Interestingly, Tolkien is not really considered a Catholic writer, but rather a writer who happened to be Catholic. And also The Lord of the Rings is not an apology nor an allegory of Christianity, or anything else, but it is applicable to many situations, and read well, you can, paradoxically, more evangelism. Already been completed The Lord of the Rings, but shortly before its eventual publication in a letter Tolkien received December 2, 1953, P. Robert Murray, SJ, grandson of Sir James Murray (Inglés founder of the Oxford Dictionary), and close friend of his family, Tolkien replied the same day. I was very happy that Fr Murray had mentioned some acute observations and impressions about what would be his magnum opus. Among other things, Fr Murray looked like the character of Galadriel, Queen of the High Elves of Lothlorien, had some similarities to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the general impression that The Lord of the Rings was particularly compatible with the Catholic theological perspective about the order of Grace [of God].
In its response letter (letter No. 142), Tolkien admitted: "'The Lord of the Rings' is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work, unconsciously so at first, but then I became aware of this in the review. "Regarding the reference to the Virgin Mary and the compatibility with the order of Grace said: "... encouraged me especially what you said ... because you're more perceptive, especially in certain directions than others, and even I have revealed more clearly certain aspects of my work. I think I know exactly what you mean with the order of grace, and, of course, your references to Our Lady, which is based on my limited perception of beauty both in majesty and simplicity. " And then, curiously, makes a comment seemingly paradoxical, that turns out to be key to understanding the Christian outreach of his work: "That is the reason why I did not include, or have removed any reference to anything like" religion "whether cults or practices, in the imaginary world. For the religious element is absorbed into the history and symbolism."
Tolkien explains his decision because she wants her book was orthodox from the standpoint of natural theology (which was very appreciated and defended by the Church in many papal interventions and more systematic teaching at Vatican I), which can grasp the truth about God and about man (= theological anthropology) from created things-nature, the world, the same man with the use of reason. Not that reason alone you may get a better understanding of God and his creation, this requires the gift of faith, and still not exhaust the divine knowledge but faith, not being pure rationalism, it is reasonable. Thus religion in Tolkien's work is implied, being absorbed into the historical narrative and symbolism.
This leads to another essential reference to better situate our understanding of The Lord of the Rings, is to have this historical context within the whole work mythology of the author. Necessarily involves placing it in direct reference to The Silmarillion, his life's work, which accompanied a Tolkien for about 60 years, never finished, but his son, Christopher, came to collect various letters to shape coherent for publication after the death of his father. Much more clearly than in The Lord of the Rings, there are many references explicitly religious Christian perspective, in The Silmarillion.
A widely believed on the background of the alleged fight between good and evil, without more, in The Lord of the Rings, does not really do justice to the subject background of the work of our author. In some occasion, wrote (letter No. 186 Draft): "I do not think that even the power or dominion are the very core of my story ... The real issue for me is focused on something much more permanent and difficult: Death and Immortality; the mystery of love across the world in the hearts of a race 'doomed' to leave and apparently losing [Mortal Men], the anguish in the hearts of a race "ordered" not as long as its entire history has not completed [the Elves immortal]. "
Although a stroke, I have to do some basic references to The Silmarillion to better contextualize the characters and subsequent events in The Lord of the Rings. The Silmarillion tells, with great strength and beauty, the stories of the First and Second Age, the creation of the earth in the beginning, by the One God, whose name in Elvish-Ilúvatar-means "Father of all." God created from nothing to the Ainur, the Holy, the offspring of his thought-that is, angels, biblical or pagan gods, "and proposed topics of music to sing in harmony, beauty, and thus take part in creating Earth. They sang to him and their voices were as harps and lutes, fifes and trumpets, violas and bodies, and God was pleased, because they were good and beautiful spiritual beings had created. At the beginning of the music, each Ainur sang alone while the others listened, since each Ainur comprised only part of the music that corresponded, "and were slow to grasp the edge of his brothers. But every time they heard, they reached an understanding deeper, and increased in unison and harmony. " It seems to me an evocative description of what the Church is, in any case, the second part is a beautiful description of what actually is the Church in heaven ...
"And it came to Ilúvatar summoned all the Ainur, and they reported a mighty theme, unfolding to them things and wonderful even larger than those found before; and the glory of its beginning and the splendor of its end amazed the Ainur, so that they bowed before Iluvatar and were silent. Then Iluvatar said: "The issue that I have, I will now that ye make in harmony together a Great Music ..." Well, beautiful songs became sweet and overwhelming, to create beings in the image and likeness of God, Iluvatar on Earth: the Sons would Immortal Elves (although this "immortal" will be qualified), the most beautiful and noble race of all, minor children would be the race of mortal men and the relational Hobbits, while the Dwarves were created later.
But just as with the actual creation of our world, as it reflects the Christian tradition, one of the angels, named Melkor, then Morgoth, revolted, for his pride and arrogance against the heavenly and earthly harmony and purpose , tune in the song of the Ainur. This made the creation out "good" hand of God, is damaged, because there was no musical harmony, and thus harmony in the work of creation, according to the will of Iluvatar. Instigation, Morgoth sowed confusion and fear of death to mortal men, making them feel envious of the immortal Elves. Here we see a clear echo of a passage highly significant letter to the Hebrews (2, 14-15): "For as the children share flesh and blood, also he [Christ] took part in them, to destroy death that had the power of death , ie the devil, and thus free all that fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. "
The difference (anthropology) between the immortality of the Elves and the mortality of men, both created in the image and likeness of God, Iluvatar, plays a crucial role in the development of events, both in The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings. We are facing the main topic of Tolkien's mythology: the passage of time and eternity; life and death avoidance. But we should understand that the immortality of the Elves is actually a kind of longevity, with the end of time and the world, even the elves would die and God has not yet revealed what will become of them afterwards. While the mortality of men is easier to understand because it affects us we! Man is a mortal by nature, but the origin of creation, as we read in the book of Genesis, the punishment was death before the Fall of Adam and Eve under the guise of the evil, but a divine gift (would as a rest on the Lord, a kind of "assumption", as in the singular case Virgin Mary) to join God more fully in a state of glory, in a destiny beyond the confines of the world. Christian theology, especially the Eastern Fathers, he calls the "deification of man." But God, deliberately in the pre-Christian mythology of Tolkien, has not yet been fully revealed in the incarnation and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.
In brief (and simplified): Morgoth, the fallen angels, twist the will of God, Iluvatar and leads, putting doubt in the hearts of Elves and Men, to rebel and reject the nature given to them by God Iluvatar. Then, while the men "deadly" seek to evade death before the end of the created world, the Elves "immortal" seek to avoid their longevity, since the end of the world created for them would also be death. The malice of Morgoth, and then a servant of it, another fallen angel, Sauron, who will become the Lord of the Rings of Power, is to cast a shadow over the love and providence of God, very subtle and cunning deception, confusing light with darkness, bringing forth evil good, and to put fear where there should be hope in the Creator's plan, although they have not yet been fully revealed.
As we can see very easily, similar to the stories of creation and the fall in the book of Genesis, are obvious. And this is because the God of Middle Earth and the God revealed in time for Christ is the same God who loved Tolkien as a Catholic. Just as the Word of God [Jesus Christ in person] is the author of Creation - "in Christ all things were created" (Col. 1, 16) - and then inspired the sacred authors to enter it in the Scriptures, is Tolkien as a writer (hagiographer) which relates the myth of creation in a story real alternative in subcreado world. The myth, then, according to Tolkien, far from being merely banal fantasy, far from being a lie, far from leaving home and escape from reality is, however, very real fantasy, a story to communicate the eternal truths of human nature (from the Christian point of view), a desire to find our home, finding the universal, and is a "loophole", a raid-no-trip to the heart of reality. After writing The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien himself confessed in a letter enlightening (letter No. 131): "... I always had the sense to record something that was always there somewhere [in your mind and heart of believers], never to invent ... This story grew as he wrote. " I can think of that "inspiration" is something like Tolkien's inspiration of the Fathers to compose beautiful liturgical texts, reflecting the Christian experience in poetic language
celebratory ... Well, following alongside the Genesis account, the race of Mortal Men, the Númenóreans-making case to the deceptions of Sauron began to envy the immortal Elves, "Why should we not envy the Valar (High Elves) or even the last of the immortals? Well, we are required blind faith and hope without warranty, and do not know what awaits us in the next instant. But we love the Earth and we would not lose it. " Sauron seduced many of mortal man to disobey God and want to conquer the Blessed Realm of the Elves, called Valinor, and they would not die forever! But she attracted many Elves to despise their longevity and desire a kind of earthly paradise that was free time and his eventual death. The dilemma of Men and Elves is, in essence, that of Adam and Eve eat the forbidden tree and never die, live as "gods" in the knowledge of good and evil is, why Adam and Eve [or the Men and Elves] would want, taking into account all the gifts God had given them love, wanting to be a god themselves? Or why Satan [or Morgoth or Sauron] had wanted to occupy the place that belongs only to God [Ilúvatar)? Tolkien assumed, offstage, a fallen world in "original sin" in his universe subcreado, whose redemption by Christ is in the distant future.
At this time we can move to better preparation in The Lord of the Rings. The forging of the Great Rings of Power was held in the Second Age of Middle Earth. Were forged by blacksmiths Eregion elves, under the astute advice of Sauron, disguised as "beautiful angel of light." The purpose of manufacture was the purpose of distributing to the kings of the Elves, Men and the Dwarf-lords, rings to help them better govern their peoples and to maintain Middle-earth beautiful, and stop the passage of time and prevent death.
Three Rings for Elven-kings under the sky. Seven for the Dwarf-lords in stone houses. Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die. One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind in the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie ...
But secretly, Sauron forged the Ruling Ring, the One Ring, the repository of much of his being and malice, which would serve to subjugate the free peoples of Middle-earth, controlling the minds of others rings carrying power. The three wise Elves were the most astute and discovered the evil Sauron's attempts to bring them their wickedness, took their three rings that Sauron never perverted, but that would be forever linked to the power of the One Ring. Seven Dwarf-lords were quite difficult to subdue, because his interest was mining and mineral wealth, but Sauron came to take their greed. Much easier was submitted to the nine great kings of men. Here, whether good or bad will each possessed, by agreeing to wear their rings, were eventually cheated terribly. Became invisible, except the black cloak that covered, corrupt beings, dead or alive, whose "lives" was elongated with the voices clamoring for the death became the most feared servants of Sauron, the Ringwraiths, or Nazgul.
From the Catholic faith, from the anthropological point of view, we can see the terrible Ringwraiths a reflection of the baptized into Christ by Baptism they are Priests, Prophets and Kings, living under the bondage of sin, under the tyranny lies of the evil tempter. The ring is a symbol of pride and power. Represents everything that drags us into the kingdom of darkness of the Dark Lord [the Devil], tempting us to be like him in his rejection of God's plan for our lives. The circular shape of the ring is the selfish closed in on itself. Its hollow center, where we put the finger, suggesting the emptiness that we have when we submit to slavery. The invisibility that surrounds the carrier, cut with normal relations with those around us, isolating us from others, creating a false image of himself "I", disregarding any other "You." If the ring does all this, give up your seduction is impossible for us, but for God nothing is impossible, as Tolkien well understood. By our own strength, we can not do anything, we need that in Catholic theology is the support God's grace. The "I" can not come off its "self." Surely Tolkien was inspired by the theology of grace found in the letter to the Romans the Apostle Paul (7, 18-19): "For the want to do good is in me, but do not", and view of grace that St. Augustine has a great Holy Father of the Church. Our search, or mission, in a Christian, is to resist the temptations of the Ring of the Dark Lord, deliver us from our selfishness, and ultimately, the path is Passover of Christ, which is neither more nor less loyalty our baptismal vocation: get off of our pride and self-reliance, and humility, give your life for those we love (which should be everyone), and sanctify, accepting the cross of sacrifice which is truly love.
The Dark Lord wants to tempt us to put a ring of power he gives us, isolating us from God and others, giving the illusion that living in sin is to "live it up" and what will make us happy, but that actually enslave us and brings forth death. How different, is not it, the parable of the prodigal son of the gospel of Luke, who presents the beloved figure of the Father awaiting our return home. Also the son who returns to his breast, offered a ring, but no slave ring that isolates us from our selfishness, ring but a beloved son, that brings us back to the community of the redeemed, the Communion of Saints, the pilgrim Church on earth in time to the Church in heaven ...
Well, at the end of the Second Age, a last alliance of Elves and Men defeated the armies of the Dark Lord, compared to Mount Doom, on the border of Mordor. The son of the King of Gondor, Isildur, with the broken sword of his father the King, cut the hand of the Dark Lord, snatching the One Ring. But instead of destroying it, throwing it into the pit of Mount Doom where it was forged, claiming the Ring for himself. At the beginning of the Third Age, is attacked by the armies of Sauron, tries to escape swimming the Great River Anduin, where the Ring betrayed him, sliding his finger, making it visible again, where he was hit by arrows.
The Ring is lost for centuries ... It is found by two friends who were fishing one day. These were Déagol and Smeagol. Déagol found it, but soon the evil influence exerted ring, causing the greed of Smeagol just killing his friend. Smeagol takes the ring and for centuries is tormented and corrupted, where the ring poisons his mind and heart. Lost the taste for all the beauty: innocence, love, the caress of the breeze, the sunshine and the trees, the taste of bread until it loses itself name, loses its identity, because the nature of evil is the perversion of good. While the poor isolated, depersonalized and destroyed, the Lord in the Gospel is concerned with people, healthy and reconciliation. The evil influence of the Ring holds and devours the poor Smeagol in its absolute desolation selfish. The 1 st letter from San Pedro (5, 8-9) and warns us: "Be sober, be awake: your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour round; Resist him, firm in the faith." But the Ring betrayed Smeagol, separating from him, for looking back to the Dark Lord, but by divine providence, is found by Bilbo Baggins resident of the Shire ...
*** The Fellowship of the Ring, the first part of the book, tells how Gandalf the Grey, the Wise Wizard discovers that Bilbo found the ring was actually the One Ring, which controls the other Rings of Power forged in the Second Age. Since Bilbo celebrating his eleventy birthday and wanted to go and the Shire to live with the Elves in Rivendell (because it was very tired, "as a bit of butter spread over too much bread"), leaves his home at Bag End and all his possessions to his nephew, Frodo Baggins and Gandalf barely had to convince him to let the ring also found. Gandalf
Frodo tells how the ring came to find his uncle Bilbo, and how having the opportunity to kill Smeagol / Gollum, in moments of distress to escape him, overwhelmed with a feeling of pity and sympathy for this wretched creature. And then the poor how Gollum came to be captured and tortured by Sauron in Mordor, and how was the Dark Lord knew that the ring was found and who owned it and where it was now, in possession of such a Baggins in the Shire. Frodo replied saying that I hope none of this happened in his time, to which Gandalf replies that we do not get to decide the time, but you decide what to do with the time before us given (by God). When Frodo says it was a pity that Bilbo did not kill Gollum when he had the chance, Gandalf tells him that, indeed, was out of pity and mercy, we should not be light in our judgments to dispense death, even the more lost you hope of cure, and your heart tells you that Gollum still had a role to play in all this, for better or for worse, as neither the wisest can know the outcome.
also Gandalf tells Frodo that there was another force, apart from the will of evil, to exert its influence, so that Bilbo was meant to find the ring, trying to return to Sauron, and Frodo was therefore also meant to have, and that this was a very encouraging thought ... They are very clear references to Providence, acting on world events. Urges Frodo to flee from the tranquility of the Shire, and together with some companions on their journey to the village of Bree. They make some bad decisions on the route to take, and result, in danger, but are unexpectedly aided by several characters, which reflects the Providence that guides them. But Frodo is struck by the evil sword of the Lord of the Wraith and his companions are pursued by Black Riders terrible. With the help of a Ranger of the North-Strider or Aragorn and Glorfindel, an Elf that appeared to help them manage to cross the river Bruinen Elvish, which are invoked and are raised to head off the Wraith. These waters as a symbol of Israel in the Red Sea, fleeing from the Egyptians, and the baptismal waters, or just holy water, which protects us from enemies. They come, therefore, not without much danger to the security of the House of Lord Elrond, noble half-elf in Rivendell. There Elrond calls a great council which decided that the One Ring must be destroyed, and Frodo accepts the burden of being the carrier, which will become increasingly heavy. The Ring can only be destroyed in the Fire Mountain, Mount Doom in Mordor, where it was forged. To help you in your mission, we offer eight companions form the Fellowship of the Ring: Aragorn, revealed as the heir of Isildur the Kingdom of Gondor, Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor, on behalf of Men, Legolas, son of elf regions of the Kingdom of the Forest, on behalf of the Elves, Gimli son of Gloin of the Lonely Mountain, in representation of the Dwarves, Frodo, his servant, Sam, and his two cousins, Merry and Pippin, representing the Hobbits and Gandalf the Grey. The Fellowship of the Ring is to be a representation of the universality of the threat that affects all races and people and tongue and nation, and communion in mission.
The Community begins the journey in secret from Rivendell in the north, until a fierce snowstorm forbidden to cross the high pass Caradhras snowy mountains. Gandalf were led then through the hidden door and entered the vast mines of Moria, the kingdom of the Dwarves, trying to cross the mountains on the inside. But there they discover with horror the slaughter of the Dwarves, and are attacked by hordes of orcs (formerly Elves who were captured, tortured and perverted, because evil can not create, only pervert). Gandalf, fighting a Balrog, an old demon of the First Age, gives his life for the Community to escape across the bridge of Khazad-dum, you sacrifice, giving his life for his friends and the Mission, falling with the Balrog in a dark abyss. "No one has greater love than he who gives his life for his friends" (Jn 15, 13). When out of danger, the Community mourns the (apparent) "deadweight loss" of Gandalf and Aragorn warns that the mission must continue even without hope ...
the Community through the Forest of Lothlorien Elven Dorado, where the Lady Galadriel , custody of one of the three rings given to the Elves. And here, "Frodo stood, still amazed. It seemed to have passed through a high window overlooking a vanished world. Light shone there for which there was no word in the language of the Hobbits. All what he saw was a beautiful shape, but all forms seemed at once clearly delineated, as if they were designed and drawn when he found the eyes, and old as if they lasted forever. He saw no other colors than known, yellow, white and blue and green, but they were fresh and intense, as if now perceived for the first time and give them new and wonderful names. In winter and could have no heart mourn the summer or spring. In what grew in that land were no spots or disease or deformities. In the land of Lórien, no defects. "Lórien is a" sanctuary "beautiful in the midst of a changing world where not only no evil, but that time itself seems to stand still. It is as if the garden which is Frodo was the garden of Eden before the Fall, and Frodo is as Adam contemplating the splendor of creation with the power to name the creatures, as we read in Genesis (2, 19 ): "And what man called it, to every living creature, that was his name." Here's a nostalgic return to paradise ...
Primordial Lady Galadriel invites Frodo and Sam looked into the Mirror (a beautiful crystal fountain in the garden) to see the things that were, things that are and things have not gone yet, depending on how each character faces free decisions. Frodo asks what will and Galadriel replied that neither the wisest could tell. I agree with Eduardo Segura probably the best way of appearing to The Lord of the Rings is to look at the Mirror of Galadriel: that is what each discovers in the depths of his own heart ... Galadriel says to colleagues that there is always hope, but seems that there is not, as long as the community stays true to the mission. It gives them wonderful gifts that would later be of great benefit. Elven be highlighted layers to hide the company's eyes and especially enemies lembas, or "pan (Elvish) of the Road" or "bread of life"-a very clear allusion to the sacredness of the Eucharistic Bread as "a power he was increasing as travelers depended only on it for survival, and ate it without mixing with other foods. Otter will, and gave strength and endurance." When the time comes to leave, Galadriel dismisses the Community with a nostalgia-tinged poetry: Namárië [Goodbye] ... sorry echo of the past millennium of all beautiful and noble race forced to leave the world he loves for the next Guardians , Men. It is the conviction that an era the world is about to end forever, and perhaps forgotten, in any case, it is a loss unrecoverable, a farewell to Middle-earth: "Oh! Like gold fall the leaves in the wind! E numberless as the wings of trees are the years. The years have passed like swift drafts ... Goodbye You may find a Valimar (Valinor). Maybe you find it. Go! " We can see a reflection of Psalm 89, when we ask God: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain wisdom of heart." The three elven rings, which have been used to heal, to make and keep beautiful things in Middle Earth, and to stop the passage of time and eventual death, are linked to the One Ring: if Sauron regained its Ring (Which would be by far the worst), Middle Earth would be covered in a hideous evil darkness and tyranny, and the Elves would also be enslaved, but on the contrary, if the Ring was destroyed (the only desirable option, of course) also the three Elven rings lose their noble power. At this point in history, there's really little reason to hope for a favorable outcome of the fate of the Ring. But in any case, there is "victory" without sacrifice and "loss" ... The Company travels south on boats navigating the great river Anduin, where they are attacked by hordes of orcs. For his good and noble desire to defend its people of Gondor, Boromir seduced by the power of the Ring, try to snatch it from Frodo, who puts the ring, becoming invisible, and escapes. He realizes that his presence represents a danger to the rest and decides to go alone to Mordor. At the end is reached by his faithful friend Sam. No, Sam, Frodo says, I'm going to Mordor alone! Of course yes, Mr. Frodo, and I will accompany ...
The Two Towers, the second part of the book, begins with the company separately and with Frodo and Sam toward Mordor flee. While the others pursued them, the orcs attacked and killed a repentant Boromir. His sin of despair has led to the death of Boromir sin always brings forth death " but it is repentance and confession of redemption. Clear reference to the need for repentance in the face of our own salvation. Then a second band of orcs captured Merry and Pippin. These orcs are servants of the White Hand, ie corrupt Saruman the Wizard, Gandalf partner. They take the two young hobbits westward through the lands of Rohan, in the direction of his master tower Orthanc in Isengard. Saruman waiting there, wanting to get the One Ring for himself, despite being a puppet of Sauron, who has allied.
orcs group reached the outskirts of the ancient Forest of Fangorn halfway between the great River Anduin and Isengard, before being surrounded by the Riders of Rohan attentive. Led by Marshal Éomer Riders slaughter the orcs. Merry and Pippin escape from the battle and take refuge in the ancient forest. There they meet Treebeard the Ent, the huge tree errant pastor. You can contemplate the curious character of Treebeard, his eyes deep, wise and serene, the oldest creature of Middle Earth, as a reflection of the immense value that gives Tolkien's creation, a reverence for its beauty, and all values of a society that is rooted in the Catholic Tradition. Given the merciless destruction of forests by the orcs of Saruman, Treebeard has regrets "Mind of metal", it has lost its taste for cultivating the "growing things", calls a camera-Ent (meeting), mobilizing to fight Saruman and leave for Isengard.
Having pursued the orcs of Saruman, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli meet Eomer company shortly after the attack on the orcs that riders. In his dialogue about adverse times in which they live, Eomer makes a thoughtful question: "How to find the right path in such a time?" A timeless question for Christians of all time. Aragorn gives, and gives us a right answer, valid across time and place: "As always. Evil and they have not changed since yesterday, nor has a sense for the Elves and Dwarves and another for men. For man to discern between them, both in the Golden Forest at home. "To which Eomer, understanding the scope of the response, in turn replied," Very true. No doubt you, or what my heart tells me. "Eomer provides them with horses and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli set out for the Forest of Fangorn. But their search for the hobbits is useless, but they find someone who did not expect: Gandalf reappears dressed in a dazzling white, with a body "transformed" because of death has returned to help complete the mission.
With it, will Rohan Golden Castle Theoden, King of Rohan in Edoras, where Gandalf heals prematurely aged king, rescued from the spell of Wormtongue, his advisor, a secret ally of Saruman. Théoden recovered, made a "composition of place", and laments: "Ah, That these are dark days for me and that I get now in old age, instead of peace that he believed deserved ... Young people die while old slowly wither "(because he has lost in battle his sole heir, Théodred, and learned of the death of young Boromir). And also: "... would be sad because whatever the fate of the war may bring, is not it possible that in the end many beauties and wonders of Middle-earth disappear forever? "Gandalf replies, consoling:" Possibly. The evil Sauron has caused will never be completely repaired, or deleted as if it never existed. But fate has brought us days like these. [Do not miss allies, Théoden but there are ignorant.] Let us continue our march! "Referring to the realism of the" mystery of iniquity "of which St. Paul speaks. With the King saved and rejuvenated, they ride with him and his people , the fortress of Helm's Deep, to wage a desperate victory at dawn on the hordes of Saruman. Aragorn had said: "... the sunrise is always a hope for mankind ... nobody knows what will bring the new day. "Gandalf leads them to Isengard, and find the Tower of Orthanc and their lands devastated by the attack of the Ents. Nature support so sick of modern industrialization and mechanization makes, rebelling against their destruction by those who despise life, "things that grow." Saruman and Wormtongue trapped in the tower. Gandalf Saruman calls to repentance, but he rejects the opportunity, and try with your voice, bewitching Théoden. The "Voice of Saruman" represents all those voices, throughout history, have seduced the masses into believing lies and truths, whose most notorious example was to Hitler.
In parallel story, Frodo and Sam continue their journey to Mordor almost desperate. The schizophrenic Smeagol / Gollum are followed, eager to retrieve the ring, his "treasure." The Lord in the Gospel warns us that what we think is a treasure, where we put our heart. Should therefore educate our hearts, so choose carefully our treasure ... The weight of the ring, bear malice, is becoming overwhelming for your carrier. Frodo, who sees Gollum for the first time, he inspires the same feeling of compassion and pity, which inspired his uncle Bilbo years ago, for this miserable creature eaten by the Ring. Finally, it is tamed and agrees to act as a guide, Frodo which relies much more to him than Sam. At the Black Gate of Mordor, Gollum advised to take another route, safer, though more secret, to enter the black country. Across the beautiful land of Ithilien, which descriptions are wonderful, disputed territory between Mordor and Gondor, but not distorted by the evil Sauron. They run into Faramir, Boromir's brother died, resisting the temptation to take the ring, leaving through Ithilien, but warning that the untrustworthy Gollum, because he wants to take the path of Cirith Ungol, a path of mortal danger to Gollum said less than what you know.
While on their way, and take turns sleeping in a time, Sam is neglected, leaving Frodo sleeps peacefully in her lap. Gollum, who had gone in search of food, sees them and walks over and gently caressed Frodo. For a moment, memories of his former life as a hobbit, before the tragic discovery of the ring, make it be on the verge of repentance. It is a particularly charming scene, by gestures and silent looks Unfortunately Sam is awakened, and, suspicious, afraid to Gollum, who returns to his current dismal state. There is a Eucharistic Prayer (Prayer V / B), which reflects in some way this scene: "Give heartfelt compassion to all human misery, inspire the gesture and the right word against the brother alone and helpless." Pass through the ghostly city of Minas Morgul, where the Lord of the Ringwraiths, and not horse riding, but in a black winged beast, captaining the hordes of Sauron, for his impending assault on the city of Minas Tirith, the capital the Kingdom of Gondor. Given the ominous appearance of the Lord of the Nazgûl, Frodo is tempted to wear the ring, you discover the spectrum, but turns his hand to the bottle light Earendil Star, given to him by Galadriel, and resists. And this to instil courage to which we fight to the mediation of grace that God gives us through his signs of salvation, the sacraments, and also, we are very likely to contact the Virgin Mary for her intercession. Finally
Gollum leads by a very winding mountain stairs to the entrance of a long, ominous tunnel. Therein betrays Frodo and Sam, leaving them at the mercy of terrible Shelob, a giant spider bite reaching Frodo, but is wounded in a battle with the mighty Sam. This, angered by the treachery of Gollum, desconsoladoramente embraces his beloved master, believing she is dead, and decides, after weighing the difficult decisions to make, impossible to continue the mission alone, out of pure love for Frodo. This is one of the great moments to highlight the unwavering loyalty and friendship moving Sam feels for his master. He removes the ring of the chain that hangs on Frodo's neck, and away they heard the sound of a band of orcs that patrol the area. Escondido, hear comments from the orcs that Frodo is not dead, but only poisoned, and then take him prisoner to the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Sam himself says very enlightening phrase: "Idiot, is not dead, and your heart knew. Do not trust your head, Samwise, is not the best you have. What happens is that you really never had any hope. And now, what's left? " Quite remarkable that thought, sobering as they do not form a resolute decision, and let us find deceived by mere appearances, that sometimes things are not really as they seem, we should not be superficial in our estimate of the potential, despite what we seem, because it is wrong to live without hope. There is always hope, because there are always possibilities, though unknown to us, as the Providence of God cares for us.
The Return of the King, the third part of the book, opens with Gandalf and Pippin at full gallop to Minas Tirith, the capital of the Kingdom of Gondor to warn of imminent attack by the forces of the Dark Lord. Denethor II, the father of Boromir and Faramir, the Steward of Gondor, and is devastated to have had the devastating news of the death of her dear Boromir, who preferred on his younger son, Faramir. Is that he had sent to the Council of Elrond to find out about the One Ring that supposedly had been found, because he wanted to take him to Minas Tirith, to ward off the Ring of Sauron. Denethor, being a noble but proud man, falls into the fatal mistake of trying to fight the Dark Lord with his own weapon. This error made Boromir fell into the same trap. There is a fight between Gandalf and Denethor, which has some resonance in the historic struggle between church and state, namely to Denethor only concerned about the good of Gondor, is a national interest but was not very sympathetic with the other peoples of Middle-earth. While Gandalf holds some attributes of the Roman papacy, the fact that belongs to no nation and, in a literal sense, is the undisputed leader of all free peoples, and faithful. And this is because being a wise magician (as the wise Magi), his power is "magic" rather than temporary, as the pope is "sacramental." As very acutely said Charles A. Coulombe in an essay: "The statement [of Denethor] that" nothing in the world we now live a higher goal than the good of Gondor, "Gandalf replies," I no government in any kingdom, nor the of Gondor nor any other large or small. But I worry all the valuables in danger today the world ... Well, I too am a steward. " This could have talked Boniface VIII to Philip the Fair, St. Gregory VII to Henry IV or Innocent III to King John. "And this is, I think so too has always spoken our good Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in its numerous apostolic journeys, in his talks and speeches to the authority vested in them.
And speaking of the Catholic world view, we must understand that is essentially sacramental. At the heart of a Catholic believer, life itself is like a series concatenated miracles, signs or symbols of Providence, whose maximum expression is Jesus Christ in his paschal mystery: the Holy Sacrament of the altar. If the Son of God could be present on the altar, through the sacred words and gestures, it is not difficult to think of wizards, elves, or the change of seasons. Critics who do not understand the sacramental structure of the Church, the sacraments are seen as "pure magic", hence the phrase hocus pocus (= abracadabra) is a mockery of the words used in Latin to consecrate the Eucharistic bread: Hoc est corpus meum ("This is My Body). It may well be said that the effect of magic, used by the wise wizards or elves, as a channel, and even cause, the good is in The Lord of the Rings, the same as that of the sacraments in the life of a devout Catholic . St. Thomas Aquinas, in his prayer after Communion, the Blessed Sacrament calls it "a strong defense against the bonds of the enemies, visible and invisible." And St. Bonaventure puts it: "source of life, source of wisdom and knowledge, source of eternal light." Put another way, and the sacraments are channels of grace in the Catholic world, that's the magic, used by the wise, the course of Grace in Middle Earth.
Aragorn, the rightful heir of Elendil and Isildur, with Legolas and Gimli, drop into the Paso de los Muertos to invoke the jury that had once allied with Isildur, but they refused, were convicted at to wander in a kind of purgatory until they pay allegiance to his heir who could then free them. It is similar to Christ descending to the "place of the dead" to free dwelt there. In the meantime, the Riders of Rohan, King Theoden in the head, rode into the besieged city of Minas Tirith to the rescue. Eowyn, the niece of Théoden, disguised as a rider, leads to Merry, because both want to fight also for those who love them. Eowyn is a figure of "strong women" of Holy Scripture, as Esther, Judith, and Ruth, bold, courageous, determined and ingenious defenders of their people at risk. Pippin is the Steward of Gondor server. Denethor reveals that he has counted (wrongly) a palantir (a seer stone that were used to communicate over great distances once), and has seen only part of the whole truth that allowed him to see Sauron: the huge armies that were about to seize and destroy the city and the Kingdom of Gondor. As the Riders of Théoden slow in coming, Denethor committed the terrible sin of despair of salvation. And when your child returns wounded Faramir, despair and loses his head, and tries to burn his son alive, still alive. Pippin tries to stop this madness, but can not, and goes in search of Gandalf, who is leading the city's defenses. Upon hearing this terrible news, Gandalf laments: "Even in the heart of our strength is to hit the enemy weapons, because it is by the power of his will. "That is, as far as we believe stronger, protected and secure ourselves, Evil can also give us a hard trip. Faramir finally can be rescued, but Denethor immolated in the flames. The tragedy of Denethor is really sad he was not able to believe in other possibilities. I thought it was crazy that two small and helpless hobbits might carry the Ring to Mordor, and ally believe that no people would come to help and be with few defenses, heeded the half-truths of Sauron and despair. Gandalf had warned his people, and it's a great lesson for us, which can only despair that he knows, beyond all doubt the final outcome, but "we can not despair, because we can not know all the possibilities, so the final outcome is uncertain" is a strong call to wait, like Abraham, against hope. Minas Tirith
desperate lives site, countless armies of Sauron by fiercely attacking, terrorizing the winged Nazgul with blood-curdling screams and instill despair. Finally come the Riders of Rohan! Théoden is attacked by the Lord of the Nazgul and dies, but Éowyn and Merry show their value to kill the very Lord of the Ringwraiths. Aragorn and his troops will also arrive and the battle in the Pelennor Fields site relieves Minas Tirith. Eowyn, Merry and Faramir are taken to the Houses of Healing where Aragorn gives an example of his kingship: the king's hands are healing hands. Aragorn is a messianic figure as Christ, King of the universe, shows mercy, among other ways, when you heal the sick, whose stories we read in the Gospels. A final discussion between Gandalf, Aragorn and company, decided to face Sauron at the gates of entrance to Mordor, and not yield to the discouraging evidence of remains of Frodo's clothes (when he was captured in the Tower of Cirith Ungol) shown in hands of a servant Sauron. Since its troops are inadequate and weak, can not hope to win by force, however go ahead against all hope to deflect attention from the Eye of Sauron from another movement within the black earth: that of Frodo and Sam approached the Mount Doom to throw the Ring ...
In parallel narrative, the brave and faithful Sam rescues Frodo from the torture he was subjected to his master at the mercy of the orcs in the Tower of Cirith Ungol. The rescue scene is touching. Completely exhausted from everything that has happened, thirsty, land struggling with absolutely inhospitable to Mordor with the Ring that is increasingly heavy and unbearable, Frodo and Sam are approaching agony to the Cracks of Doom. We can see in Frodo's character a figure of the Suffering Servant of the Lord (Isaiah), and therefore figure of Christ, for as Christ, Frodo gets to the heart of the kingdom and destroy enemy. Contemplate the voluntary sacrifice of Frodo, even unto death if necessary, so that others may live. Although he has not wanted, has the weight of the ring voluntarily, as Christ willingly carries the weight of the cross. And the heaviest Frodo the Ring is not so much as the unbearable weight of the malice of the Eye of Sauron, and what Christ was not so much heavy material cross, the weight of the malice of our sins. I think that's precisely what we will see with crystal clarity in the movie The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson this Easter. The Dark Lord, with all their evil, tempts the characters they put the ring in order to find and catch them. As Christ resists the temptations of the devil to worship him and thus gain control of all the kingdoms of the earth, teaching us how to quell the power of sin, Frodo, Gandalf warned, known to use evil, even in the fight against evil is to fall under the slavery of evil. This is a reflection of the Christian view that the end justifies the means. Even Sam, looking at the desolation of Mordor, is tempted to use the Ring to destroy the Dark Lord and convert those inhospitable land in a large garden, it is what he likes to Sam, as a good hobbit of the Shire it is. But thanks to common sense, wisdom and moral integrity, the test comes out unscathed. Tolkien tells us that the tactics of evil is "get with ours, to get on with it"-hence its insidious danger. Gollum, who on several occasions that has jeopardized the mission by his lust for the Ring, it could have been killed by Frodo, not for their piety and mercy, still obsessed with snatching the Ring. At this time Gollum appears and irredeemable. But another time comes, here at the end, that "deserves" to be removed, with human standards, but now that Sam- never trusted Gollum, who is not able to kill this wretched creature.
At a critical moment, Frodo falls physical exhaustion, moral and spiritual. Sam recognizes that the burden of the Ring Frodo has to carry because it is he whom the mission has been entrusted. Everyone has to carry on with it. But that does not mean that no one who can help us carry our burdens, nor Christ was all alone while carrying his cross. Sam is a figure of Simon of Cyrene, but even more sublime, because up to Frodo with ring and all, and what a ride down the slopes of Mount Doom, but, interestingly, the burden for Sam was not too heavy. Christ He has promised that he take up his yoke, especially love, see that his burden is light. Approaching the decisive moment to throw the Ring into the abyss of fire where it was forged. Time to the ultimate test, Frodo is unable to throw the Ring! "I have decided to do * what I have to do. The Ring is mine! (I DO NOT choose to do What I Have come to do. The Ring is mine!) (* Vs. I decided not to do ... I do Not choose to do ...). " Frodo claims the Ring for himself, becoming invisible, in the eyes of Sam horrified and helpless. The Dark Lord warns his mortal danger to find Frodo desperately call their spectra, which are fighting against the alliance of Aragorn and Gandalf against the Black Gate, and they fly to wind speed to Mount Doom.
is without doubt the most brilliant and masterful touch of Tolkien's Gollum (which was foreshadowed Gandalf would have a role to play in all this), even more enslaved by the Ring that Frodo, Frodo fight with, pulling a brutal bite your finger, snatched the ring and in his delirium, take a wrong step and fall off the cliff into the abyss of fire. At the time Frodo Gollum had saved from the evil of the Ring, spare his life, and now it is Gollum who, despite himself, save Frodo from the evil of the Ring, sparing his life. Because it is a great truth, indeed, what who sings Psalm 50: a broken and contrite heart, do not despise the Lord. A comment lucidísimo this scene we have in Stratford Caldecott: "At the very edge of success, where he has taken his will, the Ring Bearer gives up his search and claims the Ring for himself. Their freedom and thrown into the fire has been minimized the task of carrying up to Mount Doom. What ultimately saves him, is apparently an accident, actually the direct result of his previous (and free) decision to save the life of Gollum, an act of pure compassion. Therefore, in some ways is not Frodo who saves Middle Earth, much less Gollum, who bit off the ring and bite it plunges into the fire. Nor is Sam, who has learned compassion for Frodo and without which it would never have reached Mount Doom. El Salvador of Middle-earth is He who acts through love and freedom of his creatures, to forgive us our trespasses as we forgive our debtors that, using even our mistakes and the designs of the enemy to cause us well. The end of The Lord of the Rings is a triumph of Providence on Fate, but also the triumph of mercy, which free will, assisted by grace, is fully vindicated. "In Christian terms, is a prayer by perseverance in well doing until the end, not to overestimate our part in history, as we realize that small things may well have a big impact in the overall scheme of things. It is also a dramatic enactment of the Our Father: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." "Had it not been for him, [Gollum], Sam, I could not destroy the Ring. And the bitter journey had been in vain, just to finish. So perdonémoslo! As the mission has been accomplished, and everything completed (cf. It is finished). I'm happy you're here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam. " Sauron is annihilated, his fortress of Barad-dur tower collapses, his forces are dispersed. The cataclysm around Mount Doom is such that Frodo and Sam do not expect to survive. But finally with the help of the great eagles, are rescued by Gandalf.
For this "unexpected" happy ending, though not really the end for the great stories never end, as we shall see Tolkien coined a term-eucatastrophe-to describe it. (Reference to a letter from him in which he recounts the inspired preaching of his pastor about a child whose parents had come to take him to the Sanctuary of Lourdes, and was miraculously cured in the train ride back.) It is, therefore, a completely unexpected turn in the most dark and desperate, with which must not be counted again, with a flash of the final victory of evil, that make you cry. Thus Tolkien put it in an important essay on literature: "The birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of Man's history. Eucatastrophe The Resurrection is the story of the Incarnation. A story that begins and ends in joy." Tolkien believed that this was precisely what a true "fairy tale" should reflect. It is also a firm commitment, as stated in the Gospels that the last shall be first, to extol the humble in the person of the hobbits on powers and powers of the world, for even the smallest can change the course of the future. Aragorn is crowned by Gandalf and the peace it brings to his kingdom - "because you have assumed your great power and begun to reign" (Rev 11, 17) - evokes the figure of Charlemagne, restorer of the Empire, and when compared with tree or sapling, foreshadows a forerunner of Christ, like the King David. The flowering of the White Tree of Minas Tirith is a sign of peace for the reign of Aragorn, foreshadows the Christian centuries and is a sign of ultimate victory (eschatological) over Evil
The Bible begins with a garden in which is a tree of life, and concludes with the same tree in the holy city of New Jerusalem, the heavenly city. The emblem of the banner of Gondor is, significantly, a tree surrounded by seven stars: figure of the seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches of Revelation. The city of Minas Tirith symbolizes the Church militant struggle in this world, and that portends the beauty of the heavenly New Jerusalem, as we read in Revelation (22, 12-14): The Lord says: "I'm about to reach my reward and I will give to each according to his works. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their clothes to qualify for the tree of life and power Sign In in the city through its doors! "
The ending of The Lord of the Rings after the destruction of the Ring has another climax in the progressive purification of Middle Earth. There are numerous separations and Treebeard's farewell is very significant:" It's sad only now, finally, we come to see us. Because the world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel on earth, I smell in the air. I do not think we meet again ... But Galadriel said, not in Middle-earth ... [but] maybe we meet again ... in the spring. Goodbye! "Members of the Fellowship are separated: Gandalf is to help in the early reign of Aragorn, who married the love of his life with the elven princess Arwen, who voluntarily gives up his life to take a life immortal mortal, Legolas and Gimli are getting more friends, when traditionally the Elves and the Dwarves had their differences, Faramir Now Prince of Ithilien, marries Éowyn, whose brother Eomer succeeds as King Theoden of Rohan, and the Hobbits return to the Shire. But the realism of Middle-earth shows that, as in life itself, things can not ever be as they were, traumatic events and the passage of time affect and change things and people, like Adam's sin and Eva impossible a world before the Fall. Even the Shire is same, or much less Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin. Of course, Sam is married to the love of his life: Rosie Cotton. The Shire has to be healthy because the wizard Saruman not-so-wise, having escaped the Ents, has sought to make their own and establish a dictatorial regime that the hobbits have to prevent a revolt.
Two and half years after these events, Frodo feels increasingly has suffered too many wounds are too deep-the sword of the Lord of the Nazgul, the sting of Shelob and finger ripped apart have borne the brunt of ring, which can not be more in Middle Earth. There is no possible return to a previous situation, because there are things not even time can heal all. With his uncle Bilbo, now very old, prepares to embark on a ship from the Grey Havens, with other carriers Rings-Elves Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf, to the Undying Lands of the West, the Blessed Realm of the Elves. "Where are you going my love?" Cried Sam ... The Ports, Sam, 'said Frodo. "And I can not go." No, Sam. Not yet, at any rate ... you will also come the time ... No be sad, Sam. There can always be split in two. need to feel healthy and whole for many years. You have so many things to enjoy both live and much to do. "But Sam said, while her eyes filled with tears, I thought you would also enjoy the Shire, years and years, after all he has done. "I also believed, at one time. But I've been wounded too deeply, Sam. I tried to save the Shire, and I've saved, but not for me. So it happens, Sam, when things are in danger: someone has to give them up, lose them, for others to keep. "* (Reference to St ª Bernadette of Lourdes). Already in the Grey Havens, with Sam, Merry and Pippin-all with tears, "Gandalf tells us not to cry, as not all tears are bitter. Certainly! In this regard, I recall a day of classes at the seminary, the professor told us that many young people went stunned by the noise in their lives, for crying bit ... then kisses Frodo Merry, Pippin and Sam, and climb aboard. "And the sails were hoisted and the wind blew, and the ship slipped slowly ... into in the high seas heading for West, until at last on a night of rain Frodo felt in the air was fragrant and heard singing coming on the water, and it seemed that ... the gray curtain of rain turned into silver and crystal, and that the veil is opened and before him white beaches, and beyond a distant country in the light green one Fast dawn. "scene evokes the book of Revelation:" Who are these, clothed in white, and where did they come? Are those that come from the great tribulation, and their robes white in the Blood of the Lamb. "For Sam, Merry and Pippin, who are left behind, like us, watching the boat disappear on the horizon, the sense of exile is intense . They were "well into the night, standing, hearing nothing but sigh and murmur of the waves on the shores of Middle-earth, and the sound they pierced the heart ... and not talk." Sam finally returns to his family in the Shire and faces his wife, Rosie, and Elanor, the first a few children. And sighs, "Well, I'm back ..."
Although The Lord of the Rings ends with the sound of angels (Ainur) recalling the exile of man from the fullness of love, truth and life, beyond death, Tolkien adds an appendix (Appendix A, A fragment of the story of Aragorn and Arwen ...) that concludes with the impression that the return to our true home awaits those who accept, albeit a "gift bitter" as Aragorn and Arwen, the "gift of death." Death as divine punishment "for sin, is also a divine" gift "if accepted, this is important for the final blessing, which produces a greater good unreachable otherwise. This "final blessing, which could be interpreted as a kind of death for Frodo, in fact it is, then remember that the" gift of death "was not the end of life in the plans of the Creator, but paradoxically its transformation fully. It sings a preface to the liturgy of the Dead (Preface): "... the life of those who believe in you, Lord, not end, it becomes ..." Thanks to the believing heart of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings assures us that "The last enemy to be destroyed is death" (I Cor 15, 26), so we do not seek full happiness in the mystery of time but in eternity ... So it tells Aragorn to Arwen before to sleep in death: "It seems [that death is a gift bitter]. But let us not abate in the final test, we who once renounced the Shadow and the Ring [the Devil and Sin]. With sadness we parted, but not in despair. Look! We are not always subject to the confines of the world, and on the other hand, there is something more than memories. Adios! " Conclusion
Why death is a "gift" divine to mortal men? Because God knows Ilúvatar centuries later, his Son Jesus Christ offered his own death on the cross as a gift "to repair the" punishment "of death because of original sin, his death will provide the gift of eternal life for us! So sings the liturgy of the Church of Easter (Preface): "Dying he destroyed our death and rising he restored life ..." Thus he lived as a devout Catholic Tolkien and thank her for this great good news. Even when he had to suffer through another "deadweight loss" to the death of his beloved Edith in 1971. Particularly in his later years, in that peaceful region, always walking among the trees, always ready to whisper and murmur of the waves on the shores of Middle Earth. As the Gospel says, "the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks ..." and enter the hand. Could not help escribírnoslo so epic and moving, before departure. I have not the slightest doubt that when it came time for his own death at 81 years of age, in that "fast dawn," as it was for Frodo's September 2, 1973, Sunday, day of Lord, the day of our joy and our joy, Tolkien came to personally experience the words of Psalm 62: "O God, thou art my God, I long for you ... to see your power and glory ..."
Time is running out, but because we become eternity. What to do with the time God has given us? Let's pilgrimage to the Eternal City, to a joy beyond our tears, to enjoy the communion of saints in the New Jerusalem. Surely, Tolkien already be there. Well he knew St. Paul (I Cor 2, 9): "No eye has seen, nor ear heard, neither came to the mind of man, [not even the prodigious mind of Tolkien!] What God has prepared for those who love Him. " So be it for us too, by the tender mercy of our God ...
