Catholic Culture with Tolkien – Prof. Patrick Callahan

Oct 24, 2025

Prof. Patrick Callahan, Director of the Newman Institute for Catholic Thought & Culture, dives into the rich tapestry of Catholic culture through the lens of J.R.R. Tolkien. He explores how the Mass shapes Christian identity and the importance of tradition as a living, communal practice. Callahan critiques modern hyper-individualism and cultural standardization, highlighting Tolkien’s resistance to these trends. He emphasizes that engagement with secular culture can coexist with a strong Catholic identity, inspiring listeners to reflect on their own cultural responsibilities.

48:12

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Mass as Cultural Root

The Mass is the source and summit from which Catholic culture flows into material, creative, social, and intellectual life.
Culture includes shared bodily practices, laws, art, and the intellectual habits that train minds toward the Good.

insights

INSIGHT

Mustard Seed Vs. Living Tree

Tolkien's mustard-seed/tree image shows tradition as a living, growing organism that cannot be restored by uprooting it.
Trying to return to the 'seed' damages the living tree and misunderstands tradition's forward-handing.

insights

INSIGHT

Culture Means Cultivation

'Culture' derives from Latin cultura/cultus meaning cultivation, literally tilling soil and figuratively shaping habits.
This agricultural origin links cultural formation to sustained care and transmitted practices.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Defining Catholic Culture as the Mass

00:50 • 3min

chevron_right

Tolkien's Mustard Seed and the Living Tradition

03:35 • 4min

chevron_right

What Do We Mean by Culture?

07:21 • 5min

chevron_right

Synonyms and Dimensions of Culture

12:50 • 3min

chevron_right

Tradition as Handing On, Not Fossilizing

15:51 • 2min

chevron_right

Pericles on Inheritance and Improvement

17:23 • 3min

chevron_right

Tradition Requires Community Transmission

20:02 • 1min

chevron_right

The Danger of Idiocy and Hyper-Individualism

21:15 • 2min

chevron_right

Connecting Culture to the Cardinal Virtues

23:35 • 2min

chevron_right

Justice, Religion, and Cultural Obligations

25:54 • 2min

chevron_right

Temperance Governs Cultural Practices

27:55 • 1min

chevron_right

Intellectual Habits as Cultural Formation

29:02 • 1min

chevron_right

Tolkien's Religious Ambiguity

30:19 • 3min

chevron_right

The Ugly: Tolkien on Standardization

33:46 • 1min

chevron_right

The Bad: Tolkien's Rejection of Disney Aesthetics

35:08 • 8min

chevron_right

The Good: Engaging Secular Culture, Not Withdrawing

42:59 • 2min

chevron_right

Integration: Being a Catholic in Public Life

'The Pied Piper of Hamelin' is a poem by Robert Browning, based on a German legend. The story tells of a piper hired to rid the town of Hamelin of its rats. When the townspeople refuse to pay him, the piper leads away all the children as an act of revenge. Browning's poem explores themes of broken promises, justice, and the consequences of greed. The tale has been interpreted as a cautionary story and remains a popular subject for children's literature and adaptations.

The death of Christian culture

John Senior

#539

• Mentioned in 42 episodes

Leviticus

Noth, Martin

Leviticus details the laws and regulations given to the Israelites through Moses, focusing on ritual purity, sacrifices, and priestly duties. It outlines the procedures for various offerings and the consequences of violating God's commands. The book emphasizes the importance of holiness and the separation of the sacred from the profane. Leviticus provides insights into the Israelite religious system and its significance in their relationship with God. The book's laws and regulations offer a glimpse into the cultural and religious practices of ancient Israel.

#11867

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

The Pentateuch

Thomas B. Dozeman

This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the Torah, guiding students through its contents and key interpretive questions. It includes pedagogical features such as images, maps, timelines, reading lists, and a glossary to facilitate understanding and engagement with contemporary scholarship.

#7984

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Snow White

Brothers Grimm

#1799

• Mentioned in 18 episodes

Goodnight Moon

Margaret Wise Brown

Goodnight Moon is a timeless children's book written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd. The story follows a young bunny as it prepares for bed, saying goodnight to all the objects in its green-walled bedroom. The book features a rhyming poem and detailed illustrations that capture the bunny's bedtime ritual, gradually transitioning from a lit room to a darkened one as the moon glows outside. The narrative is simple yet effective, creating a cozy and rhythmic bedtime journey that has delighted children and parents alike for generations. The book is notable for its focus on the minutiae of a child's surroundings and its ability to induce a sense of comfort and security.

#178

• Mentioned in 94 episodes

Exodus

Leon Uris

The novel 'Exodus' by Leon Uris is a historical fiction account that explores the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. It follows the stories of Jewish refugees, many of whom are Holocaust survivors, as they attempt to reach Palestine despite British opposition. The book delves into the back stories of its characters, the history of Jewish settlement in Palestine, and the broader political context of the time, including the struggle for independence and the conflicts between Jewish and Arab populations.

Ut Unum Sint

string

Pope St. John Paul II

string

#1754

• Mentioned in 18 episodes

The Benedict Option

Rod Dreher

#623

• Mentioned in 38 episodes

The Silmarillion

J. R. R. Tolkien

The Silmarillion is a comprehensive narrative that details the creation of Tolkien's universe, Eä, and the history of the First Age. It includes the legend of the Silmarils, jewels crafted by Fëanor that contain the essence of the Two Trees of Valinor. The book covers the creation of the world, the history of the Elves and Men, the wars against Morgoth, and the legendary love story of Beren and Lúthien. Edited and published posthumously by Christopher Tolkien with the assistance of Guy Gavriel Kay, it is a foundational work that underpins the stories of 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings'.

#79

• Mentioned in 154 episodes

The Odyssey

Homer

The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges. Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage. With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne. The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.

#743

• Mentioned in 33 episodes

History of the Peloponnesian War

Thucydides

Written by Thucydides, this work is a detailed and insightful historical account of the Peloponnesian War. It chronicles the conflict between the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta, and the Athenian Empire, emphasizing the significant impact of this war on Greek society. Thucydides outlines the historical context leading up to the war, tracing the evolution of Greek society and detailing the tensions and incidents that led to the conflict. The narrative examines key events, alliances, and the complex interplay of human ambition and political motivations during the war.

Prof. Patrick Callahan explores the living tradition of Catholic culture, using Tolkien’s life and imagination to demonstrate how the Mass, community, and cultivation of virtue form a unified Christian identity resilient amidst modern challenges.

This lecture was given on January 18th, 2024, at University of Washington.

Will you hand on the Faith to those who need it the most? Give by October 31st to film the next season of Aquinas 101! https://aquinas101.thomisticinstitute.org/oct25podcast

For more information on upcoming events, visit us at thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events.

About the Speakers:

Prof. Patrick Callahan is director of the Newman Institute for Catholic Thought & Culture as well as Assistant Professor of English and Humanities at St. Gregory the Great Seminary. There he directs and teaches in a Great Books Catholic program for students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and other regional colleges. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Dallas and his graduate work at Fordham University in Classics. He lives in Lincoln, NE with his wife and 5 children.

Keywords: Catholic Culture, Community Tradition, Cultural Standardization, Evelyn Waugh, Incarnational Liturgy, Intellectual Virtue, Justice And Temperance, Letters Of Tolkien, Mustard Seed Metaphor, Sacramental Imagination

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books