12-17-2020, 01:42 AM
Hence, Círdan foresaw that Gandalf would renew the faith and the charity of the people when times would be at their darkest, much like the End Times when charity will “grow cold” as Christ foretold. 61 The only detail that does not correspond with the idea of the papal ring is that Gandalf’s ring is not the mightiest
of the Three. The Pope of the Catholic Church as the Vicar of Christ is quite independent of every temporal sovereignty and of every spiritual power, i.e. he cannot be ordered around by kings or bishops in Church matters, and is supreme on earth, not even being subject to a general council of the Church.62 Concerning the papal ring, it was once used to sign important documents as his official seal. Upon the death of a pope, the papal ring was effaced to ensure that no other may usurp his authority or forge documents after his death with the seal. The ritual of effacing the ring is still continued to this day. Perhaps it was an unintended oversight in that Tolkien did not give Gandalf the most powerful of the Three Elven Rings, but he did reaffirm the theological symbols of Gandalf as ‘pontiff’ of the Istari, representative of the Logos and the Holy Spirit symbolised by Light and Fire, by giving him Narya the Great, the Ring of Fire. Of interest, one of the principle duties of the Catholic pontiff is to preserve the Faith, unite Christendom, and heal Christ’s people. Lord Elrond reveals that the Three Elven Rings, (including Gandalf’s Ring of Fire), were made with a similar purpose: “But they were not made as weapons of war or conquest: that is not their power. Those who made them did not desire strength or domination or hoarded wealth, but understanding, making, and healing, to preserve all things unstained.”63 The only difference is the Elven Rings could be enslaved if Sauron finds the One Ring, while pontifical authority symbolised in the pope’s ring cannot be enslaved as the spiritual authority of the pope is above all secular and ecclesial power.
Regarding the Catholic pontificate itself, Christ had declared that Peter was the Rock on which he would build His Church and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it. (Matt.1 6:18) In other words, all Hell would try to destroy the Church, especially by attacking the papacy, but would not succeed. We notice Tolkien may have alluded to Christ’s promise to Peter and his successors, i.e. when the black orc-hosts of Mordor eventually attack the Gates of Minas Tirith with a gigantic battering ram shaped in the likeness of a ravening wolf. The battering ram
is called Grond after the Hammer of the Underworld wielded by the ancient Satanlike Lord Morgoth. The gates of the King’s City holds amidst the initial poundings of the battering ram, but the Lord of the Nazgûl urges the black army onward and the gates eventually burst asunder. The Nazgûl king attempts to enter the City of Gondor and rides “... under the archway that no enemy ever yet had passed.” All flee from his horrific form sending despair with its menacing shadow, all save one, Gandalf and his fearless white horse: “There waiting, silent and still in the space before the Gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax: Shadowfax who alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror, unmoving, steadfast as a graven image in Rath Dìnen. ‘You cannot enter here,’ said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted.’” 64 Gandalf commands him to depart and enter the black nothingness of the abyss prepared from him and his Dark Master. The Lord of the Nazgûl mocks Gandalf, but he is prevented from entering and taking the city. The sun rises and the faithful armies of Rohan ride to the rescue. The evil Nazgûl king suddenly flies off to engage them and leaves the city just when he had it within his grasp. In the end, Gandalf courageously held him off, ensuring that the City of the Faithful Númenoreans that had never seen an enemy enter past its threshold remained as it was ~ hammered, but undefeated.
61 “And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12)
62 The Pope not subject to a general council was declared by Eugenius IV., (Sept. 4, 1439; Vatican Council, 4, 3).
63 Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, p. 286.
64 Ibid. The Return of the King, pp. 860-861.
of the Three. The Pope of the Catholic Church as the Vicar of Christ is quite independent of every temporal sovereignty and of every spiritual power, i.e. he cannot be ordered around by kings or bishops in Church matters, and is supreme on earth, not even being subject to a general council of the Church.62 Concerning the papal ring, it was once used to sign important documents as his official seal. Upon the death of a pope, the papal ring was effaced to ensure that no other may usurp his authority or forge documents after his death with the seal. The ritual of effacing the ring is still continued to this day. Perhaps it was an unintended oversight in that Tolkien did not give Gandalf the most powerful of the Three Elven Rings, but he did reaffirm the theological symbols of Gandalf as ‘pontiff’ of the Istari, representative of the Logos and the Holy Spirit symbolised by Light and Fire, by giving him Narya the Great, the Ring of Fire. Of interest, one of the principle duties of the Catholic pontiff is to preserve the Faith, unite Christendom, and heal Christ’s people. Lord Elrond reveals that the Three Elven Rings, (including Gandalf’s Ring of Fire), were made with a similar purpose: “But they were not made as weapons of war or conquest: that is not their power. Those who made them did not desire strength or domination or hoarded wealth, but understanding, making, and healing, to preserve all things unstained.”63 The only difference is the Elven Rings could be enslaved if Sauron finds the One Ring, while pontifical authority symbolised in the pope’s ring cannot be enslaved as the spiritual authority of the pope is above all secular and ecclesial power.
Regarding the Catholic pontificate itself, Christ had declared that Peter was the Rock on which he would build His Church and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it. (Matt.1 6:18) In other words, all Hell would try to destroy the Church, especially by attacking the papacy, but would not succeed. We notice Tolkien may have alluded to Christ’s promise to Peter and his successors, i.e. when the black orc-hosts of Mordor eventually attack the Gates of Minas Tirith with a gigantic battering ram shaped in the likeness of a ravening wolf. The battering ram
is called Grond after the Hammer of the Underworld wielded by the ancient Satanlike Lord Morgoth. The gates of the King’s City holds amidst the initial poundings of the battering ram, but the Lord of the Nazgûl urges the black army onward and the gates eventually burst asunder. The Nazgûl king attempts to enter the City of Gondor and rides “... under the archway that no enemy ever yet had passed.” All flee from his horrific form sending despair with its menacing shadow, all save one, Gandalf and his fearless white horse: “There waiting, silent and still in the space before the Gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax: Shadowfax who alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror, unmoving, steadfast as a graven image in Rath Dìnen. ‘You cannot enter here,’ said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted.’” 64 Gandalf commands him to depart and enter the black nothingness of the abyss prepared from him and his Dark Master. The Lord of the Nazgûl mocks Gandalf, but he is prevented from entering and taking the city. The sun rises and the faithful armies of Rohan ride to the rescue. The evil Nazgûl king suddenly flies off to engage them and leaves the city just when he had it within his grasp. In the end, Gandalf courageously held him off, ensuring that the City of the Faithful Númenoreans that had never seen an enemy enter past its threshold remained as it was ~ hammered, but undefeated.
61 “And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12)
62 The Pope not subject to a general council was declared by Eugenius IV., (Sept. 4, 1439; Vatican Council, 4, 3).
63 Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, p. 286.
64 Ibid. The Return of the King, pp. 860-861.