Emily Woodham

“Everything was perfect until a Mass during Lent in March of 2022,” she said. “I was at the Cathedral with my boyfriend, went up and received Communion and then went back to the pew. As soon as I knelt down, there was this deep stirring in my heart. I just knew it was the Lord telling me to slow down. As if He was saying, ‘Pump the brakes.’”

Answering the call is more than receiving the Sacraments. “It is about becoming saints,” he said. “The journey ahead — especially these coming weeks of Lent will not simply be about learning more prayers or memorizing teachings. It will be about conversion, about allowing Christ to examine your heart. It is about trust and surrender.”

. Anyone with even a mild interest in Tolkien and only a cursory knowledge of his tales will find her book engaging. Her intention is to provide insights and food for thought into the Catholic spirituality and virtues of Middle-earth, and she achieves this beautifully. Her tone is one of encouragement and friendship.