Lembas: Part of a Balanced, Evil-free Diet

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Yes it is the C word..... Catholicism. Not a direct correlation obviously but it seems to me that there is something sacramental about the lembas. It is the vehicle spiritual as well as physical benefits - a kind of grace. The mass is more central to Catholic observance than say the Anglicanism into which Tolkien was born

I've seen it argued before that there are Eucharistic overtones that may be associated with lembas. I'm not sure about that, though. If a resemblance exists, I think it is slight.

Lembas was intended as a food product, primarily. There was no ritual for its use, and no restriction of that use, beyond the fact that its making was a secret of the Elves, and they did not ordinarily give it to those of other races.

The Eucharist is highly ritualized in Catholicism, and to a lesser extent in Protestant denominations. The bread and wine is not consumed for any nutritional value, but "in remembrance" of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
It is a symbolic act, and those uninstructed in the ritual, and ignorant of the meaning behind it, derive nothing from eating and drinking the same things as the celebrants of the Mass.

Lembas, though, required no such instruction. The Fellowship, with the exception of Legolas (and maybe Aragorn), knew nothing about its origin or making. Yet, they still derived full benefit from it. In fact, Frodo and Sam lived on it alone after their escape from the Tower of Cirith Ungol. It nourished the body, as well as the soul.