12-18-2020, 12:41 AM
One last observation concerning Gandalf’s role as ‘pontiff’ is his unexpected mercy towards Saruman in a Christ-like manner in the hope he might repent of his treachery. The most important mission of the Church is teaching the forgiveness of sins no matter how great, and to encourage souls to follow He who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life: Gandalf fulfils this mission as well. Saruman and his army are defeated and the traitor is imprisoned in the tower of Orthanc. However, Gandalf gives Saruman the choice to go where he wishes, even to the Enemy if that be his desire, or, to redeem himself by helping them in their cause to defend Gondor against Lord Sauron. Gandalf also declares that in time if Saruman’s deeds merit it, he will eventually give him back his staff and reinstate him as a member of the Council. Everyone is amazed at this generous offer and cannot comprehend it. Unfortunately, Saruman craves supremacy in Middle Earth and refuses to leave the tower of Orthanc willingly, nor will he help Gondor and its allies, accusing Gandalf of the lust for power that he himself is consumed by. Gandalf is left with no choice but to forcibly divest Saruman of his office not only as Leader but also as a member of the Istari as he has proved unworthy to be numbered among them. Gandalf leaves him confined within the tower to await the dreadful wrath of Lord Sauron,whom he had also betrayed. Gandalf bitterly regrets this turn of events; “I do not wish for mastery. What will become of him? I cannot say. I grieve that so much good now festers in the tower.”65 Rather than rejoice at his enemy’s demise, Gandalf attempts to save him from his own evilness and is mournful that Saruman remains unrepentant.
As we have seen, there is enough evidence to suggest that Tolkien fashioned Gandalf and his adventures after the Roman Catholic papacy to a point, but are there passages or events in Lord of the Rings that links him with the ‘Angelic Pontiff’ that Catholic mystics have foretold? According to prophecy, both the Great Monarch and the Angelic Pontiff will work together in their respective spheres to restore all that was destroyed by evil and usher in an age of peace before the final temptation of mankind near the end of time. As we have seen earlier in our study, Gandalf reappears as the ‘Angelic’ Leader of the Istari just as Aragorn comes forth from hiding and reclaims his kingdom similar to the prophecies concerning the Great Monarch that will help restore Christendom. There are a few other similarities with Gandalf and prophecies concerning the Angelic Pontiff: when Saruman attempts to persuade Gandalf yet known as The Grey Pilgrim to join with him in his evil designs, Gandalf refuses and as a consequence is imprisoned upon the pinnacle of Orthanc; however, he eventually escapes Saruman’s clutches. As we have seen earlier, Catholic mystics such as Marie-Julie Jahenny foretold that the Angelic Pontiff would be held captive within Rome itself, and would be freed by the Great King. Although Gandalf’s situation is slightly different, he is not yet Leader and is not rescued by Aragorn, the fact he is held prisoner by one of his own who has grown corrupt bears a resemblance to Jahenny’s revelations. We could also propose that Gandalf courageously challenging the Nazgûl King at the Gates of the King’s City when all resistance seems hopeless may also represent the captivity of the Angelic Pontiff surrounded by enemies in Rome. The King of Rohan and Aragorn arrives with his phantom army and saves Gondor, much like the Great Monarch who will come to Italy with his armies and liberate the Eternal City. In several prophecies we find that the Great Pope will crown the Great Monarch Holy Roman Emperor of Christendom, for example, St. Ignatius of Santhia declared (1686-1770): “A scion of the Carolingian race, by all considered extinct, will come to Rome and behold and admire the piety and clemency of this Pontiff, who will crown him, and declare him to be the legitimate Emperor of the Romans...”66 In the Lord of the Rings, we find that Aragorn departs from custom for his coronation and instead of setting the crown upon his head, grants the honour to Gandalf:
Yet, the triumph and happiness of the restored kingdom is not yet complete, Aragorn is awaiting the ‘sign’ when all shall be fulfilled and his days assured of blessedness and peace, for the White Tree of his forefathers still stands dead in the King’s courtyard. Gandalf takes Aragorn up a steep forgotten path that only kings have tread leading to a high precipice in the mountains overlooking the kingdom. First, he reminds Aragorn of his secular and sacred duties, to rule wisely, and to preserve and defend the true faith: “This is your realm, and the heart of the greater realm that shall be. The Third Age of the world is ended, and the new age is begun; and it is your task to order its beginning and to preserve what may be preserved.”68 Gandalf bids Aragorn to look away from the valley and search the snow. To his surprise, Aragorn discovers a young white sapling: a lost descendant of Telperion, symbolic of the Biblical Tree of Life. With joy Aragorn takes it back to the city and plants it in the royal courtyard for now he knows that his wish will be granted ~ Lord Elrond will give his daughter Arwen to him to be his wife. Elrond had declared he would not give him the hand of his daughter in marriage, Princess Arwen, unless he became King of the Númenoreans and someone worthy of her. Now that a White Tree has been found, Aragorn set guards upon the walls of the city and awaits her arrival. Elrond and his retinue enters the city and at last surrenders to Aragorn the sceptre of his ancestors that he may rule as king, and their joy is finally complete as he gives him Arwen to be his bride, a scene reminiscent of the Lamb and Eternal King receiving His bride in the Heavenly court with the Tree of Life planted at the foot of His Eternal Throne as seen in the Apocalypse:
In all, there is considerable evidence that Tolkien modelled his characters Gandalf and Aragorn upon the various prophecies of the Angelic Pontiff and Great Monarch, mighty spiritual and secular leaders restoring peace and joy to the Faithful on Middle-Earth.
By now, the reader is probably wondering that if Tolkien did indeed fashion two of his heroic characters from Catholic prophecies, what about the evil protagonists? Were any of them inspired by these little-known revelations concerning future times? The answer is yes, but to discover the links between the myth and the prophecies, we must venture not only into the realm of unnerving revelations, but also into the murky world of secret sects, dark plots, occult signs, bloody revolutions and conspiracy theories ~ we must probe deep into the burning Eye of Sauron.
65 Ibid. The Two Towers, p. 608.
66 We are Warned, pp. 539-540.
67 Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, p. 1004.
68 Ibid. p. 1007.
As we have seen, there is enough evidence to suggest that Tolkien fashioned Gandalf and his adventures after the Roman Catholic papacy to a point, but are there passages or events in Lord of the Rings that links him with the ‘Angelic Pontiff’ that Catholic mystics have foretold? According to prophecy, both the Great Monarch and the Angelic Pontiff will work together in their respective spheres to restore all that was destroyed by evil and usher in an age of peace before the final temptation of mankind near the end of time. As we have seen earlier in our study, Gandalf reappears as the ‘Angelic’ Leader of the Istari just as Aragorn comes forth from hiding and reclaims his kingdom similar to the prophecies concerning the Great Monarch that will help restore Christendom. There are a few other similarities with Gandalf and prophecies concerning the Angelic Pontiff: when Saruman attempts to persuade Gandalf yet known as The Grey Pilgrim to join with him in his evil designs, Gandalf refuses and as a consequence is imprisoned upon the pinnacle of Orthanc; however, he eventually escapes Saruman’s clutches. As we have seen earlier, Catholic mystics such as Marie-Julie Jahenny foretold that the Angelic Pontiff would be held captive within Rome itself, and would be freed by the Great King. Although Gandalf’s situation is slightly different, he is not yet Leader and is not rescued by Aragorn, the fact he is held prisoner by one of his own who has grown corrupt bears a resemblance to Jahenny’s revelations. We could also propose that Gandalf courageously challenging the Nazgûl King at the Gates of the King’s City when all resistance seems hopeless may also represent the captivity of the Angelic Pontiff surrounded by enemies in Rome. The King of Rohan and Aragorn arrives with his phantom army and saves Gondor, much like the Great Monarch who will come to Italy with his armies and liberate the Eternal City. In several prophecies we find that the Great Pope will crown the Great Monarch Holy Roman Emperor of Christendom, for example, St. Ignatius of Santhia declared (1686-1770): “A scion of the Carolingian race, by all considered extinct, will come to Rome and behold and admire the piety and clemency of this Pontiff, who will crown him, and declare him to be the legitimate Emperor of the Romans...”66 In the Lord of the Rings, we find that Aragorn departs from custom for his coronation and instead of setting the crown upon his head, grants the honour to Gandalf:
“...let Mithrandir set it upon my head, if he will; for he has
been the mover of all that has been accomplished, and this is his
victory.’
Then Frodo came forward and took the crown from
Faramir and bore it to Gandalf; and Aragorn knelt, and Gandalf
set the White Crown upon his head, and said:
‘Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed
while the thrones of the Valar endure!’.”67
Yet, the triumph and happiness of the restored kingdom is not yet complete, Aragorn is awaiting the ‘sign’ when all shall be fulfilled and his days assured of blessedness and peace, for the White Tree of his forefathers still stands dead in the King’s courtyard. Gandalf takes Aragorn up a steep forgotten path that only kings have tread leading to a high precipice in the mountains overlooking the kingdom. First, he reminds Aragorn of his secular and sacred duties, to rule wisely, and to preserve and defend the true faith: “This is your realm, and the heart of the greater realm that shall be. The Third Age of the world is ended, and the new age is begun; and it is your task to order its beginning and to preserve what may be preserved.”68 Gandalf bids Aragorn to look away from the valley and search the snow. To his surprise, Aragorn discovers a young white sapling: a lost descendant of Telperion, symbolic of the Biblical Tree of Life. With joy Aragorn takes it back to the city and plants it in the royal courtyard for now he knows that his wish will be granted ~ Lord Elrond will give his daughter Arwen to him to be his wife. Elrond had declared he would not give him the hand of his daughter in marriage, Princess Arwen, unless he became King of the Númenoreans and someone worthy of her. Now that a White Tree has been found, Aragorn set guards upon the walls of the city and awaits her arrival. Elrond and his retinue enters the city and at last surrenders to Aragorn the sceptre of his ancestors that he may rule as king, and their joy is finally complete as he gives him Arwen to be his bride, a scene reminiscent of the Lamb and Eternal King receiving His bride in the Heavenly court with the Tree of Life planted at the foot of His Eternal Throne as seen in the Apocalypse:
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give glory to him; for the
marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath prepared herself.
marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath prepared herself.
And it is granted to her that she clothe herself with fine linen,
glittering and white.” (Apoc. 19:7-8)
“And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst
of the street thereof, and on both sides of the river, was the tree of
life ...” (Apoc. 22:1-2)
In all, there is considerable evidence that Tolkien modelled his characters Gandalf and Aragorn upon the various prophecies of the Angelic Pontiff and Great Monarch, mighty spiritual and secular leaders restoring peace and joy to the Faithful on Middle-Earth.
By now, the reader is probably wondering that if Tolkien did indeed fashion two of his heroic characters from Catholic prophecies, what about the evil protagonists? Were any of them inspired by these little-known revelations concerning future times? The answer is yes, but to discover the links between the myth and the prophecies, we must venture not only into the realm of unnerving revelations, but also into the murky world of secret sects, dark plots, occult signs, bloody revolutions and conspiracy theories ~ we must probe deep into the burning Eye of Sauron.
65 Ibid. The Two Towers, p. 608.
66 We are Warned, pp. 539-540.
67 Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, p. 1004.
68 Ibid. p. 1007.