Second Sunday before Lent
Intent: The Holy Spirit as Sanctifier
At the Baptism of Jesus it is written that: “…as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke, 3:21-22)
This passage of scripture is deeply Gnostic. The Holy Spirit was the sanctifier of Jesus as the Christ and it is by Its power that he became the incarnate Son of God, the Aeon Christ. Like Jesus, it is also by the Holy Ghost that our spirits will be quickened and that we will one day be made into the Sons and Daughters of God that we are. Our true natures are fulfilled by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is our destinies, and we call this sanctification an experience of the True Knowledge of God, or Gnosis.
As our late Primat Robert Cokinis (Tau Charles Harmonius II) wrote: “We acknowledge and uphold the unity and the hypostasis of the Holy Trinity and Christ our Lord the Logos, who, abiding in the heart of the Divine Pleroma, confers to his faithful, salvation through grace, which is inseparable in its essence from the Holy Gnosis.”
The readings from the Lectionary today all underline this relationship between the Holy Ghost, Grace and the Gnosis. For example, in ‘The Epistle of St James’ it is written: "This is the way whereby it is possible for you to receive the Kingdom of Heaven. If you do not receive it by Gnosis, you will not find it."
And in the Book of the Gospel of Truth it is written: "When one knows, then one can receive those things that are his own and will draw them to Himself. For he who is not Gnostic is lacking much indeed, for he lacks that which would complete him."
Therefore, interaction with what we lack, that is the Holy Ghost (also known as the Mother) is an important step in our own sanctification and our own experiences of Gnosis. If it helps one can view the Holy Ghost as the primary and ever present tool used by the Most High for our elevation and illumination. This is why Martinès de Pasqually and Our Church after him recommended the daily use of the Litany to the Holy Ghost upon rising as a way of connecting with this Sanctifying Power. Doing so starts each day in the presence of Grace and may help you enter into deeper contact with the Divine. Here is an example of a Litany if you wish to integrate this parcice in your own daily spiritual routine:
A Litany to the Holy Ghost
Holy Spirit, Who is the Father and the Son, enter my heart.
Holy Spirit, Who art equal to the Father and the Son, enter my heart.
Promise of God the Father, have mercy on me.
(Or if you prefer you may wish to say “be with me” instead)
Ray of heavenly light, have mercy on me.
Author of all good, have mercy on me.
Source of Heavenly water, have mercy on me.
Consuming Fire, have mercy on me.
Ardent Charity, have mercy on me.
Spiritual Unction, have mercy on me.
Spirit of love and truth, have mercy on me.
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, have mercy on me.
Spirit of counsel and fortitude, have mercy on me.
Spirit of knowledge and piety, have mercy on me.
Spirit of the fear of the Lord, have mercy on me.
Spirit of grace and prayer, have mercy on me.
Spirit of peace and meekness, have mercy on me.
Spirit of modesty and innocence, have mercy on me.
Holy Spirit, the Comforter, have mercy on me.
Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, have mercy on me.
Holy Spirit, Who governest the Church, have mercy on me.
Gift of God the Most High, have mercy on me.
Spirit Who fillest the universe, have mercy on me.
Spirit of the adoption of the children of God, have mercy on me.
Holy Spirit, inspire me with horror of sin.
Holy Spirit, come and renew the face of the earth.
Holy Spirit, shed Thy light into my soul.
Holy Spirit, engrave Thy law in my heart.
Holy Spirit, inflame me with the flame of Thy love.
Holy Spirit, open to me the treasures of Thy graces.
Holy Spirit, teach me to pray well.
Holy Spirit, enlighten me with Thy Heavenly inspirations.
Holy Spirit, lead me in the way of salvation.
Holy Spirit, grant me the only necessary knowledge.
Holy Spirit, inspire in me the practice of good.
Holy Spirit, grant me the merits of all virtues.
Holy Spirit, make me persevere injustice.
Holy Spirit, be my everlasting reward.
Father, Send me Thy Holy Spirit.
Mother, Pour down into my soul the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Son, Grant me the Spirit of wisdom and piety.
Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of Thy faithful,
And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
(Meditative Pause, then pray:)
Grant, O merciful Father, that Thy Divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame and purify me, that She may penetrate me with Her heavenly dew and make me fruitful in good works, through Our Lord Aeon Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, liveth and reigneth unto the Aeons and Aeons. Amen.
This passage of scripture is deeply Gnostic. The Holy Spirit was the sanctifier of Jesus as the Christ and it is by Its power that he became the incarnate Son of God, the Aeon Christ. Like Jesus, it is also by the Holy Ghost that our spirits will be quickened and that we will one day be made into the Sons and Daughters of God that we are. Our true natures are fulfilled by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is our destinies, and we call this sanctification an experience of the True Knowledge of God, or Gnosis.
As our late Primat Robert Cokinis (Tau Charles Harmonius II) wrote: “We acknowledge and uphold the unity and the hypostasis of the Holy Trinity and Christ our Lord the Logos, who, abiding in the heart of the Divine Pleroma, confers to his faithful, salvation through grace, which is inseparable in its essence from the Holy Gnosis.”
The readings from the Lectionary today all underline this relationship between the Holy Ghost, Grace and the Gnosis. For example, in ‘The Epistle of St James’ it is written: "This is the way whereby it is possible for you to receive the Kingdom of Heaven. If you do not receive it by Gnosis, you will not find it."
And in the Book of the Gospel of Truth it is written: "When one knows, then one can receive those things that are his own and will draw them to Himself. For he who is not Gnostic is lacking much indeed, for he lacks that which would complete him."
Therefore, interaction with what we lack, that is the Holy Ghost (also known as the Mother) is an important step in our own sanctification and our own experiences of Gnosis. If it helps one can view the Holy Ghost as the primary and ever present tool used by the Most High for our elevation and illumination. This is why Martinès de Pasqually and Our Church after him recommended the daily use of the Litany to the Holy Ghost upon rising as a way of connecting with this Sanctifying Power. Doing so starts each day in the presence of Grace and may help you enter into deeper contact with the Divine. Here is an example of a Litany if you wish to integrate this parcice in your own daily spiritual routine:
A Litany to the Holy Ghost
Holy Spirit, Who is the Father and the Son, enter my heart.
Holy Spirit, Who art equal to the Father and the Son, enter my heart.
Promise of God the Father, have mercy on me.
(Or if you prefer you may wish to say “be with me” instead)
Ray of heavenly light, have mercy on me.
Author of all good, have mercy on me.
Source of Heavenly water, have mercy on me.
Consuming Fire, have mercy on me.
Ardent Charity, have mercy on me.
Spiritual Unction, have mercy on me.
Spirit of love and truth, have mercy on me.
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, have mercy on me.
Spirit of counsel and fortitude, have mercy on me.
Spirit of knowledge and piety, have mercy on me.
Spirit of the fear of the Lord, have mercy on me.
Spirit of grace and prayer, have mercy on me.
Spirit of peace and meekness, have mercy on me.
Spirit of modesty and innocence, have mercy on me.
Holy Spirit, the Comforter, have mercy on me.
Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, have mercy on me.
Holy Spirit, Who governest the Church, have mercy on me.
Gift of God the Most High, have mercy on me.
Spirit Who fillest the universe, have mercy on me.
Spirit of the adoption of the children of God, have mercy on me.
Holy Spirit, inspire me with horror of sin.
Holy Spirit, come and renew the face of the earth.
Holy Spirit, shed Thy light into my soul.
Holy Spirit, engrave Thy law in my heart.
Holy Spirit, inflame me with the flame of Thy love.
Holy Spirit, open to me the treasures of Thy graces.
Holy Spirit, teach me to pray well.
Holy Spirit, enlighten me with Thy Heavenly inspirations.
Holy Spirit, lead me in the way of salvation.
Holy Spirit, grant me the only necessary knowledge.
Holy Spirit, inspire in me the practice of good.
Holy Spirit, grant me the merits of all virtues.
Holy Spirit, make me persevere injustice.
Holy Spirit, be my everlasting reward.
Father, Send me Thy Holy Spirit.
Mother, Pour down into my soul the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Son, Grant me the Spirit of wisdom and piety.
Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of Thy faithful,
And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
(Meditative Pause, then pray:)
Grant, O merciful Father, that Thy Divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame and purify me, that She may penetrate me with Her heavenly dew and make me fruitful in good works, through Our Lord Aeon Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, liveth and reigneth unto the Aeons and Aeons. Amen.