The Passion according to Tolkien

From Godspy

The heroes of The Lord Of the Rings who choose death mysteriously, yet unmistakably, increase in reality. This is the central paradox of the mystical life: diminishment in natural being is not necessarily a diminshment of Reality, but is rather often accompanied by a profound intensification of life presence. One thinks of the elderly, or the sick, who, through acceptance of fate, have made it their own and are lit up from within with a holy presence.

Tolkien and the Gift of Mortality

Clearly, mortality is at the heart of this story. The subject has become a hot topic today, with Leon Kass and other “mortalists” arguing against a research culture that sees death and aging merely as foes to be overcome. If medicine succeeds in making man immortal, or even much longer-lived, the mortalists argue, much that makes human life worthwhile will be lost. Kass has used the wisdom of such ancient authors as Homer to illustrate his vision of mortality’s benefits. In The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien makes a Christian case for the same claim. In Tolkien’s world, immortality and long life lead even the noblest creatures to a spiritual dead end, or to outright corruption.

THERE, Mark Shea, who claims of the Trilogy:

"The Holy Father has seen all three films and pronounces them 'way cool'", said Navarro-Valls. "Barb Nicolosi is hereby commanded to recant and renounce her grievous error. Oh, and Amy Welborn was described by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as 'insufficiently enthused'".

I think two blog entries and the fact that my son has already seen the movie twice should cover me. I do think.