(The Sacrament of Puberty)
Gnostic Church of L.V.X.
Member A.M.H.R.
By Order of the Acting Council of Elders
These rites belong to each the Pubescent Girl and the Pubescent Boy.
“Come forth, o children, under the stars, & take your fill of love!”
AL I.12
That these two individuated sexes shall know the other.
“For he is ever a sun, and she a moon. But to him is the winged secret flame, and to her the stooping starlight. AL I.16
And they shall exalt themselves and swoon in this knowledge.
“Beauty and strength, leaping laughter and delicious languor, force and fire, are of us.”
AL II. 20
For this is the life they approach.
“Hail! Ye twin warriors about the pillars of the world! For your time is nigh at hand.”
AL III.71
The Parent of whom is the same sex as the Child is responsible for the more mundane aspects of the Pubescent’s instruction and begins the Rite of Nubilation in a more primal manner. For the Girl, the Mother explains the nature of sexuality and confers the feminine mystique. For the Boy, the Father explains the nature of sexuality and the male machismo. Both explain the subtleties of enjoying the other and grant the children the latitude to explore in what manner they will.
The Guardians appointed during the Rite of Adoption have born the responsibility of the Catechism. Wherein, as part of the educational development of the Child, the basics of the System of Scientific Illuminism have been taught. The Chapter of Book IV provides the basis for this study as the Nursery Rimes of youth are transformed into the Sophistry of the more evolved intellect. Thus the structure is provided wherein the Guardian fulfills the Oath of ensuring the Free Will of the Child at the Rite of Adoption.
The Child or Children are brought into the Hall of the Warrior’s L.V.X. to witness their first Gnostic Mass. At the end of the rite, they are escorted to the Circle from the Congregation by the Deacon. The Priest and Priestess remain concealed. They are standing erect facing out about the perimeter of the Circle. If there are not enough Children to complete the Circle, the majority are nearest Boleskine. The Deacon takes his place in the Center and faces Boleskine.
The Bishop enters from Behind the Dark Cell in the Robe of the highest A.’.A.’. grade attained to and armed with the primary symbol of that grade and takes position nearest Boleskine outside the Circle. The purpose of employing the Bishop, is that the larger body of the A.M.H.R.. oversees the region in observing the quality of adults brought through the educational system. The rearing of strong Stars is the nature of our religion. The Bishop leads the Children in the reciting of A Paraphrase of the Hieroglyphs of the 11 Lines upon the Obverse of the Stele of Revealing. And after this, takes up with those Children prepared to recite their Qabalistic analysis of their chosen Nursery Rime. Those Children who do not give an analysis are afforded the opportunity to recite A Paraphrase of the Hieroglyphs of the 11 Lines upon the Reverse of the Stele of Revealing.
The Deacon then recites the final instruction:
“I am the Snake that giveth Knowledge & Delight and bright glory, and stir the hearts of men with drunkenness. To worship me take wine and strange drugs whereof I will tell my prophet, & be drunk thereof! They shall not harm ye at all. It is a lie, this folly against self. The exposure of innocence is a lie. Be strong, o man! Lust, enjoy all things of sense and rapture: fear not that any God shall deny thee for this.” AL II.22
The Children are then Thrice escorted about the Hall of the Warrior’s L.V.X. led by the Bishop and tailed by the Deacon. Upon the completion of these cicumambulations, they are led immediately from the Hall with the Deacon remaining to escort the remaining Congregation. A Feast for Fire and/or a Feast for Water is prepared as a banquet reception.