. This section poetically highlights J.R.R. Tolkien alongside other figures of spiritual inspiration, particularly those to whom he himself had a devotion, inviting us to seek their intercession and draw strength from their example.
J.R.R. Tolkien
A man of profound faith, whose literary creations echo with spiritual depth, inspiring us towards virtue and love of the Eucharist.
Focus of Intercession: For steadfast faith, creative inspiration, and devotion to the Blessed Sacraments.
Prayer for Creative Writers Seeking to Spread the Gospel
Through Intercession
O Divine Author of all that is good,
You who spoke creation into being and wrote salvation into the story of mankind,
Look kindly upon your servant who now turns to You in humble hope.
May I, like you, weave words that awaken wonder,
Kindle longing for the eternal,
And point hearts toward the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Grant me the discipline to write with diligence,
The discernment to guard what I write into the world,
And the humility to place my gifts at the service of Your Kingdom.
If it be Your will, Lord,
Allow this work to become a lantern in the shadows,
A small echo of Your great story,
That others may draw near to You through the gift of imagination.
Saints and storytellers of Heaven, pray for me.
Servant of the Word, J.R.R. Tolkien, pray for me.
Christ the Lord, Living Word, have mercy on me.
Amen.
Prayer for Wounded Warriors Who Write
Through Intercession
O Lord of Hosts,
You who see the hearts of those returning from battle,
You who walked beside them through fire and shadow,
Be near to Your servant now in the silence that follows war.
You gave to your son, J.R.R. Tolkien,
A heart that endured great sorrow,
And hands that wrote truth wrapped in tale,
That grief might find form and light might rise from ash.
Through his intercession, I ask:
Bless me with the courage to write what I cannot speak,
To place my pain in Your hands through pen and page.
Let the memories that haunt me be softened by grace,
And may my stories become words of meaning and healing.
Guide my heart, O Author of Peace,
That my writing may become not only a balm for my soul,
But a witness to the resilience of love over violence.
J.R.R. Tolkien, soldier and sub-creator, pray for me.
Christ, wounded and risen, heal me.
Amen.
Prayer for Union with the Eucharist
In Longing to Understand and Become One with Christ’s Body
O Jesus, Manna of Heaven,
Mystery of mysteries made humble upon the altar
I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
You, who took bread and said, “This is My Body,”
Teach me, O Lord, not only to receive You,
But to become one with You.
Let my being say yes to Your presence,
mystery, mercy and union.
Let the veil between seen and unseen grow thin,
And let my heart come to know the Blessed Sacrament:
Living divine love.
We adore you, Most Holy Lord, Jesus Christ, here and in all
your churches of the whole world, and we bless You
because by Your Cross You have redeemed the world. Have
mercy on us.
Amen.
Saint Joan of Arc
A figure of courage and conviction, who responded to God’s call with unwavering faith, even unto death. Tolkien had a devotion to her.
Focus of Intercession: For courage, fidelity to one’s calling, and perseverance in adversity.
J.R.R. Tolkien expressed admiration for Saint Joan of Arc, though briefly. In a 1953 letter to his son Christopher, Tolkien wrote: “I am especially fond of St. Joan of Arc.” (Letter #144)
Prayer for Courage in Current Times
Through the Intercession of Saint Joan of Arc
O Saint Joan,
You were only a girl when Heaven called you,
Yet you shook nations.
You, who heard the whisper of Archangels
And walked unflinching through fire and fury,
Pray for me.
I am afraid.
The weight is heavy, the my path is unclear,
And I do not feel strong.
But I call on you, brave maid of God,
Because you once stood where I now stand,
A woman in danger, a heart in crisis,
Needing courage from Heaven.
Intercede for me,
That I may rise in holy boldness,
Not hardened, but resolute.
Teach me how to listen to the still, divine voice
That speaks beneath the noise and pain.
Guide me to act with wisdom, and love.
And walk beside me as I take the next hard step.
O Lord, who strengthened Joan in battle,
Please strengthen me on this day.
Let Your Spirit fall upon me
And turn my trembling into courage.
Saint Joan of Arc,
Daughter of God,
Sister in battle,
Pray for me.
Amen.
Mother of England
Our Lady of the Holy House
Mary, the Mother of God, a guiding star for all who navigate the turbulent seas of life, a beacon of hope and purity. Tolkien had a deep Marian devotion.
Focus of Intercession: For guidance, protection, purity of heart, and intercession in all needs.
Tolkien’s Catholicism was quietly Marian. He once wrote:
“I attribute whatever there is of beauty and goodness in my work to the Blessed Virgin Mary.” (Letter #142)
Our Lady of Walsingham is one of the most beloved Marian titles in the United Kingdom, rooted in a vision given in 1061 to Lady Richeldis de Faverches. In this vision, the Blessed Virgin Mary asked for a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth to be built in Walsingham, a quiet village in Norfolk. This sacred place became known as England’s Nazareth, drawing pilgrims from across the land—including kings—who came seeking grace, healing, and closeness to the Mother of God.
Walsingham became a major shrine of medieval Christendom until its destruction under Henry VIII. Yet devotion never died. Today, both Catholics and Anglicans honor Our Lady of Walsingham, making her a unique bridge of unity in a land once torn by division.
She is the spiritual mother of England, ever calling her children back to Christ. Her shrine stands as a gentle sign of hope, restoration, and the quiet power of Mary’s enduring love.
Prayer to Our Lady of Walsingham
Mother of England, Our Lady of the Holy House
O Blessed Virgin Mary Lady of Walsingham,
You welcomed the Word into your home
And made Nazareth a dwelling of peace and grace.
Look kindly upon your children in England and throughout the world.
Guide us back to your Son with motherly care,
And restore in our hearts what division has broken.
As you once asked for a house to be built in your honor,
So now build in us a holy dwelling—
That Christ may live within us always.
Our Lady of Walsingham Pray for us.
Amen.
Other Spiritual Inspirations
The communion of saints and holy individuals who, like Tolkien, sought to live lives of faith, hope, and charity.
Focus of Intercession: For a broader sense of communion with all who strive for holiness.
May this constellation of faithful souls inspire and accompany us, as we seek to live out our own vocations with the same dedication and love that characterized their lives.
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