Summons to Mandos

[Confusticated]

How does Mandos summon the Quendi? Does he visit each spritit after it departs from the body? Does he speak via thought to them?

 

[Niniel]

I think the last option; 'spirits being summoned to Mandos' basically means 'dying' and I don't think there is an actual summons that Mandos sends to any Elf when he/she dies. I think the Mandos just sends out a continuous sprititual 'message' to the Elves, an ability that was given him by Ilúvatar, so that the Elves when they die just know where to go and how to get there.

 

[Celebthôl]

Im guessing its the same when we die, like our bodies stop functioning and then our spirit goes off to wherever, we have no idea where to go or how to get there, but we do none the less, but with Elves i guess they just get to the Halls somehow, like they awaken there or something. . .

 

[Celebthôl]

On another thought, maybe they know what to do when they die, like a built in knowledge of it? Like they know "when we die, we go to halls of Mandos", or something like that. They are apart of the earth, so therefore should know something about it and what happens to them, it was never any secret about where they go. And the Dwarves knew aswell somehow, is the Hobbit, Thorin talks about the "Halls of his Fathers", yet no Dwarve had ever been to Aman at that time, so how could he know? Must have been built into their essances.

 

[Grond]

I'm a little rusty, but I seem to remember discussions in HoMe X speaking of dishoused Elves who refused the Summons of Mandos. Looking at it from this angle, it would appear that Mandos did send out a "signal" of some kind whenever an Elvish soul became dishoused.

When I get some time, I'll look into it.

 

[Confusticated]

Yes, it is in Laws and Customs. But I didn't recall any indication of how the summons is sent out. A signal that is put out constantly to any unhoused spirit, or does Mandos know when an elf has died and send a personal invitiation?

Celebthol, it must be as you say, they just knew... but I don't really believe it was built into their essances. This would cause a problem, it seems. What about those elves who died before Iluvatar said they shall be summoned to Mandos? So I think there must have been something sent to them... the summons must have actually been something.

 

[Ithrynluin]

I agree with what has already been said.

When an Elf was bereft of his/her body, he would simply feel a kind of 'calling', inviting him/her to return 'back home'.

I do wonder though, was this 'calling' continuous, as in 'an Elf could decide to return whenever he/she wanted' or was it a one time opportunity, and if an Elf refused to return when he was 'called', he/she would be doomed to roam Middle Earth forever. Probably the first one.

Originally posted by Nóm
or does Mandos know when an elf has died and send a personal invitiation?

I can just picture it:

'Dear X,

I sense that you've kicked the bucket, and therefore, since you can't really do anything without a hröa out there, I invite you to float back home ASAP. We're having a party soon, and you could receive a new body just in time for it.*

Yours with much love,

Namo

*P.S: Of course, I'd have to judge you first, to see if you're worthy of getting a new body.'

 

[Confusticated]

I can't recall any reference that would prove beyond a doubt either way, if the summons is a one time thing.

The impression I get is that it is not. I also think this would make more sense. If it were a one time thing this would be like denying the elves their right to have a body, which is their natural state. It would be denying them a chance to take the right path... for repemption you could say.

There is this in Laws and Customs: "Some say the Houseless desire bodies, though they are not willing to seek them lawfully by submission to the judgement of Mandos."

The use of 'are not willing' versus 'were not willing' sounds like they are ever unwilling, which sounds like it is always an option to go to Mandos. There are probably other things like this too.

"Dear James,

I sense that you've...." hehe.