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THELORDOFTHERINGSACATHOLICVIEW
ByCharlesA.Coulombe
Mr.PaulEdwinZimmer,ofGreyhaven,remarkedtomeoncethatmostanalysisoftheworkofJ.R.R.
TolkienwasundertakenfromtheEvangelicalProtestantorfromtheAnglicanpointofview.As
TolkienhimselfwasaferventCatholic,hereasoned,aCatholiccritiquemightshednewlight.Thus
encouraged,Ibegan.
ItwillbethecontentionofthispaperthatmuchofMr.Tolkien'suniquevisionwasdirectlyshapedby
recurringimagesintheCatholicculturewhichshapedJRRT,andwhicharenotsharedbynon
Catholicsgenerally.TheexpressionoftheseimagesinLordoftheRingswillthenconcernus.
Tobeginwith,itmustberememberedthatCatholiccultureandCatholicfaith,whilemutually
supportiveandsymbiotic,arenotthesamething.Mr.WalkerPercy,inhisLostintheCosmos,
exploredthedifference,andpointedoutthat,culturally,CatholicsinClevelandaremuchmore
ProtestantthanPresbyteriansinsay,Taos,NewOrleans,ortheSouthofFrance.Erik,Rittervon
KuehneltLeddihn,pointsoutthattheeffectsofthisdichotomyuponpolitics,attributingthemulti
partysysteminCatholiccountriestotheCatholicadherencetoabsoluteshefurtherascribesthetwo
partysystemtotheProtestantwillingnesstocompromise.Howeverthismaybe,itdoespointupa
constantelementinCatholicthoughtthepursuitoftheabsolute.
HerewemustmakeanasideinregardtotheU.S.CatholiccultureinAmericaispracticallynon
existent,exceptinattenuatedformamongsuchpeoplesastheHispanosandIndiansofNorthernNew
Mexico,theCajunsandCreolesofLouisianaandtheotherGulfStates,andtheoldEnglishCatholic
settlementsofMarylandandKentucky.ElsewheretheFaithwasbroughtbyimmigrants,andits
attendantculturehas,likeallimportedonesintheStates,veeredbetweenpreservationand
assimilation.ThiswasexacerbatedbythefactthatCatholicleadershipintheUnitedStateswasearly
committedtoaprogrammeofculturalmelding.Inaddition,thisleadershipwasprimarilyIrish,a
nationalitywhichhadbeendeprivedofmuchofitsnativeculturebycenturiesofProtestant
Ascendancy.HenceithasbeenextremelydifficultforAmericans,evenAmericanCatholics,to
understandorappreciatetheCatholicthing(asChestertondescribedit)inaculturalcontext.Iam
remindedoftheastonishmentofaclassmateofmine(fromatypicalAmericanCatholicHighSchool)
atseeingananthologyofCatholicpoetry.Thissituationhasbeengreatlyaccentuatedinthepast
twentyyearsbythechangesoccurringafterVaticanII.
Thisbeingso,itwillbenecessarytodescribealittleoftheuniquelyCatholicworldview.Infine,itis
asacramentalone.AttheheartofallCatholiclifeisamiracle,amystery,theBlessedSacrament.
Surroundedtraditionallybyritualandawe,ithasbeentheformativeaspectofCatholicart,drama,
andpoetry.ThecoronationofKings,swearingofoaths,marriages,celebrationsoffeastdays,allhave
aEucharisticcharacter.BeforetheadventofCartesianism,itwasheld(amongotherandhigher
things)tobethehighestactofMagic,beforewhichallotheractsoftheurgy,goetia,orsympathetic
magicwereasnought.ItwastheunitiveforceoftheCatholicworld,mysticallyunitinginsacrificial
bondallthealtarsacrosstheglobe.
ThisgreatmiraclewasheldtobeprefiguredbythesacrificeoftheJewishtemple,andindeedtohave
beenforeseeninsomedimwayalsobythemysteriesandphilosophiesoftheancientworld.Hence
nothingthatwasnotevilintheseolderfaithswasrejectedoutofhand,althoughacleardistinction
wasmadebetweenthemandCatholicism.
Underthisinfluence,Catholicsocietiesweresocietiesofwonder.Lifewasheldtobeaseriesof
miracles.WithGodHimselfappearingonthealtar,inconsumableform,howdifficultwerewizards,
elves,orthechangeofseasons?AsAragornrepliedtoEothain:"Thegreenearth,sayyou?Thatisa
mightymatteroflegend,thoughyoutreaditunderthelightofday!"SomightreplyanyEuropeanof
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thepast,oraCajun,Galwayman,Sicilian,Micmac,Tagalog,Alfur,orBagandaoftoday.Itisthis
qualitywhichleadsustodubthosepeoples"mythopoeic,"andtheirmodernequivalents
"superstitious"or"backward."
Politically,traditionalCatholicculturehasbeenhierarchical.Feudalismitselfwasformedingreat
degreebytheFaith,asisshownbythegreatdifferencebetweentheFeudalsystemofEuropean
history,anditsequivalentsintheIndiaoftheMughals,theJapanoftheTokugawa,andtheChinaof
theWarringStates.IdeasofChivalryandHierarchysuggestedbytheChurchdidnotmerelyshape
EuropeanCatholicpolity,butcontinuetodeterminepoliticalstructuresinsuchsettingsas
CatholicisedAfricantribes,ethnicCatholicAsiansettlements,andLatinAmerica.Therelationships
ofKingtoSubject,ofLordtoVassal,ofComradetoComradeinArmsremain,thoughoftenunder
othernames.
IntraditionalCatholicsocieties,theKingis,inalessenedsense,theVicarofGod.Whilenot
approximatingtheSacralKingshipofnonCatholicpeoples,theCatholicMonarchynevertheless
retainsacertainsacredness.Thisremainsthecase,evenwheninconflictwiththeChurch.Afterthe
calamitiesoftheReformation,EnglishCivilWar,Glorious,French,Industrial,andRussian
Revolutions,etc.,theKingbecamemorethanthathebecametheexiledleaderofthefaithful,whose
returnalonewouldbringareturntotheoldways,andanendtochangeandunrest.
ThesevariousthemescontinuetoaffectCatholicconsciousnesstoday.Wewillobservehowfar
TolkienwasaculturalaswellasadoctrinalCatholic(despitebeingraisedinaProtestantland)and
howthesethemesemergeinLordoftheRings.
TheBirminghamOratorywhichprovidedthebackdropofJRRT'slifefrom1904to1911,was
foundedbyCardinalNewmanandremainedastrongholdofculturalCatholicism.Fr.FrancisMorgan,
JRRT'sguardian,hedescribedasa"WelshSpanishTory,"surelyasUltramontaneacombinationas
onecouldwishfor.Eventoday,withsomefewexceptions,thehousesoftheOratoryaroundthe
worldarerenownedforbothorthodoxyandlearning.Itwasherethatourauthor'sreligioussensewas
formed,andduringthistimethathisliteraryandlinguisticinterestsbegan.Later,hisstudieswere
confinedprimarilytoworksofthepreReformation.BeyondChaucer,hehadlittleinterest.Judging
byhislaterwork,hisearlyenvironmentandstudiessuppliedthatwhichwouldhavebeensupplied
hadhelivedinaCatholiccountry.HadhelivedawayfromtheOratory,alivingexampleofCatholic
culture,onewonderswhattheeffectonhisworkwouldhavebeen.
Inthesphereofdoctrine,ofcourse,theinfluenceofCatholicismuponJRRTisreadilyapparent.In
thisregardhehimselfadmittedasmuch,whenhewroteinalettertoDeborahWebsterof25October
1958,"fargreaterthingsmaycolourthemindindealingwiththelesserthingsofafairystory."
TheBlessedSacramentwasverymuchattheheartofJRRT'sdevotionallife.Asheinformshisson
onp.339ofhisCollectedLetters:
ImyselfamconvincedbythePetrineclaims,norlookingaroundtheworlddoesthere
seemmuchdoubtwhich(ifChristianityistrue)istheTrueChurch,thetempleofthe
Spiritdyingbutliving,corruptbutholy,selfreformingandrearising.Butformethat
ChurchofwhichthePopeistheacknowledgedheadonearthhasaschiefclaimthatitis
theonethathas(andstilldoes)everdefendedtheBlessedSacrament,andgivenitmost
honour,andput(asChristplainlyintended)intheprimeplace."Feedmysheep"wasHis
lastchargetoSt.PeterandsinceHiswordsarealwaysfirsttobeunderstoodliterally,I
supposethemtoreferprimarilytotheBreadofLife.ItwasagainstthisthattheW.
Europeanrevolt(orReformation)wasreallylaunched"theblasphemousfableofthe
Mass"andfaith/worksamereredherring.
Thisonefindsechoedinthefigureoflembas,which"hadapotencythatincreasedastravellersrelied
onitalone,anddidnotmingleitwithotherfoods.Itfedthewill,anditgavestrengthtoendure..."
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(Vol.III,p.262).ThisisallveryreminiscentofthelargeliteratureofEucharisticmiracles,andof
suchpeopleasSt.Lydwine,St.FrancisBorgia,andTheresaNeumann,wholivedoffonlytheBlessed
Sacrament.
AnotheruniquefeatureofCatholiclifewhichdistinguishesitfromthatofotherChristiansisthe
venerationoftheBlessedVirginMary,whichJRRTsharedenthusiastically.Asanexample,wecitea
lettertoRobertMurray,S.J.,inwhichhespeaksof"...OurLady,uponwhichallmyownsmall
perceptionofbeauty,bothinmajestyandsimplicityisfounded."Toadegreeinthefigureof
Galadriel,butmoreparticularlyinthatofElberethmayonediscerntheshadowofMary:
Snowwhite!Snowwhite!OLadyclear!
OQueenbeyondtheWesternSeas!
OLighttousthatwanderhere
Amidtheworldofwoventrees!
Gilthoniel!OElbereth!
Cleararethyeyesandbrightthybreath,
Snowwhite!Snowwhite!Wesingtothee
Inafarlandbeyondthesea.
OstarsthatintheSunlessYear
Withshininghandbyherweresown,
Inwindyfieldsnowbrightandclear
Weseeyoursilverblossomblown!
OElbereth!Gilthoniel!
Westillremember,wewhodwell
Inthisfarlandbeneaththetrees,
ThyStarlightontheWesternSeas.
OneisimmediatelyremindedoftheEnglishhymnbyJohnLingard,withwhichJRRTwascertainly
familiar:
Hail,QueenofHeaven,theoceanstar,
Guideofthewand'rerherebelow:
Thrownonlife'ssurge,weclaimthycare
Saveusfromperilandfromwoe.
MotherofChrist,starofthesea,
Prayforthewanderer,prayforme.
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Sojournersinthisvaleoftears,
Tothee,blestadvocate,wecry
Pityoursorrows,calmourfears,
Andsoothewithhopeourmisery.
Refugeingrief,starofthesea,
Prayforthemourner,prayforme.
Asearlierobserved,theCatholicviewoftheworldisasacramentalonethecentreofCatholiclife,
accordingtoC.G.Jung,"...isalivingmystery,andthatisthethingthatworks..."Opponentsofthe
Churchhaveoftenclaimedthatthesacramentsare"mere"magic.Thephrasehocuspocusisaparody
ofthewordsofconsecration,Hocestenimcorpusmeum.AsGaladrielobserves,"...thisiswhatyour
folkwouldcallmagic,IbelievethoughIdonotunderstandclearlywhattheymeanandtheyseem
alsotousethesamewordsofthedeceitsoftheenemy."Indeed,onemaygosofarastosaythatthe
effectofmagic,wieldedforgood,isinLordoftheRingsthesameasthatoftheSacramentsuponthe
lifeofthedevoutCatholic.Protection,nourishment,knowledge,allareheldtoflowinsupernatural
abundancefromthem.Inhisprayeraftercommunion,St.ThomasAquinasasksthattheBlessed
Sacramentbe"...astrongdefenceagainstthesnaresofallenemies,visibleandinvisible."St.
Bonaventuredeclaresittobe"...thefountainoflife,thefountainofwisdomandknowledge,the
fountainofeternallight..."Inaword,astheSacramentsarethemeansofGraceintheCatholicworld,
magicwieldedbythewiseisthemeansofGraceinMiddleEarth.
TheSacramentsarethecentreandcauseofallauthenticCatholicMysticism,andtheSaintshave
owedtheirremarkablecareerstothem.Certainly,intermsofthephysicalphenomenaofMysticism
(Eucharisticmiraclesecstasiesthestigmatalevitationbilocationluminousirradiancesupernatural
fragrancesinfusedknowledgevisionthroughopaquebodiessupernaturalpoweroverobjects,etc.)
thegreatmysticshaveoftenperformedwondersworthyofGandalfandElrond(onethinksofSt.Jean
Vianney,theCured'Ars,forexample,orofPadrePio).ThistooissomethingofwhichJRRTwould
havebeenaware.AsArthurMachenobserved,theonlyrealitiesaresanctityandsorcery.
FromtherealmofMyth,Magic,andMystery,wenowdescendtothatofhistory.Thereisa
particularlyCatholicviewofhistory,summedupbyJRRTinalettertoAmyRonaldof15December
1956:"actually,I'maChristian,andindeedaRomanCatholic,sothatIdonotexpect'history'tobe
anythingbutalongdefeatthoughitcontains(andinalegendmaycontainmoreclearlyand
movingly)somesamplesorglimpsesoffinalvictory."
IntherangeofmodernCatholichistory,therearecertainarchetypes,which,itmaybeargued,are
reflectedinLordoftheRings,inthemannerhedescribed.Theoneswewillexamineare:a)theageof
Faith,ortheorganicstateb)ChurchversusStatec)thegreatKingd)theonsetofmodernityandthe
martyrKinge)theRestoration(successfulorotherwise).
Theconceptofsocietyasanorganicwhole,withoutclassconflict,withacommunalstructure,isone
thathascharacterisedCatholicsocialthoughtsincetheRomanEmpire.InmanywaystheShire
expressesperfectlytheeconomicandpoliticalidealsoftheChurch,asexpressedbyLeoXIIIin
Rerumnovarum,andPiusXIinQuadragesimoanno.Traditionalauthority(theThain),limitedexcept
intimesofcrisispopularrepresentation(theMayorofMichelDelving),likewiselimited
subsidiarityandaboveall,minimalorganisationandconflict.Itisthesortofsocietyenvisionedby
DistributistsBellocandChestertoninBritain,bySalazarinPortugal,bytheframersoftheIrish
Constitution,byDollfussinAustria,andbySmetonainLithuania.Howeverfarshortorclosethese
dwellersintherealworldcametotheirgoal,thefactremainsthatitissomethingveryclosetothe
Shiretheyhadinmind.
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Intheagesoffaith,whilebothChurchandStatewerededicatedtoroughlythesameends,theyoften
differedastohowtogoaboutachievingthem.Thentoo,humannatureandgreedoftensowed
discord.SometimesthelifeanddeathstrugglewithIslamwashinderedbythesequarrels.InLordof
theRings,weseethesestrugglesreflectedinthetensionbetweenGandalfandDenethorII.Gandalf,
indeed,partakesofmuchofthenatureofthePapacy.Hebelongstonoonenation,andinaveryreal
senseheisleaderofallthefreeandfaithful.Thisissobecausehispowerismagicalratherthan
temporal,justasthePope'sissacramental.Denethor'sinterestiswhollynational.Tohisstatement
"...thereisnopurposehigherintheworldasitnowstandsthanthegoodofGondor,"Gandalfreplies,
"theruleofnorealmismine,neitherGondornoranyother,greatorsmall.Butallworthythingsthat
areinperilastheworldnowstands,thosearemycare...ForIalsoamasteward."Thusmight
BonifaceVIIIhavespokentoPhilipthefair,orGregoryVIItoHenryIV,orInnocentIIItoKing
John.GandalfalsoremindsoneoftheFisherKingintheGraillegends,whohimselfisasymbolof
PeterintheBoat.
Ontheotherhand,theCatholicimaginationwasalsohauntedbytheimageofthegreatKings,like
Arthur,St.FerdinandIII,andSt.LouisIX.Thesewereheldtohavebeentheidealprototypesfor
rulers:pious,brave,wonderfulinamannerunapproachableforthoseoflatertimes.Inthreecharacters
inparticular,Elendil,GilGalad,andDurin,dowefindtheyearningforthegreatKingintermswith
whichWesternCatholicsofyesteryearandThirdWorldCatholicsoftodaywouldbefamiliar:
GilGaladwasanElvenKing.
Ofhimtheharperssadlysing!
Thelastwhoserealmwasfairandfree
BetweentheMountainsandtheSea.
andagain:
Theworldwasyoung,themountainsgreen,
Nostainyetonthemoonwasseen.
Nowordswerelaidonstreamorstone,
WhenDurinwokeandwalkedalone.
Theworldwasfair,themountainstall,
InElderdaysbeforethefall
OfmightykingsinNarthgarond
andGondolinwhonowbeyond
WesternSeashavepassedaway:
TheworldwasfairinDurin'sday.
SomighthaveaMedievalminstrelmournedtheNineWorthiessomightamodernonemournthe
Negus,ortheMwami,ortheKabaka.Theformschange,butforaCatholic,thesubjectrarelydoes.
TheupheavalsearlierreferredtodestroyedCatholicunity,splinteredsociety,anddestroyedmuchthat
wasbeautiful.TheenclosuresandvariousothereconomicmeasuresendedWesternSociety's
communalnature.ThegreatpresentdayexpressionsoftheseforcesofmodernityareCapitalismand
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Communism,withalltheyrepresent.JRRT'sfeelingsaboutsuchthingsareclear.InTheHobbit,we
aretoldofGoblinsthat"theyinventedsomeofthemachinesthathavesincetroubledourworld,
especiallytheingeniousdevicesforkillinglargenumbersofpeopleatonce,forwheelsandengines
andexplosionshavealwaysdelightedthem..."Ofcourse,thedescriptionsgivenin"TheScouringof
theShire"areparticularlyapropos.
InthestrugglebetweenTraditionandModernity,threefamousmonarchslosttheirlives:CharlesI,
LouisXVI,andNicholasII.WhilethefirstandlastwerenotofficiallyCatholics,theywereatleast
culturallyso.TraditionalforcesinEngland,France,andRussiaweresolemnlycanonisedbythe
AnglicanandRussianOrthodoxChurchesLouisXVIisstillregardedasamartyrbythousandsof
FrenchRoyalists.Eachowedtheirdeathstotwoitems:adesiretoupholdtheTraditionalconstitution
ofChurchandStateintheirrespectiverealms,andapersonalweaknessorflawwhichreducedtheir
effectivenessinsodoing.Theyalsosharedheroicdeathswhich,togreatdegree,redeemedtheir
mistakesintheeyesofmanyoftheirsubjects.AllofthisappliestoIsilduraswell.
Thesocialideasearlierreferredtowerecontradictedbytheeventsofhistory.Withtheirendasfact,
theybecamehope.Thishopebecameconcentratedinthecauseofthedeposedsovereign,whowould,
uponhisreturntopower,setallthingstorightsagain:
'Tillthen,uponArarat'shill
Myhopeshallcastheranchorstill,
UntilIseesomepeacefuldove,
Bringhomethebranchshedearlylove
ThenwillIwait,tillthewatersabate,
Whichnowdisturbmytroubledbrain:
Elseneverrejoice,tillIhearthevoice,
ThattheKingenjoyshisownagain.
Astimepassed,theclaimswenttoheirs,buttheeverhopefuladherentscontinuedtheirstruggle.
Thus,theJacobitesfoughtfortheStuartsin16891690,1715,1719,and174546theCarlistsin
Spainrebelledin183339,duringthe1840sand50s,andin187276theyalsoplayedakeyrolein
theSpanishCivilWarontheNationalistside.TheChouansandtheVendeenscontinuedguerrilla
warfareagainsttheFrenchRepublicallthroughtheRevolutioneventoday,FrenchRoyalism
flourishes.TheMiguelistsofPortugalcontinuedtheiragitationagainstfirsttheliberalmonarchyand
thentherepublicdowntothepresent.SincethefalloftheAustroHungarianEmpire,Habsburg
adherentshavepursueddreamsofrestoration.SogreatlydidHitlerfearthispossibilitythathenamed
theplannedinvasionofAustriaCaseOtto,aftertheexiledheir.Whatevermaybecomeoftheir
politicalhopes,thecanonisationofCharles,thelastEmperor,maybepresagedbytheincorruptibility
ofhisremainsatMadeira.
Howeverthismaybe,suchpeoplelookedtoarestorationtorestoretheChurchtoprominence,curb
industry,revivethesmallholderandtheoldorderofsociety.AsRobertBurnsobserved:
TheChurchisinruins,theStateisinjars,
delusions,oppressions,andmurderouswars.
Wedarenaewellsayit,butwekenwha'stoblame,
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There'llneverbepeace'tillJamiecomeshame.
AsitbecameapparentthatJamiewouldnotcomehome,norwouldDonCarlos,norDomMiguel,nor
theComtedeChambord,manylookedforlessregalsaviours.Fromsuchdesiresemerged(and
emerge)suchmenasFranco,Pilsudski,andmanyofthebetterLatinAmericanCaudillos.Inasense,
thisCatholicpoliticalmessianismisevenpresentinthecareersofsuchdiversefiguresasKennedy
andCastro.
AragornsucceedswhereBonniePrinceCharlieandtheothersfailed.InsteadofthefieldofCulloden's
defeatandmourning,wehavethefieldofCormallen'svictoryandrejoicing.InMiddleEarth,the
"goodoldcause"triumphs.TheDunedain,soliketheJacobites,Carlists,andLegitimistsformostof
theirhistory,gainatlastthevictory.FrombeingtheYoungPretender,Aragornbecomes
Charlemagne,restoreroftheEmpire.Indeed,hisrestoredkingdomhasmuchincommonwiththe
CarolingianRenaissance.ItwouldnotbeunfairtosaythatitisthiswhichCatholicshaveatthe
bottomoftheirmindswhentheyconsiderthingspolitical.InMiddleEarth,allthingsdobecomewell,
fortheKingindeedenjoyshisownagain.
Thereareothersymbolstimedoesnotallowustoexplore:thedarkLord'sforcesmightrepresentnot
onlyModernity,buttheIslamwhichwasChristendom'sgreatestpreviousenemytheTowerof
Guard,MinasTirith,mightbeseenasasymboloftheChurchMilitant,oftheResPublicaChristiana.
ButwehaveexaminedafewofthemostevocativemotifsintermsoftheCatholicPsyche.
InhisHieroglyphics:NotesontheEcstaticinLiterature,Mr.ArthurMachendeclares,"Literatureis
theexpression,throughtheartisticmediumofwords,ofthedogmasoftheCatholicChurch,andthat
whichisinanywayoutofharmonywiththesedogmasisnotliterature,"for"Catholicdogmais
merelythewitness,underaspecialsymbolismoftheenduringfactsofhumannatureandthe
universe."WhetherornoJRRTwouldhaveagreedwiththisdefinition,hedidsay,inthelettertoFr.
Murray,S.J.,alreadycited,"LordoftheRingsisofcourseafundamentallyreligiousandCatholic
workunconsciouslysoatfirst,butconsciouslyintherevision...Forthereligiouselementisabsorbed
intothestoryandthesymbolism."
IthasbeensaidthatthedominantnoteofthetraditionalCatholicliturgywasintenselonging.Thisis
alsotrueofherart,herliterature,herwholelife.Itisalongingforthingsthatcannotbeinthisworld:
unearthlytruth,unearthlypurity,unearthlyjustice,unearthlybeauty.Byalltheseearmarks,Lordof
theRingsisindeedaCatholicwork,asitsauthorbelievedbutitismore.Itisthisage'sgreatCatholic
epic,fittostandbesidetheGraillegends,LeMorted'Arthur,andTheCanterburyTales.Itisatoncea
greatcomforttotheindividualCatholic,andatributetotheenduringpowerandgreatnessofthe
Catholictradition,thatJRRTcreatedthiswork.Inanagewhichhasseenanalmosttotalrejectionof
theFaithonthepartoftheCivilisationshecreated,thelossoftheFaithonthepartofmanylay
Catholics,andapparentuncertaintyamongherhierarchy,LordoftheRingsassuresus,bothbyits
existenceanditsmessage,thatthedarknesscannottriumphforever.
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