Scott L. Smith Jr.

Scott L. Smith Jr.
Born (1983-05-26) 26 May 1983 (age 42)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
OccupationAuthor, Attorney
Alma mater
Notable worksNear Death Experiences, Pray the Rosary with Saint John Paul II, Lord of the Rings and the Eucharist
SpouseSara Ashton LaGrone
Children6

Scott L. Smith Jr. (born 26 May 1983) is a Catholic American author and attorney.[1] Smith is the author of several books of Catholic theology and devotion including 33 Days to the Holy Family and Consecration to St. Joseph for Children and Families co-authored with Fr. Donald Calloway, Near Death Experiences, Pray the Rosary with St. John Paul II, The Catholic ManBook, and a new translation of the Preparation for Total Consecration according to Saint Louis de Montfort. He is the past Chairman of the Men of the Immaculata.[2][3][4]

Career and personal life

Smith graduated from Edmond Memorial High School in 2001 and Texas A&M University in 2006 with a degree in chemical engineering.[5] He then entered the Jesuit Novitiate in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. Smith has a master's degree in theology from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. He received his juris doctor from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center of Louisiana State University in 2013.[6]

Smith was an assistant attorney general with the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General from 2015 to 2019 before opening his own law practice.[7]

Smith lives in New Roads, Louisiana, with his wife Sara Ashton LaGrone and their five children.[8]

Writing and podcasting

In 2010, Smith began a series of articles exploring the Lembas waybread as a symbol for the Eucharist in The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.[9] These articles were published as an anthology, Lord of the Rings and the Eucharist. Actor Kevin O'Brien, who has portrayed J. R. R. Tolkien on EWTN and elsewhere, narrated the audiobook version of Lord of the Rings and the Eucharist.[10]

Since 2010, Smith has worked as a freelance essayist and lecturer on Biblical topics, including typology, Mariology, and Biblical references in contemporary books and movies.[11][12] Smith has written and lectured on Mary, mother of Jesus.[13][14][15][16][17]

Smith has written on Catholic and Christian themes appearing in comics, science fiction, and current movies.[18][19][20][21] A collection of his articles on these topics was published as The Theology of Sci-Fi: The Christian's Guide to the Galaxy.

In 2018, Smith collaborated with Louisiana historian Brian J. Costello on a series of biographies of holy men and beatified people, entitled Blessed Is He Who ...: Models of Catholic Manhood.

Smith co-authored with Fr. Donald Calloway the Consecration to St. Joseph for Children and Families.[22]

In 2025, Smith published a Catholic overview of near-death experiences.[23] This work, Near Death Experiences, is believed to be the first comprehensive Catholic treatment of the subject from an historical, Biblical, and contemporary perspective.[24][25][26][27][28]

Smith has written several horror novels, including The Seventh Word and The Cajun Zombie Chronicles.[29]

As of 2019, Smith co-hosts the Catholic Nerds Podcast.[30][non-primary source needed]

Awards

Smith's blog was awarded the 2018 Fisher's Net award for "Best Blog".[31]

Bibliography

Non-fiction

Sole author

  • Near Death Experiences, 2025, Sophia Institute Press, ISBN 979-8-88911-114-6
  • The Catholic ManBook, originally published 2017, Holy Water Books, ISBN 0-99836-035-X
  • St. Louis de Montfort's Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary - New Easier-to-Read Translation, 2019, Holy Water Books, Marian Consecration Guide, ISBN 1-95078-205-0
  • Lord of the Rings and the Eucharist, 2019, Holy Water Books, The Catholic Theology of J. R. R. Tolkien, ISBN 0-99836-038-4
  • Pray the Rosary with Saint John Paul II, 2020, Holy Water Books, ISBN 1-95078-208-5
  • Pray Like a Warrior: Spiritual Combat & War Room Prayer Guide, 2020, Holy Water Books, ISBN 1-95078-223-9
  • The Theology of Sci-Fi: The Christian's Guide to the Galaxy, 2020, Holy Water Books, ISBN 1-95078-226-3

Collaborative works

  • 33 Days to the Holy Family with co-author Fr. Donald Calloway, Marian Press, 2025, ISBN 9781596146600
  • The Christbearer: Exploring the Connection between The Mandalorian and Christian Saints, Philip Kosloski, Scott L. Smith Jr., and other authors, Voyage Comics, 2023, ISBN 979-8985771985
  • Consecration to St. Joseph for Children and Families with co-author Fr. Donald Calloway, Marian Press, 2022, ISBN 9781596145641
  • Blessed Is He Who ...: Models of Catholic Manhood, Brian J. Costello and Scott L. Smith Jr., Holy Water Books, 2018, ISBN 0-99836-034-1
  • Pray, Hope, & Don't Worry Prayer Journal for Catholic Women: A 52-Week Guided Devotional Through Scripture and the Saints to Overcome Anxiety, Sara A. Smith and Scott L. Smith Jr., Holy Water Books, 2020, ISBN 1-95078-216-6
  • Pray, Hope, & Don't Worry Women's Prayer Journal For Overcoming Anxiety: A 52-week Guided Devotional of Prayers & Bible Verses to Conquer Stress & Fear, Sara A. Smith and Scott L. Smith Jr., 2020, ISBN 1-95078-215-8

Fiction

  • The Seventh Word, Holy Water Books, 2016, ISBN 0-69278-816-6
  • The Cajun Zombie Chronicles, the first of which is The River Dead, Holy Water Books, 2016, ISBN 0-69278-816-6

References

  1. ^ "Scott Smith, Attorney at Law". The Pointe Coupee Banner.com. 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  2. ^ "Celebrating Advent with a twist in unusual year". Catholic Commentator. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Seeking Guidance from an 'Average Joe'". Catholic Community Radio. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Seeking guidance from 'an average Joe'". Catholic Commentator. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Students win scholarships". The Oklahoman. 1 June 2000. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Holy Water Books, About Scott L. Smith Jr". Holy Water Books. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Scott Smith Jr. opens hometown legal practice". The Pointe Coupee Banner. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  8. ^ Meek, Richard. "Honoring Jesus' Birthday: Smith Family Puts Meaning Intro Season" (PDF). The Catholic Commentator. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  9. ^ "The Hidden Eucharist in the Lord of the Rings". Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  10. ^ EWTN Homeschool Connections, Kevin O'Brien
  11. ^ Brian Kelly (6 July 2018). "Saving the Best Wine for Last". Catholicism.org.
  12. ^ "Issue #61". New Evangelists Monthly. January 2018.
  13. ^ Fajardo, Julienne (6 October 2020). "Starbucks Logo: The True Story Behind The Siren". Citizenside. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  14. ^ "The Terrifying New Patroness ..." National Catholic Register. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  15. ^ Scott L. Smith Jr. (4 September 2017). "Did Mary Appear at Fatima for the Conversion of Muslims?". ChurchPop. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  16. ^ Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (July 2018). "Mariology – MAT II". Diocese of Baton Rouge.
  17. ^ LearnCat (July 2018). "Mariology". Diocese of Baton Rouge.
  18. ^ Scott L. Smith Jr. (14 November 2017). "The Hidden Christian Meaning of the Myth of Thor". ChurchPop. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  19. ^ Scott L. Smith Jr. (18 November 2020). "The Theology of Superman: Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman, and Justice League". Clarifying Catholicism. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  20. ^ Scott L. Smith Jr. (27 April 2020). "The Messiah of 'Dune': Paul Atreides, the Kwisatz Haderach". Voyage Comics. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  21. ^ Scott L. Smith Jr. (24 July 2020). "The "Virgin Mary" of 'Dune': Lady Jessica". Voyage Comics. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  22. ^ Calloway and Smith, Consecration to St. Joseph for Children and Families
  23. ^ Smith, Scott. "Near Death Experiences". Sophia Institute Press. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  24. ^ McClane, Joe. "A Catholic Take". YouTube. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  25. ^ "The Catholic Morning Show". Iowa Catholic Radio. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  26. ^ Tabatt, Shaun (17 March 2025). "The Shaun Tabatt Show". No. Scott L. Smith, Jr. - A Catholic Perspective on Near-Death Experiences. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  27. ^ Latimer, Kiki (1 March 2025). "The Catholic Bookworm". No. Scott L. Smith on his book Near-Death Experiences. WCAT TV. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  28. ^ "New book unveils Catholic perspective on near-death experiences from ancient history to now". Florida Catholic Media. 19 April 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  29. ^ "Horror novel from Scott L. Smith Jr. is the first of its kind". ChristianHorror.com. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  30. ^ "Catholic Nerds Podcast". Stitcher. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  31. ^ "2018 Fisher's Net Awards". Best Catholic Websites. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_L._Smith_Jr.