RITES OF PASSAGE
Naming
This ceremony should take place on the child's ninth day of life. In ancient times, many children did not survive the nine days and it was figured that a child which did so had a chance of long term survival and was therefore named and welcomed into the family.
The Naming Ceremony
Purification
This ritual is to be done at the Lararium.
All must approach the Lararium clean, therefore,
All are to abstain for at least 6 hours prior,
All are to bathe and dress in ritual clothing.
The Custode begins be kindling the eternal flame...
I kindle this flame as a symbol of the eternal flame
which lights the hearts and minds of both men and Gods,
and ask the blessings of Vesta upon this flame
and all upon whom its light may fall.
Welcoming
Custode
Dear Friends, we have come together here today
In the home of __________________ to witness the welcoming
Of a new member into the __________ Family.
We do give greetings to each and every one of you
And to this one who is new to our Blessed Earth.
Let us summon now Our Divine Parents.
Invocation
O, Pomona, Our Great Mother who Tends the Tree of Life,
We ask that some portion of your presence be here among us now,
Give protection and shelter to the small and sacred one
Who is here to be dedicated in Your Honor!
May you guide us in our performance of these rites.
O, Vertumnus, Our Heavenly Father who Turns the Wheel of the Year,
We ask that some portion of your presence be here among us now,
Give protection and shelter to the small and sacred one
Who is here to be dedicated in Your Honor!
May you guide us in our performance of these rites.
O, Father Janus, we come before you today
To dedicate this small one to Gods of Our Ancestors.
We do beseech you to open the gates between the worlds
That we may have access to the Numina.
O, Eurus, King of the Winds of the East,
Which usher in great Dawn, and fill us with freshness, life, and joy...
Cast your blessings upon this child
And become a friend to him!
O, Auster, King of the Winds of the South,
Which bring the steamy warmth of the sun, growth to all things, and promise of the future,
Cast your blessings upon this child
And become a friend to him!
O, Zepherus, King of the Winds of the West,
Which bring forth the cool mists of the twilight, giving quiet repose and refreshing calm,
Cast your blessings upon this child
And become a friend to him!
O, Boreas, King of the Winds of the North,
Which bring forth the cold that allows us to turn within for warmth and self knowledge.
Cast your blessings upon this child
And become a friend to him!
Who is it that shall come before the Gods?
Who is it that speaks for this small one?
Mother
Before our family and friends,
Before those of the mysteries,
Before those who are seen,
And those who are invisible,
Before the Mighty Winds,
And before the Mighty Manes,
Before the Immortal Gods themselves,
Do I bring forth _________________,
We have long sought this small one,
And brought forth our child in love.
Father
Before our family and friends,
Before those of the mysteries,
Before those who are seen,
And those who are invisible,
Before the Mighty Winds,
And before the Mighty Manes,
Before the Immortal Gods themselves,
Do I bring forth _________________,
We have long sought this small one,
And brought forth our child in love.
Mother and Father
May the blessings of wise and joyous Jove,
Father of the Gods,
Far-seeing and far-knowing,
Be upon thee, small friend!
May the blessings of loving and constant Juno,
Queen of Heaven,
Supportive and nurturing,
Be upon thee, small friend!
May the blessings of all the Gods and Numina of Our People
Named and unnamed,
Near and Far,
Be upon thee, small friend!
Custode
I bid you both to approach the altar
And hearken to these words to you both,
For the bringing of a new life into the world
And the linking of one so young
To the most Ancient of Ways
Is a most serious matter.
I bid you both to give your child
The finest and deepest of training,
Yet make not his life one of tedious labor.
For one so young must live well
The joy of life.
I bid you both to respect your child
As an individual, for he is unique.
Remember always that a small freame and child's ways
Often cover an excellent mind,
That in later years many shall honor.
I bid you both to give always
A fair bearing to your child.
Teach him virtue and love of the Old Gods.
Have patience as he learns and asks.
And remember that you yourselves once ran his path.
I bid you both to give ever
New horizons, new challenges, new worlds,
So that your child may go so far
As his own mind and spirit shall lead.
Do you hearken unto these words?
Parents
We do
Custode
If you be ready to assume these duties
As parent of the small one
Consecrated befor the Eternal Gods,
Then take these vows,
And say now after me:
Custode then Parents
We, ____________________, as parents
and as followers of the old ways
Do that this sacred vow
Before the Old Gods
To whom we give honor and fealty.
If Godparents are Chosen
Custode
You who would to this child be Godparents
Come forth and stand before the altar.
Are you now ready to assume the duties
As Godparents of the small one
To aid the parents in the upbringing of the child,
To support the young one that he may grow
Within the loving bonds of his True Family and the Ways of .
And, if the Fates and the Gods
Remove the mother and sire from this world,
To take this child into your own care
And see that he is brought up in the Ways of his true Family.
Are you now ready to suume these responsibilities?
Place your hands here
And swear befroe the Old Gods
That you are ready to bear theses
Responsibilities.
If so, say after me:
Custode then Godparents
We assume these cares
In the all-power name of the Lady,
And of her Consort,
And of the Ancient Ones.
(The Child is presented to the Altar)
Father Janus, Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Juno Regina,
Our Lares, Our Penates, Most Worthy Manes of this Family,
Gentle Vesta and all those Gods and Numina whose names we have not said,
All who watch over the welfare of this family and this world...
If it please you, we ask that you witness this ____ day of _______,
__________ years since the founding of Rome
that __________________ son of
__________________and ________________
Has, through this rite, been accepted into the Divine Family
of Pomona and Vertumnus
And has been dedicated to the ways of the Numina.
Accept this small one who has enterd our presence,
O gracious and most magnificent Lady,
Whose slender hand plants the seed of the Tree of Life,
Whose triple aspect does see
The sowing, the maturing and the harvesting of all life
Whose wells of mystery do give
Inspiration and rebirth throughout eternity,
That by this rite our child may become Your child,
And Your family may become Our Family.
Fiat!
Accept this small one who has enterd our presence,
O loving and most valiant Lord,
Whose tender hand turns the cast wheel of the sky,
Whose dual aspect does watch
The everchanging cycle of birth and death,
Whose wells of strength do give
Courage and inspiration throughout eternity,
That by this rite our child may become Your child,
And Your family may become Our Family.
Fiat!
To you, great Janus, Guardian of New Beginnings.
Blessings and Thanks.
To you, Jupiter Optimus Maximus, father of Gods and Men,
Blessings and Thanks.
To you, Juno Regina, protectress of motherhood and the happy home,
Blessings and Thanks.
To you, our Lares, spirits of those who have gone before and of the land upon which we stand.
Blessings and Thanks.
To you, our Penates, Gods of this Family and protectors of health and wealth.
Blessings and Thanks.
To all you Gods and Spirits, whose names we have not spoken, who eatch over the welfare of this family and home
Blessings and Thanks.
I end with you, dear Vesta,Goddess of the Eternal Flame, and of hospitality
Blessings and Thanks.
Parting
This rite is ended.
We thank you all for joining us.
(refreshments are now available)
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