I notice that majority of Catholics I know have one common answer in their list of favorite books and movies… It’s The Lord of the Rings! LOTR, we commonly say for short. I thought such answer was already becoming a cliché just to impress and show that they were serious about their faith. Later on, I realized that they really were true fans of the LOTR books, the movies, or both. It seems that if you’re Catholic and have read or watched LOTR, you naturally get drawn to, like and love it. That must be because of the overall feel it has- a Catholic vibe.
Not everybody is aware of this, but you really get a sense of that Catholic vibe in The Lord of the Rings because the author intentionally put Catholic symbolisms in the epic fantasy series.
“The Lord of the Rings” is a classic masterpiece that a great many of people, including myself, have loved through the years. It took twelve years for English author and scholar John Ronald Reuel or J. R. R. Tolkien to complete writing it as a sequel to his other popular work, “The Hobbit.” It was all worth it because almost 64 years since its first publishing, The Lord of the Rings continues to inspire and delight many – especially Catholics.
While there were longtime book fans, there must also be a lot of you who discovered it through the films, such as myself. I started being a big fan of The Lord of the Rings when its first movie was released. It just captivated me. I remember watching the Trilogy (The Fellowship of the Ring in 2002, The Two Towers in 2003, and The Return of the King in 2004) in SM North EDSA Cinemas with my family. During that time, it seemed to me that I was the only kid my age who could appreciate its story. Being its sole fan, I had to defend why I loved it; like, it’s Me and Tolkien against the world. One thing about me is that my likes and interests are different from most girls, and it has always been like that since my childhood. Back then, all the kids I knew were more into shallow series that had ‘friendship’ as the only main theme. But I wanted more depth in a story and felt inclined to the ones like LOTR.
I personally believe that The Lord of the Rings Soundtracks, by Howard Shore, is one of the most superb Original Film Scores ever composed. I think that it is among the ‘unbeatables’ even after more than a decade. The timeless LOTR music in the movies, which I often listen to, sounds almost heavenly to me. I have always loved singing the songs “In Dreams” (a true favorite of mine) and “May It Be,” knowing all their lyrics by heart, and playing them on the flute and the Electone or organ.
On my 14th Birthday, my Mommy and my Daddy gave me a Movie Edition Book Set of The Lord of the Rings, which included The Hobbit, as one of their gifts. With its sentimental value, I consider it among my most valuable stuffs, taking care of these Books up to now. Someday, I’m going to give them to my future children, like a small heirloom.
I also have a collection of genuinely original The Lord of the Rings Widescreen Version DVDs. My parents gave me The Fellowship of the Ring DVD on Christmas of the same year. It’s memorable because it was my first DVD. So they very much surprised me with that. There’s The Two Towers DVD too. Completing the list is The Return of the King DVD, which my Mommy and my Ate gave me, again on a Christmas Day.
Tolkien actually wrote other books regarding Middle-earth, which is the fictional setting of The Lord of the Rings. He was able to compose a whole universe with its own alphabet, languages, cultures, broad historical accounts and mythical narratives. I think no other world in books or movies is as convincing as the LOTR world. Tolkien’s writings are purely fascinating.
I have always felt that the core values of The Lord of the Rings have touched my soul, especially growing up. But it was only as a young adult when I learned more about the Catholic themes and imageries that were richly infused in The Lord of the Rings. Author Tolkien himself, in a letter he wrote to a Jesuit priest in 1953, described it as a “fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision.” The objects, the characters, the valiant events in Tolkien’s work- they point to Catholic truths about God, Our Lord Jesus, the Blessed Mother, the Sacraments, and many more.
Perhaps there is no substitute in being immersed through the vast writings of Tolkien. But as I am also fond of well-crafted and intellectual movies, I think you will agree with me in saying that the films further enriched our experience of the story and its spiritual reflections, which I will explore in a bit.
Director Peter Jackson and his crew did a fantastic work in bringing the novel to life. Attention was given so that some of J. R. R. Tolkien’s important religious themes would be shown in the movies as he intended. At the same time, the real-life locations they used or built for the films were simply stunning, like the prominent hobbits’ hometown in the Shire. To this day, those actual locations, such as Hobbiton, continue to attract tourists, turning mere sightseers into fans.
Inspired by the beauty of Hobbiton, let me share with you the Catholic Themes in The Lord of the Rings and My Reflection:
1. Story of Creation and Fall of the Angels
Combined details from The Lord of the Rings and “The Silmarillion” (a novel of Tolkien that was posthumously edited and published by his own son) parallel with the beginning narratives of the Bible. In the Book of Genesis, we learn about God and the Angels as part of His Creation, and the Fall of the Angels led by Satan who rebelled against God out of desire to be as powerful as Him.
As for Tolkien’s Middle-earth, everything also started as a creation by Eru, called Ilúvatar or “The Father of All.” “The One” made the Ainur, a group of eternal spirits, so that all would live in harmony of great music. But one of them named Melkor freely chose disharmony, as he wanted to make his own song. It was the mark of his fall and other spirits went down with him. Notice the strikingly Catholic allegory right from the start. It can also be a depiction of people, in a secular world, who fall from grace when they deliberately choose evil over good, pushing themselves away from the glory of God.
2. Evil and Consequence of Sin
One of Melkor’s demons was actually Sauron – the maker of the One Ring. Tolkien used Melkor, Sauron, and the Ring to warn us of the real presence of evil in this world. It is brought about by sin, “an offense against God; disobedience, revolt, contempt against God,” as defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1850).
In The Lord of the Rings, we see the consequence of sin- those who choose evil corrupt and distort what is primarily good in them. Thus, the evil creatures in Middle-earth are illustrated as the corrupted and distorted images of the good ones. For example, those hideous-looking orcs are the corrupted descendants of the Elves; Gollum didn’t always look so badly, as he was a regular hobbit named Sméagol, until evil withered him all away; the trolls are similar to the tree-looking Ents but have poor intellect and crude habits from being “bred in mockery.” Similarly, the Church teaches us that sin damages not just a person’s body, but also destroys his soul. The evil of sin can spread, “it tends to reproduce itself and reinforce itself” (CCC 1865). Therefore, to protect our bodies and preserve our souls, we must be mindful of our actions, words and thoughts because “the root of all sins lies in man’s heart” (CCC 1873).
3. Temptation of Sin
In both the books and the movies, the imagery of sin is centrally depicted through the One Ring made by the Dark Lord Sauron. He wants to use the Ring to regain power and dominate over Middle-earth. The evil nature of the Ring makes it addictive, sickening, and destructive. Anyone in Middle-earth could actually fall into its trap. Gollum cannot resist the Ring; he gives in to temptation and becomes self-absorbed in sin.
Through the Ring, I think, Tolkien showed his clear understanding of man’s weakness in the face of temptation. In real life, theologians call this “inclination” or tendency to sin as “concupiscence,” which resulted from original sin of our first parents. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, humans have always been in danger of committing sin; be it venial or mortal. It’s only with continuous strength of the will and the soul that we are able to resist it.
Our Catechism defines temptation as “an attraction, either from outside oneself or from within, to act contrary to right reason and the commandments of God” (CCC 538). The One Ring has a gravely tempting effect; a seemingly inescapable allure that can cause anyone near it to choose evil and forget good. In modern daily life, the One Ring can be anything or anyone in your life that influences you to think, feel and act with pride, greed, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, or sloth. But just as Gandalf and Galadriel overcame the lure of the Ring, we must not despair in the midst of temptation. As Pope Benedict XVI remarked, “Man is never wholly free from temptation…” But the Pontiff assured us that God would help us conquer temptations if we live in Him. He explained, “With patience and true humility we become stronger than any enemy. The patience and humility required to defeat the enemy come by following Christ every day and from learning to build our life not outside of Him.”
4. Sacrament of Holy Eucharist
Tolkien highlights the importance of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church through the Lembas Bread- a special kind of bread made and given by the elves to the Fellowship of the Ring as a form of sustenance like no other; “More strengthening than any food by men,” as described in the book. Legolas, a well-liked character in the movies, comments to Merry and Pippin that “one small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man.” It especially helps Frodo and Sam in their long journey into Mordor, giving them bodily endurance and feeding their spiritual will. On the other hand, evil ones are unable to take the Lembas. Gollum, for example, is too hostile toward it despite Frodo saying that it would do him good. I think that it is a dramatic reminder that Catholics must receive this Sacrament only in state of grace – morally and spiritually well. Gollum is very attached to the One Ring, as he popularly refers to it as “My precious!” He is a representation of somebody in state of mortal sin, and obviously very attached to it, and therefore cannot have the Lembas.
In the book, it says that Lembas means “life bread.” A passage elaborates, “For these things are given to serve you when all else fails… One [God] will keep a traveler on his feet for a day of long labor.“ These lines bring to mind the words of the priest in the Memorial Prayer during Mass, in reference to the Body of Christ, “We offer You, Father, this life-giving bread, this saving cup.” The Lembas symbolism was a clear affirmation from Tolkien about the role of Holy Communion in one’s salvation and that God who is “The One” is present Himself in the Eucharist.
5. Jesus Christ as Priest, Prophet and King
In The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien uses three main characters to make references to the roles of Jesus Christ as a Priest, a Prophet and a King. Bear in mind though that these are not direct allegories but more of subtle reflections of the author’s Roman Catholic Faith.
Frodo – Priest (The Priestly Mission)
Frodo represents Christ as Priest. As the bearer of the Ring and all its evil, on behalf of everyone in Middle-earth, Frodo is like the image of Jesus carrying the Cross on behalf of all God’s children. Frodo has to bear the Ring to destroy it in Mount Doom much like Jesus carried the Cross to vanquish sin.
At the heart of the Four Gospels is the account of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. As with Tolkien’s, it is mainly about Frodo- from his long arduous journey into Mordor, an image similar to the Way of the Cross, to his new life as he sails from Middle-earth into the “paradise” of the Elves in the mythical West.
Gandalf – Prophet (The Prophetic Mission)
Gandalf represents the Prophet in Christ. He is always wise. Throughout their journey, he teaches them and reveals to them prophecies and hidden knowledge of things. In the book The Hobbit, as Gandalf fought the dragon beast, he described himself as “a servant of the secret fire.” The ‘secret fire’ can be thought of as a Catholic reference to the Holy Spirit.
Gandalf likewise echoes the Transfiguration, Death and Resurrection of Jesus as he fights the hellish battle to save his friends, descends into the netherworld, rises from the dead, and becomes transformed from being “Gandalf the Grey” into “Gandalf the White.”
Aragorn – King (The Kingly Mission)
Aragorn, my most favorite character, followed by Arwen, represents Christ the King. We know the character of Aragorn II, also known as Strider and Elessar, very well through the third book and the third film, The Return of the King. There, he returns as the rightful King of Gondor and Arnor, symbolic of Jesus coming into this world as the True Messiah, the Son of King David.
The image of Aragorn wielding the Andúril sword is quite a popular scene. It is symbolic of how Jesus fought and cut off all the evils of the world, though not with a physical sword, but with the sword of truth and righteousness. Furthermore, do you remember that scene in the movie in which Aragorn goes into the Paths of the Dead? He comes down into that land to give the unrested spirits there a chance to fight again, to expiate their guilt of past treason. I think it is a subtle hint to symbolize the redemption and salvation that Jesus Christ offers every soul, especially the repentant ones.
6. The Blessed Virgin Mary
A parallel notably written in the books and touched on as well in the films is the significant place of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Faith. Mary is modestly reflected in the character of Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlórien, which Tolkien described as the “greatest of elven women.” I think he echoes Saint Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary in the Visitation, “Most blessed are you among women…” (Luke 1:42) In a letter to a Jesuit priest, Tolkien said that his “small perception of beauty both in majesty and simplicity is founded [on Our Lady].” In another letter, he acknowledged the symbolism in Galadriel saying, “I think it is true that I owe much of this character to Christian and Catholic teaching and imagination about Mary.”
In the books, the expression of ardor for Our Lady is mostly illustrated through the character of Gimli, the bearded, hardy warrior of the Dwarves race. His heart only belongs to Galadriel, similar to how notable Marian Saints like Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort were wholly devoted to Mary. Likewise, Galadriel serves as a motherly image to the Fellowship, particularly to Frodo, in their mission to destroy the Ring and restore the good. Much in the same way, Mary guides the entire Church and helps us as God’s children amidst our trials in our journey toward Heaven.
7. Sacrament of Reconciliation
Tolkien touches on a very Catholic teaching in his book, although its reference is quite diminished in the film. It is about the Sacrament of Reconciliation through the confession that Boromir makes to Aragorn.
Mirroring the real practice of this Sacrament- Boromir confesses to Aragorn about his encounter with Frodo- how he tried to steal the Ring and led him into danger. Aragorn responds in a “priestly” manner, forgives Boromir, and sort of obligates him with a “penance” by asking him to protect Merry and Pippin from the orcs. Boromir willingly accepts the task and guards the hobbits at the expense of his own life. He shows true humility, repentance and contrition when he said, “I am sorry… I have paid…” Aragorn, in reply, acknowledges his act of virtue and bids him kindly, “Be at peace!” Such line is reminiscent of the absolution that the priest gives Catholics during Confession, “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
8. Call to Follow Christ
There is a real spiritual sense of hope in Tolkien’s masterpiece. He exhibits that by making the hobbits, such as Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Bilbo, the “heroes” of this epic. Of course, some great men, elves, a wizard and a dwarf help them along the way to carry on. But ultimately, Tolkien recognizes God’s providence through none other than two humble hobbits to save the day.
I personally think that the struggle and the triumph of the hobbits, particularly of Frodo and Sam, is a reflection of the true sense of sacrifice and suffering. All of us are called to follow Christ, but we know it is never easy. Jesus Himself tells us, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) Frodo and Sam embody its meaning. They sacrifice their own comfort and safety, suffer the burdens of the mission, and fight in the name of goodness.
A key to better appreciate the selfless deeds of Frodo and Sam is to have a look at where it all started – Hobbiton. Before their mission, Frodo and Sam had been living cheerfully in their homes, just like the rest of the hobbits. Author Tolkien wanted to emphasize the enormous sacrifices of Frodo and Sam. Thus, he made it sure that readers understand that hobbits are deeply contented with their lives – foods and drinks, great music, big gatherings, intriguing stories, fresh crops, bright colors, just a life of peace and quietness. Much of their satisfaction comes from their love of the Shire. Hobbiton is a marvelous place, in particular. In fact, it was my dream to see this simple hillside of wonderful beauty more than the other grand film locations of the Lord of the Rings.
In real life, some Catholics may find themselves feeling the way the hobbits do, in the sense that they live quite comfortably, either because of financial capability or a well-to-do family background. At times, they do a sort of ‘sacrifice’ like skipping desserts after a meal. Surely, it’s good to offer small sacrifices every so often. But let us also remember the words of Our Lord, “And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required” (Luke 12:48) Let us talk to God in prayer, and have an open heart to discern what He really asks of us. Most likely, we would never get into an epic adventure, or become Ring-bearers that the whole world depends on us. But the unique individual mission from God that we encounter in our very own lives usually calls each of us to self-sacrifice, suffering, and selfless love- which Frodo and Sam freely gave.
My Additional Reflection
1. Being simple Catholics, most of us can relate one way or another to Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee. Take note that it was not in the original plan that Sam would join Frodo in destroying the One Ring. But when Gandalf (a representation of Jesus Christ, as mentioned above) caught Sam eavesdropping during his conversation with Frodo regarding the dangers of the One Ring, he tasked Sam, as “punishment,” to be Frodo’s companion in his journey to Rivendell.
2. In the same way, due to sin and human weaknesses, sometimes, even good people go against the original plan of God, or God’s will. We are therefore ‘punished’ or ‘chastised’ with the consequences of our mistakes or sins. However, because of the mercy of God who always desires what is good for us and for our souls, He always makes it a part of His “another” plan to give us a second chance. Only the Almighty Father can offer us such redemption.
3. Through the Sacrament of Confession and sincere contrition of the heart, God lets us go back to being in state of grace, giving us another chance to be worthy of entering Heaven.
4. Once we embrace that plan of God for us to have another chance and try our hardest – like what we see in Sam fulfilling the new plan for him to become a part of The Fellowship of the Ring, from being Frodo’s gardener to Frodo’s closest, most loyal and dependable companion, and best friend – we, too, can become even better people. If we hope and cling to God amidst our faults, trials and sufferings, we will be capable of giving more kindness, compassion, and love to others than we have ever done before, and become ardent Catholics with deeper faith.
5. Some people had the immense grace to have both good Catholic education and parents who were very devout in raising a Catholic family and instilling Catholic values, which is why they have always remained steadfast in their faith. Many Catholics, however, tell me that they were lukewarm in their Catholic faith during their younger years. That’s an unfortunate scenario, since there’s value in starting with our faith as early in life as possible, to save us from misfortunes as a result of being away from God. I observe that many of us truly search for God only after some grave adversity, problem, trial, or challenge. And only then do we start becoming more ‘serious’ with the Faith, and deepen our quest of finding ourselves back to God in the Church. Somehow, it seems that we are just ‘forced’ to take up our own crosses.
6. Like Sam, we did not ask for those life problems and pains; we never wanted them. Similarly, he is ‘forced’ to accompany Frodo (another symbolic figure of Jesus Christ) throughout the dangers, along with the sufferings that his journey brings. We are pushed by situations to go on in this life journey, even when it seems impossible to survive- not realizing that in doing so, we are taking part and accompanying Jesus in His Holy Sacrifice.
7. The inspiration from the character of Sam is that he chose to rise above the suffering- he completely embraced the Cross. Sam constantly inspired Frodo to carry on, protected him, and helped him in his mission of destroying the One Ring, for the ultimate good of all. For a time he was even considered to be among the Ring-bearers. Our calling to embrace the Cross is hard to do, especially during the worst sufferings. So let us remember Sam and find in our hearts the strength to carry on toward our ultimate good- Heaven.
8. I also want to note that Sam surrendered the One Ring willingly and readily. Sam, depicted as a humble hobbit, never gave in to the treacherous visions and temptations of the Ring. And even as a Ring-bearer, he returned the Ring to Frodo without hesitation when he had discovered that he was still alive in the Tower of Cirith Ungol later on.
9. This reminds us that the more we practice our Catholic virtues, and the more we constantly avoid committing mortal sins, such as the sin of pride, given that Sam was always humble, the more we gain spiritual strength to overcome whatever temptations are tossed against us. Eventually, by God’s mercy and grace, we will win over our battles against sin, and speak the words of Galadriel, “I pass the test.”
***
Shaped by J. R. R. Tolkien’s piety and devotion, The Lord of the Rings is truly a literary classic, loved by generations, that educates on the Truths of the Roman Catholic Faith as effectively as it entertains.
Saint Joseph, pray for us!
Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
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i have been working on my faith since january (lapsed catholic of 30+ years) and so my spiritual “antennae” were a bit more perked up as i was watching lotr today
and what hit me really hard was, specifically, boromir’s redemption
i felt (for maybe the first time) boromir’s sincerity when he apologizes to frodo (after frodo escapes) “i’m sorry”
and as his heroic vigor is reignited in his saving of merry and pippen against impossible odds i was reminded of the scripture of the virtue and merit of saving others lives whilst in great peril
and after aragorn defeats the orc captain boromir goes further to give an excellent act of contrition to his king- “you have done what i couldnt do; i tried to take the ring from frodo…”
he confessed to his friends and his king and as that hit me right in the heart boromir (who i kind of dismissed for decades) immediately vaulted into my favorite character- he is the most relatable for me
thanks for this piece