The Salvation of the World

Today is a day I look forward to for two reasons, (don't you, too?)  First, today is The Feast of the Annunciation - the day when the Angel Gabriel came to a young girl named Mary and asked her to be the Mother of Our Lord, thus setting in motion the final steps to the salvation of the world.

The second reason is another celebration... a fictional one, I will admit, but a celebration non the less.  For today in Lord of the Rings history is the day that Sauron's Ring was destroyed, thus bringing about the salvation of Middle Earth.

As a devout Catholic and an avid Lord of the Rings fan, I am always overjoyed at how well these two loves go together.  Tolkien was a devout Catholic and this is very evident in his works.  But I'm sure you know that already, so I'll just cut to the quick and share with you some beautiful Catholic analogies (note, I said analogies, not allegories) and 'co-incidences' that I and my fellow Tolkien-fanatic friends have uncovered.

The Beginning of a New Year
This morning my dear friend, whom I shall call 'Flora Gamgee' gave me a call, first to wish me a Happy Annunciation, and secondly to bid me a Happy Destruction of the Ring Day.  During the course of our conversation, she told me that she just found out that in the traditional Catholic calendar, the liturgical year began today - March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation.  Appropriate, since the Annunciation is when God's plan for our salvation was set in to play.
Now, Tolkien would have known about this fact and so I find it of great and exciting interest that he picked March 25th as the day the Ring would be destroyed.  From that day forth "in Gondor the New Year will always now begin upon the twenty-fifth of March when Sauron fell." - Return of the King

The Seven Sacraments
Back in January, I spent the night at another Tolkien-friends house and spent at least an hour and forty-five minutes discussing the Lord of the Rings.  (Oh, heaven!)  We could have talked longer... but decided that as it was about two in the morning we probably get at least some sleep - given the fact that we had to get up early the next... er, that morning.
"Well, I expect that I shall go on sleeping, whether I drop off or no.  And the less said the sooner I'll drop off, if you get my meaning." - Samwise Gamgee
The prevalent theme of our discussion was the analogies contained in the Lord of the Rings.  We are firm believers that there are no direct allegories, because Tolkien said so himself that he detested allegories.  However, I do believe and contend that there are many analogies - how could there not be, with such a devoted Catholic as the author? 
One of the allegories we discussed were the presence of the Seven Sacraments.  To tell the truth, we only found six, but we are sure the seventh is hiding in there somewhere.

Baptism
"Frodo heard the splash of water.  It foamed about his feet.  He felt the quick heave and surge as the horse left the river... He was across the Ford. ... 'By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair', said Frodo with a last effort, lifting up his sword, ' you shall have neither the Ring nor me!' ... the black horses were filled with madness, and leaping forward in terror they bore their riders into the rushing flood.  Their piercing cries were drowned in the roaring of the river as it carried them away." - The Fellowship of the Ring
  
For those who are not familiar with the Catholic Sacrament of Baptism, the candidate renounces Satan and all his evil works, is immersed in or has the water poured over his head and the black stains of Original Sin are washed away, in much the same way that Frodo rides through the river, tells the servants of Sauron to go away and the Black Riders being swept away by the flood.  (There are other actions involved - such as the anointing with oil and lighting the baptismal candle, but as they do not directly pertain to the analogy I am trying to demonstrate, I did not mention them.)


Confession 
"Aragorn knelt beside him.  Boromir opened his eyes and strove to speak.  At last slow words came. 'I tried to take the Ring from Frodo,' he said.  'I am sorry.  I have paid.'" - The Two Towers
 
This analogy is not quite as obvious in the books, but has a beautiful representation in the movies, particularly when Aragorn makes an almost Sign of the Cross-like gesture and blesses Boromir. (I am sure the filmmakers were quite unaware of any similarities.  But that makes it all the cooler!)  Boromir is dying after having tried to take the Ring from Frodo, and then defending Merry and Pippin from the orcs.  Aragorn finds him, and Boromir confesses to him what he has done.  As Aragorn consoles him, telling him that he is forgiven, Boromir dies.

Holy Communion
"Often in their hearts they thanked the Lady of Lórien for the gift of lembas, for they could eat of it and find new strength even as they ran." - The Two Towers
"The lembas had a virtue without which they would long ago have lain down to die.... it fed the will, and it gave strength to endure, and to master sinew and limb beyond the measure of mortal kind." - The Return of the King

As much has already been written on the similarities of the lembas bread and the Eucharist - it being the more obvious of the analogies -  I will not add my own interpretation here.  I will only say... wow.  Is that last quote amazing or what?

Confirmation
"'We have drunk the cup of parting," she said, 'and the shadows fall between us.  But before you go, I have brought in my ship gifts which the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim now offer you in memory of Lothlorien.'" - The Fellowship of the Ring

This is another of the more hidden ones, but it is no less beautiful for it being hidden.  While Galadriel is not like a Bishop, or the Holy Spirit, she most certainly was inspired to give her gifts to the Fellowship.  Nine gifts, gifts that would strengthen and help each bearer in one way or another in their struggle against the evil of Sauron.

Matrimony
"And Aragorn the King Elessar wedded Arwen Undomiel in the City of the Kings upon the day of Midsummer, and the tale of their long waiting and labours was come to fulfillment."
And so it was settled.  Sam Gamgee married Rose Cotton in the Spring of 1420 (which was also famous for its weddings), and they came and lived at Bag End." - The Return of the King


I don't think I need to explain this one very much, do I? ;)  As we all know, Aragorn and Arwen, Faramir and Eowyn and Sam and Rosie were all married and all had long and beautiful lives together.

Holy Orders
Now I must confess that this is the Sacrament we are stumped on.  We are quite sure there is an analogy somewhere, but have not quite found it yet.  Any help?
Perhaps though... we are looking at this the wrong way... Read the later section titled "A Priest and a Deacon" and then give me your thoughts on the matter.

Anointing of the Sick
"So at last Faramir and Eowyn and Meriadoc were laid in beds in the Houses of Healing; and there they were tended well.
'The hands of the king are the hands of a healer.'" - The Return of the King

The Houses of Healing were a place in the city of Minas Tirith where those who were ill or dying were brought to be healed.  Many could be cured by ordinary means, but some required the special touch of the King.  It reminds me of how we often fall ill, but sometimes we need this sacrament, the healing of the King, to help us through our illness.  The beauty of it is that the Anointing of the Sick (formerly called 'The Last Rites') provides spiritual healing as well - just as Faramir and Eowyn were also healed of spiritual ailments in the Houses. 

A Priest and A Deacon
I cannot take credit for discovering either of the following analogies, having been informed myself by my friend Flora Gamgee and the other friend I mentioned who does not have a name.  Hmmm... I need to tell her to fix that.
While at the sleepover with my nameless friend, she mentioned that in ways Frodo was like a priest and Sam like a deacon.  Frodo had his specific task he was given, just as the priest has his.  Sam, as with the deacon, could not do Frodo's task for him - but he could help him to accomplish it.  Also, in case you never noticed, Frodo does not get married, just as a priest cannot, while Sam does.  (It is permissible for a deacon to be married, though technically they have to get married before they become a deacon.  Which is why these are analogies, not allegories.)

Finally, something that Flora pointed out to me that I found quite fascinating.  Before Frodo and Sam start their journey up Mount Doom (which has been likened to Christ's journey up Calvary) they eat the last bit of their food, they have their Last Supper.  As Frodo journey's up the mountain, bowed down with the weight of his burden, he stumbles and falls until at last he can go no further.  Then Sam helps by picking up Frodo and carrying him until he has the strength to go on.  (Simon of Cyrene, anyone?)

At that point the similarities stop, as Frodo gives in to the Ring's power.  But that is only natural.  Frodo was human - er, hobbit - and was able to give into temptation.  As I said before, that's why these are analogies and not allegories.  While some might discredit the imperfect fit of what I have just outlined, to me the fact that these incidents are not perfect fits, are not allegorical makes them that much more beautiful and fascinating.

So one these two special days - one Catholic, the other fictional - I hope I have given you something to ponder and marvel at the beauty of God's creation.  Thank you for bearing with me in my very long post.  =)

Nai haryuvalyë melwa rë!

(May you have a lovely day)

~ Silmarien

I Could Have Danced All Night

Finally, it was Saturday, the day of the Annual Daddy-Daughter Ball, a night that Rose and all of the other girls in the homeschooling group had been looking forward to for weeks now.  It was the night when they all dressed up in their very best, did their hair in elegant twists, braids and curls and went out for a special night with their fathers and friends.  A night of dancing, food, friends and fun.

That morning was spent in a flurry of preparations.  As soon as Rose awoke, she went to the kitchen and began to make the dessert, munching on various bagels and handfuls of cereal for breakfast in between.  That finished, Rose proceeded to do her usual Saturday cleaning chores, which her mother strangely insisted must be done.  About noon, Rose began to curl her two of her sister's hair while the rest donned their ball gowns.  Hair curling finished, Rose put on her gold 'Cinderella' gown, brushed on her makeup, selected some jewelry and rushed out the door.

This year her mother was the official photographer, and as Rose's father had gone earlier to fix the lighting and backdrop, the girls rode with their mother to the ball.  They were also going early, so the other two girls and Rose could have their hair done and so Rose could assist with doing the hair.  They arrived, parking next to a car with a license plate from MI.  Rose briefly wondered who could be here from MI, but shrugged it off as someone's relative who happened to be visiting.

The girls secured their purses and dishes, wondering why their mother insisted on them all walking in together.  Yaviel had not heard this instruction and had gone in ahead, resulting in frustrated sighs from Mother and questions from Rose that went unanswered.  Yet they did not suspect a thing.

As they walked in, Rose and her sisters were greeted by friends who were there doing hair and having their hair done.

"Oh, where is Kathleen?" friend Sarah, inquired.

"Ummm, right there," Rose said, slightly puzzled as Kathleen walked in behind her.

"Oh, I'll take your coats!" another friend offered, grabbing Yaviel's coat.  Rose thought this a little odd, and went to hang up her own coat.  She had nearly reached the coat rack when seemingly out of no where, a vision of her dear friend Vicki stepped out and said "Hi guys!"

Rose stopped and stared.  What on earth?  That wasn't Vicki... Vicki lived up in MI... that was Vicki!  Then Vicki's sister Hannah stepped smiling from the Lady's 'Power Room'.  Half dropping, half throwing her purse and coat (and in the process breaking her fan) Rose shrieked Vicki's name and threw herself on her friend, as Yaviel and Kathleen yelled and threw themselves at Hannah.

For several minutes, all Rose could do was just hug her friend and cry and stammer out "How?" You're" "Vicki!"  Eventually the story of Hannah and Vicki's miraculous appearance came out.  Two weeks prior to the ball, Claire - the main hairdresser for the ball - had been wishing for a helper who really knew how to do hair.  Someone like... Vicki.

"Well, why not invite her to the ball?" was Claire's mother's reply.  So off an e-mail was sent, and a reply came back saying that the girls and their dad would be happy to come down for the ball.  At that point, some brilliant angel had the wonderful idea of having the visit be a surprise for Rose, Kathleen and Yaviel.

And indeed, a surprise it was.  For hours the initial surprise, Rose continued to look over at her friends, still marveling at how this all came about.  Yaviel periodically giggled while she had her hair done.  It was all too wonderful to be true!

Rose also had the pleasure of surprising someone that night.  Several months ago, Rose realized how much her friends Vicki and Jo March had in common and decided that even if they couldn't meet in real life, they should at least get to know each other via e-mail and promptly ordered them to become pen pals.  (She was successful).

Jo came in a while later and went over to give Rose a hug as she was holding a container of bobby pins for Vicki.  Jo semi-glanced at Vicki on her way over, but it was not until  Jo was in the middle of starting to give Rose a hug when she stopped, did a double take, and said "Wait... you're Vicki!"  And so at last, the two were able to meet.

The rest of the night was a glorious blur of dancing and bliss.  Rose danced nearly every dance, enjoying especially the dances with her father.  This was Rose's first time dancing in her first pair of high heels, and she was very pleased to discover that she could indeed dance polkas, the Cotton Eyed Joe and just dance safely with heels three inches high.  Vicki, Hannah, Rose, Yaviel, Kathleen, Mystica, His Little Butterfly and Jo all took a 'forum family' photo. 

At one point that night, "Love Story meets Viva la Vida" was played and the girls stood in the middle of the dance floor, singing along at the tops of their lungs and making up dance moves to the rest of the song.  Later, Rose and her fellow seventeen-year-olsd took their annual group photo shoot.

At last, the clock struck nine thirty - or something like that - and the ball drew to a close.  The final dance was played and heads bowed for the final prayer.  Then the hall burst out again in noise as everyone participated in taking down the decorations and cleaning up the room.  Little by little, farewells were given and the families departed.

For Rose, Yaviel, Kathleen, Vicki and Hannah though, the party still went on.  When they arrived at the house, the girls were promptly given a tour of the house - the bedrooms, the upstairs, the finished basement and...

"You guys have a BAR!" Hannah couldn't believe her eyes.  "Oh man, I need pictures of this!"

Once the excitement of discovering the bar had died down, the girls played around with the video effects on Hannah's FBI laptop and eventually fell asleep. 

As Rose lay on the floor, trying to ignore Yaviel, who was talking to herself, she thanked God for the wonderful blessings she had been given that day.  It hadn't started out so well, her knees and ankles had hurt before she even got to the dance and she had been feeling a little down because she didn't think she looked that good at all.  The dress looked weird... her face looked blotchy... her hair looked blah... the typical nonsensical woes of any teenage girl, silly but potentially harmful to a good evening.  Yet she had been saved by the love of her parents and her friends.  She fell asleep happy, and thankful and she could have danced all night.

Taking Chance - a Movie Review

A few weeks ago my family and I watched the film "Taking Chance". This is the review I wrote about it.

Two men, both were soldiers. They journeyed together across the country. One was going home; the other was bringing him there. From HBO Films comes “Taking Chance”, a moving story of honor, heroism and gratitude.

PFC Chance Phelps was a 19 year old Marine fighting in Iraq. Lieutenant Colonel Mike Strobl was a seventeen year member of the Marines on an office tour. When Chance – at one time from Strobl’s hometown – was killed in action, Col. Strobl volunteered to be his escort home.

The film itself is a work of art. Images and music make up the main part of the story-telling; dialogue is kept to a minimum. The directors pulled this technique off very well, creating a splendid visual experience. The first fifteen minutes are nearly silent, the producers instead setting the stage with a few lines of opening dialogue and images.

Watching this story unfold, you cannot help being moved to tears and filled with pride for our servicemen. You wish you could have been there with all the civilians who gave honor to Chance along his way home. In one particularly moving moment, Chance is making the final leg of the journey. The flag-draped coffin is clearly visible in the back of the funeral director’s van. Gradually, the few other vehicles on the highway turn on their lights and form a funeral procession for the fallen soldier.

“Taking Chance” has to be one of the best war films of recent times. The screenplay was written by Col. Strobl – thus the film stays away from added dramatics, adventures and unnecessary subplots that would mar the telling of Strobl’s tale. Instead, the viewer is treated to a simple and beautiful story. A story of honor, dignity, bravery and the gratitude of a nation; story well worth viewing.

“Phelps was wearing his Saint Christopher medal when he was killed on Good Friday. Eight days later, I handed the medallion to his mother. I didn’t know Chance before he died. Today, I miss him.” – Lt.Col. Mike Strobl

Happy Feast Day to the Little Flower

Today for Saint Therese's feast day my family, some friends and I made a pilgrimage to a Shrine dedicated to her. There was a Mass, we walked through the little museum, watched a short video about her and attended a talk by a Carmelite brother.

It's amazing when you stop and think about it - how well known Saint Therese is around the world. The brother stated in his talk, Therese is probably the most popular saint in the world. I can believe it, so many girls are named after her, so many churches... if people only know about one saint, chances are it's Saint Therese. About 400 people came to the mass today - an 11:30 Mass... on a Thursday!

And what really makes you stop and wonder in awe is when you find out that only 30 people came to Saint Therese's funeral.


Happy Feast Day Saint Therese!

5 Quick Takes Saturday - Vol 19

~ 1 ~

I found this lovely article on Lily Maiden's blog and thought i would share it with you.

n 1984, a video called The Silent Scream helped change the way people think about the unborn child. The footage of an actual abortion and the fetus’s reaction reminded us that abortion involves the death of a real person.

A recent bit of footage has similar potential, only it couldn’t be more different from The Silent Scream.

The footage was part of a recent PBS special, The Music Instinct: Science & Song. The program was an exploration of, among other things, music’s “biological, emotional and psychological impact on humans.”

Part of this “exploration” included how music affects babies. If we are, as some scientists believe, “wired for music,” then babies are ideal test subjects since their reactions are, by definition, instinctual.

Part of this research involved the effect of music on fetuses. While we knew that mothers often sing to their unborn children, we weren’t sure that the unborn child could hear them.

We are now. Read the rest here.

~ 2 ~

While on the subject of music, i found this gorgeous version of Pachelbel's Canon on YouTube today, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. It's really something!




~ 3 ~

More music, this one sad news. Jon Schmidt won't be able to sell "Love Story meets Viva la Vida". Coldplay wouldn't give permission, so no song! Jon Schmidt did redo the song, so now it's just "Love Story meets Love Story". It's pretty good and i like it, though i still like Viva better.




~ 4 ~

This does not have to do with music; movies instead. Danny just started a blog for his film endeavor titled "A Crusader's Tale". It's looking pretty nice!

http://melstudio.blogspot.com/

~ 5 ~

In case you still haven't done this yet, go and vote for The Bible on the "What Would You Take With You" poll. You have until the 20th to vote and get everyone else you know to vote as well!

http://www.sonypictures.net/movies/2012/preservationlist/

One Voice that Changed the Lives of Millions

About a week ago, my family and i watched the film "Amazing Grace", and tonight i watched it again. I'd heard about it from friends of mine, and after hearing about it enough times i actually went and got it from the library, where it so conveniently happened to be sitting on the shelf during one trip where i was told to "go find a movie for us to watch tonight". I can't believe i hadn't taken the initiative to get it before.

"Amazing Grace" was truly, amazing. There was a preview for the movie before the movie (where all the rest of the previews are) and while waiting for my mom to come we watched the preview and i fell in love with "Amazing Grace" right then and there. I loved it even more after i actually watched the film.

"Amazing Grace" is the story of William Wilberforce, a Member of Parliament for 45 years and a tireless advocate of abolition, better education, the poor and countless other social reforms. The movie mentions 'Wilber's' other causes, but focuses on his goal of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. In fact, the release was planned to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the passing of the Parliamentary Bill banning the slave trade.

My mother was wondering why, given the amazing accomplishments that Wilberforce achieved, we had never heard a bit about him before, but a biography on Wilberforce that i just finished reading gives a good analogy. It's a bit like when there is a dreadful disease, the book said. It consumes the populace, destroying the nation, but then a wonderful cure is invented that so totally wipes out the disease that people no longer remember there was a disease, or even a cure for it.

I was and am very inspired by the story of William Wilberforce. He worked tirelessly and doggedly for the end of slavery, even to the point of ruining his health. never giving up, supported by a slow growing group of like-minded people and in the end was able to rid the Empire of slavery.

Of course, after watching "Amazing Grace", i naturally thought of the parallels between slavery and abortion. Abortion is a more silent issue than slavery in the US was, but in England during Wilberforce's time slavery was a 'silent issue' as well. Slaves had previously been emancipated in England, so most people had no idea what slavery was really like. Slaves were in the West Indies, far across the Atlantic Ocean and far removed from public knowledge. The average Englishman had no concept of the cruilties and the horrors of slavery. They were told that the Africans were far better off as slaves, much like we are told that women are far better off without "unplanned pregnancies".

It gives me hope; if one man in Parliment could bring a "silent issue" to the attention of the government and the public, eventually winning over opposition and ridding the empire of a 'peculiar insitution'... could we be rid of abortion by having at least one or two politicians dedicated to the pro-life cause in our government?

With amazing grace, i think we could.

Love Story with Viva la Vida

This is a beautifully amazing video! Thanks Molly!

5 Quick Takes Saturday - Vol 3

-1-

This is really late in the day this week, but I couldn't help it. I went to this amazing pro-life teen conference today and was able to hear talks by Dr. Alveda King (Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece), Eric Scheidler and Brian Kemper. The talks were awesome, and definitely made me want to become more involved with the pro-life movement. We also had a picket sign making contest, where we divided up into groups under four various situations, and each team had to make a sign fitting in with that situation. They then picked the best signs from each of the catergories, and then we all picked the best over all. The winning sign was under the situation: President Obama is coming to your town. Create a sign highlighting his pro-abortion stance. The sign read:

Start that "change" now!

Stop Abortion!

We all loved that sign! I was in the same catergory, and my groups sign read:

A Baby
Not Tissue
A Gift
Not a punishment

So if you ever see signs anywhere saying that, we came up with them! It was a lot of fun. Although I wish there hadn't been a conference. Well, hopefully abortion will soon be abolished and there won'd ever have to be another one!

-2-

Fitting in with the pro-life theme, here is an amazing commercial that television stations refused to air during the SuperBowl tomorrow. A Must Watch! I get chills every time I see it.

-3-

Volition. Another wonderful, amazing and awesome video. It is about 15 minutes long, but is certainly worth the time to watch it three or four times, so that the many layers to this sink in. For your information, according to Webster...
Volition: An act of making a choice or decision; also; a choice or decision being made.
That should help in understanding the film.

-4-

Blogger is such a pain. I highlighted those red words and made them bold a couple of takes up, and now I've been fighting with it ever since! It won't stay black and un-bold! So who knows what color and type this will all post in. If it posts at all. It's been 'saving' for the past five minutes.

-5-

Lastly, one more video. Yes, yes I know. But this is another good one. It's a song, and after watching it three times, I think they are making fun of O'bama, but I'm still not really sure. Watch it and decide for yourself. I'll put the link, because you have to read the lyrics too!
There's No One as Irish as Barack O'bama.

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Below is a Mr. Linky list if you'd like to add a link to your own 7 Quick Takes post. (1) Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your post and not your main blog URL. (2) Include a link back here.
I look forward to reading your posts!

Look what we found in our driveway today!

This big guy crawled all the way from the creek at the bottom of our, er, hill, of sorts... roughly an 1/8 pf a mile away? Or maybe a quarter of a mile. I confess, I am terrible at determining distance! It takes us humans a little over five minutes to walk down there, if that helps! So he walked that.. and through tall corn as well.

Upon further scrutiny, we discovered that our guest was missing an eye!

Poor thing, he seemed a bit beat up in other places as well.

Though after watching him snap at a stick in half... and looking at those claws, he certainly doesn't seem all that defenseless!

We all oohed and ahhed, took a whole bunch of photos of our snapper, washed him off with the hose (from a safe distance, of course!), and threw some celery at him. When went back inside, he turned around and shuffled back into the corn.
Amazing!