Into the Truth

What did JRR Tolkien believe? And how did his Catholic faith inform his great work, 'The Lord of the Rings'?

These questions are explored at length in this live podcast and book launch for Fr Michael Halsall's new book, ‘A Light from the Shadows: The Spiritual Heart of JRR Tolkien'. The book is available now from CTS.

You can get Fr Michael's book here: https://www.ctsbooks.org/product/a-light-from-the-shadows/

About Fr MichaelFr Michael Halsall is a priest of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, and presently serves as Episcopal Vicar for Vocations & Formation, covering England, Scotland, and Wales. His recent book - 'Creation and Beauty in Tolkien's Catholic Vision' - explores the philosophical themes in Tolkien's crafted creation narratives, alongside those of the Christian tradition. His newest book is, ‘A Light from the Shadows: The Spiritual Heart of JRR Tolkien'.About the bookThis is not a biography of JRR Tolkien. But, ‘no author writes in a vacuum’ (as the author of this book, Fr Michael Halsall reminds us), so there are abundant biographical details in this considered commentary on the demonstrably Catholic framework of Tolkien’s writings: his experiences as a scholar, an army officer, and a husband and father. All these facets of a life are keys to unlocking Tolkien’s perspective on his own work.

Get the book here: https://www.ctsbooks.org/product/praying-the-nicene-creed/

This year, we celebrate 1700 years of the Nicene Creed! Why is the Creed important? What did it do for Christianity and the world? And how can we pray it today?

James Matthew Wilson, author of, 'Praying the Nicene Creed, ' joins the podcast to explore how Dante led him to faith, how the Creed answers our search for meaning, how love is the heart of reality, why God became man, how to understand salvation in the light of the Creed, and much more.

You can watch the full uncut podcast on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CTSStudios
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Chapters00:00 Intro01:43 Dante & Catholic Poetry3:47 What is the Nicene Creed?7:15 Finding meaning in the Creed10:45 Philosophy & Wisdom14:08 Love as the heart of Reality18:08 Why one God, not many gods?22:04 Why did God become man?26:37 Understanding salvation and sin32:14 The Second Coming of Christ38:18 How to pray the Creed
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James Matthew WilsonJames Matthew Wilson is the Cullen Foundation Chair in English Literature and the founding director of the MFA program in Creative Writing at the University of Saint Thomas. The author of sixteen books, his most recent collection of poems is Saint Thomas and the Forbidden Birds (Word on Fire, 2024). The Strangeness of the Good (2020), won the poetry book of the year award from the Catholic Media Awards. In addition to his role at the University of Saint Thomas, he serves as poet-in-residence of the Benedict XVI Institute, scholar-in-residence of Aquinas College, editor of Colosseum Books, and poetry editor of Modern Age magazine. More about his work: https://www.jamesmatthewwilson.com/

The Rosary Shrine Lecture 2025, 'Our Lady: Preacher of Human Dignity', delivered by Sr Carino with a response from Mary Harrington. This lecture was live broadcast by Radio Maria England. With thanks to the Rosary Shrine for allowing CTS to film their annual lecture. You can discover their ministry here: https://rosaryshrine.co.uk/
In her lecture, Sr Carino Hodder OP explores what Mary teaches us about the dignity of all human beings, through the thought of St Pope St John Paul II.
What does it mean to be a woman and what does it mean to be a human person?
In an age which seems unable to answer fundamental questions about the nature and identity of the human person, what can Mary teach us about how we can present this fundamental truth of human dignity anew to the modern world?
In her response, renowned British journalist Mary Harrington explores Mary through the joyful mysteries of the rosary, a series of stories that highlight the dignity and mystery of motherhood.
Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our studio on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CTSStudios

---- Chapters(0:00) Intro(1:52) Sr Carino's opening remarks(5:27) Mary's Magnificat (7:37) How God reveals Himself in relationships (9:51) Genesis: Created Male & Female(11:46) Human Dignity (14:26) Modern Gender Ideology(16:31) What is the human person for?(19:22) Mary's words to Bernadette(22:41) Discovering your identity(25:50) God's vision of Motherhood(29:49) Modern confusion about gender(32:47) Motherhood, vulnerability & power(36:54) Forming the conscience(43:52) Renovating sanctuaries of human dignity(49:28) Mary Harrington's opening remarks(52:32) What does it mean to be a mum?(54:52) What is in the Mother-shaped blindspot?(57:40) The Annunciation (59:16) The Visitation(1:00:41) The Birth of Jesus (1:02:17) The Presentation in the Temple(1:03:48) The Finding of Jesus in the Temple(1:05:29) Motherhood & dignity

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Sr Carino Hodder OP is a Dominican Sister of St Joseph based in the New Forest, Portsmouth Diocese, where she assists her community with their apostolate of adult faith formation and catechetical training, Light of Truth. She also writes regularly for publications including The Lamp Magazine and Plough Quarterly, and is the author of 'The Dignity of Women in the Modern World' published by the Catholic Truth Society.

The book: https://www.ctsbooks.org/product/the-dignity-of-women-in-the-modern-world/
Sr Carino on Substack: https://substack.com/@srcarino
The Dominican Sisters of St Joseph: https://www.dominicansisters.net/
Mary Harrington is a contributing editor at UnHerd and author of Feminism Against Progress. Mary on Substack: https://substack.com/@reactionaryfeminist

When we lose someone we love, life can feel deeply changed. How do we find God in this experience of grief?
When Br Giovanni Castellano's father died suddenly, he soon found himself writing. It wasn't long until he had written a whole book of his spiritual reflections on grief.
In this episode, Piero and Br Giovanni explore a Catholic understanding of what happens when we die, how to find God in grief, purgatory, CS Lewis's experience of grief and why we should pray for the dead.
Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our studio on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CTSStudios

(00:00) Intro
(2:51) Why write a book about death?
(4:48) Experiencing a sudden death
(6:24) 'Sister Death'
(10:46) Can you know if someone is in heaven?
(13:11) Theology & experience of bereavement
(15:10) How to find God in grief
(16:55) How God spoke through others
(20:58) Last Words & Regret
(25:00) Strength in absence
(27:16) Momento Mori
(31:35) Reflecting on mortality
(33:12) God speaks in our lowest moments
(36:00) Praying for the Dead
(42:03) What is Purgatory?
(47:58) What is Heaven like?
(50:57) Advice for those grieving

Today, St John Henry Newman is declared a Doctor of the Church! This has only happened to 38 people in the history of the Church, so why Newman?
What did he contribute to the Catholic Church? What did he help us to understand about the life of faith?In this episode, Piero talks to Fr George Bowen, who was instrumental in Newman becoming a saint and in him becoming a Doctor of the Church.
Together, they explore what Newman told us about how God speaks to us, how doctrine develops, how his work on conscience inspired resistance to the Nazis and how he lived his life in pursuit of truth.
Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our studio on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CTSStudios
(0:00) Intro(4:19) What is a Doctor of the Church?(7:15) Newman's letters & diaries(8:28) What were Newman's main insights?(15:00) Newman's search for the truth (20:00) Newman on Conscience (23:00) Being awakened by the truth(26:20) How do we come to have faith?(28:34) An English Doctor of the Church(31:39) Where should you start reading Newman? (33:12) The Brompton Oratory(34:30) Newman for the English Church (36:33) Fr George's journey with Newman(38:16) Newman on friendship