tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534539169157708222.post7820147986800023232..comments2024-03-26T12:19:52.801-04:00Comments on Tea at Trianon: The Lord of the Ringselena maria vidalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129629173535139807noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534539169157708222.post-6569187334096003252006-12-18T21:10:00.000-05:002006-12-18T21:10:00.000-05:00I read Greydanus' article, Maru and it is great. H...I read Greydanus' article, Maru and it is great. Here is a quote from it: "In fact, Frodo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, and Aragorn each in a remote way embody one of the three aspects of Christ’s ministry as priest, prophet, and king. Each also undergoes a kind of sacrificial "death" and rebirth.<br /><br />The priestly role belongs to Frodo, who bears a burden of terrible evil on behalf of the whole world, like Christ carrying his cross. Frodo’s via dolorosa or way of sorrows is at the very heart of Tolkien’s story, just as the crucifixion narratives are at the heart of the gospels accounts. As Christ descended into the grave, Frodo journeys into Mordor, the Land of Death, and there suffers a deathlike state in the lair of the giant spider Shelob before awakening to complete his task. And, as Christ ascended into heaven, Frodo’s life in Middle-earth comes to an end when he departs over the sea into the mythical West with the Elves, which is as much to say, into paradise.<br /><br />Gandalf is the prophet, revealing hidden knowledge, working wonders, teaching others the way. Evoking the saving death and resurrection of Christ, Gandalf does battle with the powers of hell to save his friends, sacrificing himself and descending into the nether regions before being triumphantly reborn in greater power and glory as Gandalf the White. As with Frodo, Gandalf’s sojourn in Middle-earth ends with his final voyage over the sea into the West.<br /><br />Finally, there is Aragorn, the crownless destined to be king. Besides being a messianic king of prophecy, Aragorn also dimly reflects the saving work of Christ by walking the Paths of the Dead and offering peace to the spirits there imprisoned, anticipating in a way the Harrowing of Hell. (The oath-breaking spirits Aragorn encounters on the Paths of the Dead, who cannot rest in peace until they expiate their treason, suggest a kind of purgatorial state.)"<br /><br />Thanks for the link!elena maria vidalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129629173535139807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534539169157708222.post-54010354223441333162006-12-18T20:54:00.000-05:002006-12-18T20:54:00.000-05:00I will check out the essay, Maru! Thanks for the r...I will check out the essay, Maru! Thanks for the recommendation!elena maria vidalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129629173535139807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534539169157708222.post-64460583429189150352006-12-18T20:25:00.000-05:002006-12-18T20:25:00.000-05:00I am one of the recent devotees of the LOTR subjec...I am one of the recent devotees of the LOTR subject. I find in it a sweet nostalgia of things and eras lost forever. It is a world of its own that allows you to enter and dwell and share with them every emotion. By the way, and in regards to the comment by Jeffrey, I want to share with you this excellent essay made on this work of Tolkien by Steven B. Greydanus, which he mentions has a lot to do with the Catholic devotion of Mr. Tolkien and the resemblance to Christ passage in this world. Please read it. It's superb. The site is decentfilms.com/sections/articles/2559. It is as enjoyable as the books and the films themselves. It is a discovery! ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534539169157708222.post-6335962842129532862006-12-18T07:38:00.000-05:002006-12-18T07:38:00.000-05:00I totally agree. Thanks, Jeffrey, for pointing tha...I totally agree. Thanks, Jeffrey, for pointing that out!elena maria vidalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129629173535139807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534539169157708222.post-27907542438989876352006-12-18T07:19:00.000-05:002006-12-18T07:19:00.000-05:00Theoden's willingness to offer himself up is the n...Theoden's willingness to offer himself up is the nature of true kingship. Even in pagan kings, this was a foreshadowing of Christ The King.Jeffrey Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05227411938775535934noreply@blogger.com