Form of Administration of the Consolamentum
Based on Cathar sources and to be celebrated within the context of the Eucharist.
For the Cathars, the Consolamentum was the only sacrament, a baptism of the Holy Spirit that freed the soul from the bonds of the material world for all eternity. It was revived, in modified form, as an eighth sacrament in the French Gnostic tradition in the 19th century and celebrated within the context of the Mass.
This Liberal Catholic form of administraion of the Consolamentum restores the original evangelical emphasis whilst, following the example of the Gnostic versions, it modifies the asceticism required of candidates. The intention to release the soul from involuntary attachment to the material world and rebirth within it is the same. This ministry of grace may only be given to mature and serious believers. The celebrant may be any bishop, priest, deacon or deaconess who have themselves been consoled.
For the Cathars, the Consolamentum was the only sacrament, a baptism of the Holy Spirit that freed the soul from the bonds of the material world for all eternity. It was revived, in modified form, as an eighth sacrament in the French Gnostic tradition in the 19th century and celebrated within the context of the Mass.
This Liberal Catholic form of administraion of the Consolamentum restores the original evangelical emphasis whilst, following the example of the Gnostic versions, it modifies the asceticism required of candidates. The intention to release the soul from involuntary attachment to the material world and rebirth within it is the same. This ministry of grace may only be given to mature and serious believers. The celebrant may be any bishop, priest, deacon or deaconess who have themselves been consoled.
click the picture for a Cathar music link
The ritual begins with the Melioramentum (Melhorier) as the candidate approaches the Celebrant and bows three times saying :
C: Make me a Good Christian and bring me to a good end!
The Celebrant blesses the candidate and then proceeds to read from the Holy Gospel according to St John:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The Celebrant or another appointed reads the Benedicite:
O all ye Works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Heavens, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Waters that be above the Firmament, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O all ye Powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Sun and Moon, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Stars of Heaven, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Showers and Dew, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Winds of God, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Fire and Heat, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Winter and Summer, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Dews and Frosts, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Frost and Cold, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Nights and Days, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Light and Darkness, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Lightnings and Clouds, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O let the Earth bless the Lord : yea, let it praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Mountains and Hills, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O all ye Green Things upon the Earth, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Seas and Floods, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Whales, and all that move in the Waters, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O all ye Fowls of the Air, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Children of Men, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O let Israel bless the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Spirits and Souls of the Righteous, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye holy and humble Men of heart, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O Ananias, Azarias and Misael, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
C: Make me a Good Christian and bring me to a good end!
The Celebrant blesses the candidate and then proceeds to read from the Holy Gospel according to St John:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The Celebrant or another appointed reads the Benedicite:
O all ye Works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Heavens, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Waters that be above the Firmament, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O all ye Powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Sun and Moon, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Stars of Heaven, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Showers and Dew, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Winds of God, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Fire and Heat, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Winter and Summer, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Dews and Frosts, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Frost and Cold, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Nights and Days, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Light and Darkness, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Lightnings and Clouds, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O let the Earth bless the Lord : yea, let it praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Mountains and Hills, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O all ye Green Things upon the Earth, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Seas and Floods, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Whales, and all that move in the Waters, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O all ye Fowls of the Air, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Children of Men, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O let Israel bless the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Spirits and Souls of the Righteous, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye holy and humble Men of heart, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O Ananias, Azarias and Misael, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.
The Lord’s Prayer (Cathar form) is said slowly and deliberately by all.
Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our supplementary bread,
And remit our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And keep us from temptation and free us from evil.
Thine is the kingdom, the power and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The Candidate kneels before the celebrant who touches his head with the Holy Gospel.
Celebrant: Do you promise from henceforth to carefully observe the spirit of the Gospel, following the example of the Good Christians, forgiving those who trepass against you and giving generously from your heart to all in need as far as your state in life permits.
Candidate: I have this will and determination and I pray God that he give me his strength. I ask Him pardon for all of my sins and grace to respond to the prompting of his indwelling Spirit.
The Celebrant now reads from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 40: 1 - 5.
Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our supplementary bread,
And remit our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And keep us from temptation and free us from evil.
Thine is the kingdom, the power and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The Candidate kneels before the celebrant who touches his head with the Holy Gospel.
Celebrant: Do you promise from henceforth to carefully observe the spirit of the Gospel, following the example of the Good Christians, forgiving those who trepass against you and giving generously from your heart to all in need as far as your state in life permits.
Candidate: I have this will and determination and I pray God that he give me his strength. I ask Him pardon for all of my sins and grace to respond to the prompting of his indwelling Spirit.
The Celebrant now reads from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 40: 1 - 5.
(from the Cathar Tarot by John Matthews)
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her,
that her warfare is accomplished,
that her iniquity is pardoned:
for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low:
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough places plain:
and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together:
for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
The celebrant imposes his right hand on the head of the candidate praying silently for the Holy Spirit to descend upon them. He then pronounces the formula of Consoling:
I console you, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Others present who have been consoled may impose the right hand on the candidate’s head.
All present then recite three times:
Let us adore the Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
Celebrant: Holy Father, welcome thy servant in thy justice and send upon him thy grace and thy Holy Spirit. Amen.
Peace with with thee.
Candidate: And with thy spirit.
All the consoled present share a kiss of peace.
The rite is concluded and the Eucharist resumes with the Act of Faith.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her,
that her warfare is accomplished,
that her iniquity is pardoned:
for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low:
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough places plain:
and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together:
for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
The celebrant imposes his right hand on the head of the candidate praying silently for the Holy Spirit to descend upon them. He then pronounces the formula of Consoling:
I console you, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Others present who have been consoled may impose the right hand on the candidate’s head.
All present then recite three times:
Let us adore the Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
Celebrant: Holy Father, welcome thy servant in thy justice and send upon him thy grace and thy Holy Spirit. Amen.
Peace with with thee.
Candidate: And with thy spirit.
All the consoled present share a kiss of peace.
The rite is concluded and the Eucharist resumes with the Act of Faith.
The Master of the Holy Celtic Order of the Temple at Montségur
