A Valentinian Mass

A Ritual Based on Historical Valentinian Materials by
Michael Sanborn with Stacey Gamble

(Magus enters with ewer and aspergill, Sophia with paten and cup. Bindings are at East Altar, censer and books at Central Altar. The people have been taught the hymn and are equipped with Missals. Open with Banishing ceremony.)

S. (Kneels at east.) In the name of the Father + and of the Mother + and of the Paraclete +. Amen. (She places cup and paten on altar.)

Congregation. Amen.

(M. purifies with water and aspergill)

M. Holy Mother Achamoth, we turn our gaze with yours away from striving, away from grief and fear, to the face of the Life-Giver, surrounded by his hosts of angels. Our passions are transformed into a work of creation with two natures. Let us rejoice with you, that in this material temple we may partake of the nature of your celestial Church and spiritual seed, toward the reception of the perfect Logos. Amen.

C. Amen

(All read Naassene Psalm.)

(S. blesses incense, censes altar, is censed, with these words.)

S. When the seed is perfected, our Mother Achamoth will be as one with her bridegroom, and the hidden fire will consume all things and itself.

S. The spirit of the Mother be with you.

All. Blessed be the invisible Father, eternal and ungenerated, uncontainable and without companion. Blessed be the Holy Sophia, who created Desire by her longing for the Father. Blessed be the Redeemer, the Limit and the Cross, who purifies the Mother and awaits the Daughter.

M. Breath of Light, harken to the longing of every heart bound to matter, comfort them with faith and wonderous works, so that all souls that have received the seed of the Mother may enter into the Pleroma and be joined as brides to the angels of the Savior.

S. Let us greet the presence of the Annointed One amongst us with the Kiss of Peace.

(People share the Kiss of Peace.)

(S. blesses M.)

S. May the Mother be in your heart and the Redeemer upon your lips, that the Sacred teachings kindle the secret flame.

(There follows a reading. In the original performance of this ritual, M. read from the Nag Hammadi Codex 2, number 5: "On the Origin of the World".)

(M. reads Text)

S. Grant what no angel-eye has seen and no archon-ear has heard and what has not entered into the human heart, which came to be angelic and came to be after the image of the psychic God when it was formed in the beginning, for yours is the power and the glory and the blessing and the greatness for ever and ever. Amen.

(M. reads Liber I)

(Singing. "Jubelate Deo" in the original performance.)

S. Perfect and eternal Father, we adore you in the core of our souls. Every ripple of time is a longing and a beckoning. (She removes her clothing.) Let me comprehend your immensity, though I be sweetly dissolved in eternity. (Circumabulates with paten and chalice.)

M. Stoop not down into that darkly splendid world, wherein continually lieth a faithless depth, and Hades wrapped in gloom, delighting in unintelligible images, precipitous, winding, a black ever-rolling abyss, ever espousing a body unluminous, formless, and void. (D. binds P. to cross.)

S. O Lord, do not condemn me in your anger, do not punish me in your fury. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am weak; heal me, my very bones are shaken; my soul quivers in dismay. And you, O Lord--how long? Come back, O Lord; set my soul free, deliver me for your love's sake. None talk of you among the dead; who praises you in Sheol?

(M. takes incense and makes the sign of the rose cross in the 8 directions.
E. Depth
W. Silence
S. Mind
N. Truth
SE. Logos
NW. Life
NE. Man
SW. Church
Makes 3 circles above head, saying each time: Christe Pnuema Hagion. Hand at heart: Oecumene.)
M. From her tears comes every humid substance, from her laughter that which shines with light; from her grief and consternation come the corporeal elements of the universe. Sometimes she mourned and grieved, for she was left alone in darkness and the void; sometimes she reached a thought of the light which had left her, and she was cheered and laughed; sometimes she feared; at other times she was perplexed and astonished.

(M. begins to move to East.)

M. Light is consumed as a child in the Womb of its Mother to develop itself anew. But pain and sorrow infinite, and darkness are invoked. For this child riseth up within his Mother and doth crucify himself within her bosom. He extendeth his arms in the arms of his Mother and the light becometh fivefold.

(M. extends his arms and joins S. on the cross. Her bonds are released. They embrace and kiss. She brings cup and paten to front altar. She holds up cake.)

S. Lux in Luce
Christus in Cruce
Deo Duce
Sempiterno. (Breaks cake)

S. This is my body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (S. takes Cup.)

S. This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

(S. makes cross with cake over cup, drops half of cake in. Eats cake, drinks wine.)

S. Knowledge is the salvation of the inner being.

(Assistants distribute bread and wine to people.)

S. The seed shall be perfected.

C. Amen!

S. The bride and the bridegroom shall be joined.

C. Amen!

S. The Demiurge shall leave the world of matter.

C. Amen!

S. And this world shall be consumed with the hidden fire.

C. Amen!

S. In the power of the Sacred Knowledge go in peace, making your spirits a worthy company for the angels of the Holy One. 

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