Church Mourns Death of Leading Catholic Author

Tributes Paid to British Catholic Literature Expert, Stratford Caldecott

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Catholics around the world have been paying tribute to leading Catholic author Stratford Caldecott who died yesterday after a long struggle with cancer.

The 60 year-old British author was a widely respected expert in the field of Catholic literature. His books include ‘Beauty in the Word: Rethinking the Foundations of Education’, ‘Beauty for Truth’s Sake: On the Re-enchantment of Education’, and ‘The Power of the Ring: The Spiritual Vision Behind the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit’.

The Catholic Herald reports that he was able to complete a final book before his death, ‘Not As the World Gives: The Way of Creative Justice’, published by Angelico Press.

He also wrote a powerful essay on dying for ‘The Imaginative Conservative.’

Caldecott was a prominent figure in Catholic publishing. He served as the G K Chesterton Research Fellow at St Benet’s Hall, Oxford, co-editor of Magnificat UK and as publisher of the journal Second Spring. He also served on the editorial board of the international theological journal Communio.

Before his death, family members launched the #CapForStrat campaign, inviting actors playing superheroes in Hollywood films that he enjoyed to send messages of support.

Many tributes have been paid on the news of his passing. American Catholic writer Kathy Schiffer described him as a “a giant in the Catholic world”, adding that he had a “great faith which guided him as he lived his life and awaited his death.”

ZENIT contributor Fr. Dwight Longenecker praised Caldecott for his faith and dynamism. “He organised international conferences. He started publishing houses, intellectual journals and worked tirelessly editing, writing, encouraging writers and quietly building up an impressive and powerful body of work,” Fr. Longenecker wrote on the Patheos website.

“Strat,” he added, “is a fine example of a Christian gentleman and scholar, a humble man of letters and of great accomplishment. Now he has run his race and finished the course.”

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