august 2026
Featured article: "Faith and fiction"
Angela Coomer
I remember watching a documentary a while ago that that stated that when J.R.R. Tolkien wrote the Lord of the rings, he drew inspiration from many sources, including Norse myths, his war experience, and the roman catholic bible. In Lord of the rings, both the heroes and monsters can be seen with catholic inspiration with a bit of imagination.
Sauron, for example, can be compared to the devil in that he is the root of all evil in the book by creating the one ring. the ring itself, along with the ring wraiths, can be seen as demons, drawing people into corruption. The orcs can be compared to humans that make terrible moral choices, then influence other people to make bad choices also.
And the same could be said of Tolkien's heroes in the book. For example, Frodo Baggens and Boromir got corrupted by the one ring while trying to do what they thought best for middle earth. Gollum, who is portrayed as a villain, does in the end, save middle earth where Frodo could not. Not because he turns good in the last little bit of the book, but because he takes the ring from Frodo Baggins and, while celebrating, falls into the fires of mount doom.
Prayers
My soul proclaims the greatness of the lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
he has mercy on those who him in every generation.
he has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
he has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.
amen
Quotes
"A nation that kills its children in the womb has lost its soul." – Mother Teresa
"It is a poverty that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." – Mother Teresa
"Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire." – ST. Catherine of Siena
Memes



Upcoming Events
Rosary for Life: August day to be determined @ 7pm ET
Apologetics Night: August 20 @ 7pm ET
Monthly Meeting: August 17 @ 7pm ET
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