The catharisme In The 12o century, the Catholic Church becomes the predominant force of Europe. The pope imposes his will, dictates his policy to the kings, to the emperors and to the princes. The bishops are the agents of Catholic power, watching the noblemen while the lower clergy takes responsibility for cities and for villages. These treasures, this power are going to launch a political and religious opposition in of many region of Europe. A religion just is undermining the foundations of Catholicism, a religion which comes from the East, in boundaries of the Persian and from the Asia. Having crossed the Close East, the Balkans and Italy of the North, she arrives in midday of France. There, she meets a climate advantageous for her development and is going to worry any power of Rome. This religion, it is the catharisme. The catharisme is not a simple heresy or a diversion of Christianity. This explanation, transported fluently, allows to line up the catharisme in the bottom of a cupboard without wondering forward. However, the catharisme is a full religion, with a history which goes back up in the night of time, to thousands of kilometres from France. It is this progression in the course of time and of the space which I offer you to fulfil to find the sources of the catharisme.
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- THE SOURCES OF THE CATHARISME ZOROASTRE AU 8o century before J.C, Zarathoustra, so named Zoroastre, melts in Persian a religion based on the idea of dualism. For him there are two opposite divinities which fight with the intention of taking over the man. Their name: Ormuzd and Ahriman, light and darkness. His supporters like to be called Parsis, what means the pure. Let us note that cathares too named the Pure. And as zoroastriens, cathares were dualists. The religion of Zoroastre has a lot of success in Persian. During more than ten centuries it is the same state religion. She had an influence on many religions of which the catharisme, who draws its duality of her.
- Gnostiques
- The second source of the catharisme after Zoroastre meets at gnostiques. There is a tremendous number of resemblance between education gnostic and cathare philosophy. In the thought of Zoroastre, gnostiques added the education of Christ. But they kept the principle of duality, contrary to the Christians for whom gnostiques was heretics and who persecuted them up to their disappearance. We find at cathares the same partitioning of education as to gnostiques, the same elitism. Indeed, knowledge or secret education were given only in a small number of elected representatives. As cathares, gnostiques rejected the ancient testament. Among gnostiques, a man is going to come into sight:
- Manès. ntre
- Manès was born in 216. In 12 years, an appearance orders him(her) to deny the religion of his(her) father, Zoroastrisme. In 24 years, a second appearance commands(orders) him(her) to proclaim its faith. He becomes a friend of king of Persia Shappur which he converts to his religion. During 30 years, Manès is going to cross(to go through) all the country to fight(dispute) Zoroastrisme and replace it by the Manicheanism.
- In 273, his(her) benefactor dies and the zoroastriens priests resume(take back) the power.
In 273, his benefactor dies and Zoroastrian priests returning to power. Manès died in 277 after 26 days of agony attached to the walls of the prison.
Manichaeism is a summary of the teaching of Buddha, Zoroaster and the Gnostics. It is the religion of light. Its base is still dualism, each god has its own territory, the world top for good, down to evil. In the middle, the man shared between them. It is both good and evil. He lived in the area of evil and is intended to remain there until the light does not come to his rescue. For Manes, the man should leave his body to come to light.
In this religion, there was also a barrier between insiders and simple believers. The first practice asceticism were very hard, based on fasting and meditation for awareness of the struggle taking place in them and thus overcome evil with death. To achieve this, one life was not enough, then Manicheans believed in reincarnation.
Here we find the main basis of religion cathare dualism, the man at the center of fighting between the two gods, reincarnation, the separation between insiders and simple believers, simplicity observance. The thought of Manès was known to VIIo century in the region of Narbonne, as shown by an engraving is at the Museum of Narbonne, which represents an insider Manichean.
Manichéennes ideas will cross the Middle East to arrive in Central Europe where they will give Bogomils and Arianism.
The European Dualism
The Arianism and Paulicians
The Arianism was one of the first major heresies knew that Christianity in its infancy. She was born in Ivo century AD The point of friction with Christians was the problem of the trinity. The three persons who are, father, son and Holy Spirit are for three different Arians. Moreover, for them, Jesus Christ is not eternal like his father.
The Languedoc Arianism reached around 500 AD. Visigoths kings who ruled over this region when it converted. This led to their loss as the Franks, who were Christians obedient to the pope since the baptism of Clovis, invaded their field and will emparèrent. But the doctrine remained in the minds of the region.
The Paulicians, however, are a little known sect that we do very little information. We know that its followers were also of dualistic. They were crushed by the Emperor of East 872. They then took refuge in the Balkans where we see them reappear under a new name: The Bogomils.
The Bogomils
Their name comes from their founder: Bogomil. A character who has a good chance of being legendary. Their doctrine is simple, similar to those demanded of dualism: Well has the light, evil government land. The Bogomils worshiped the sun and for them that Jesus was sent to light in the world of evil. They also rejected the Old Testament, and saw the Gospel according to Saint John as the Holy Book.
Regarding the sun, it is possible that he also held an important place in the Cathar thought. Some Cathar celebrations were held at the solstices and equinoxes as we shall see in the study of the Cathar treasure. Indeed, the Cathars were waiting for the spring equinox to and especially the Montsegur treasure leaves, probably after a ceremony.
- The pog Montségur (right) from the road from Montferrier --
(photograph by Philippe © Contal, June 2003)
Until 12o century, the Church Bogomils is very influential in the Balkans, then Rome, expressing concern that power the attack while launching his crusade against the Albigeois. In 1202, a major Balkan lords supporting heresy to abandon dualism and the pope can carry out the termination of dualism in Europe.
But before that disappearance, many fruitful exchanges between the two churches revolted. The main reason seems to be that Northern Italy is also in the hands of dualistic and therefore facilitates the passage of people.
In 1167, a large meeting is held by the Cathar clergy in the city of St. Felix de Caraman, a deacon Bogomils chairs. In addition, during the siege of Montsegur, many messages exchanged between the Cathars locked in their citadel and Bogomils.
The Cathars: insiders
Having walked on the sources of the Cathar religion, here are the various puzzles that have dotted the Cathar thought.
As was often the case in its history, the Catholic Church was not interested in the philosophy of his opponents. It simply kill the man and burn the books that nothing remains. This was the case with the Cathars. Very few books written by Cathars were received. We have two rituals, one in Oc language, the other in Latin. A treaty Cathar dated 13o century was written by Bartholomew of Carcassonne, Book Two Principles of Lugie Jean, and two other treaties: Apology and Cathar Gloss on the Pater. However, we are almost sure that the Cathars should have more books, some were destroyed by the Catholic Church. Indeed, we see in the second part that the treasure left Montsegur in March 1244 could be composed of manuscripts. And why not books Manès?
Cathar dualism
Manichaeism proclaimed that the earth was the creation of the devil and the light of God's creation. Like Zoroaster, or at Manès among Gnostics we find the same idea in the Cathar religion. The dualism is the answer to the questions that were asked Christians about the evil. Why are there, then that God is infinitely good and generous? Why evil can live with this omnipresent god? For Cathars, the answer is in dualism.
But there are small differences in the strength of both forces. The Cathars sailed between dualism and absolute dualism mixed. For the absolute dualism, the two principles existed since the beginning of time and they are forever. For the dualism mixed, evil is the work of a fallen angel from God, the myth of rebellion and the fall of Lucifer on Earth. And in the fall on earth, Lucifer would have lost the emerald which shone in his forehead and this stone was recovered by men. Why would it not fallen into the hands of the Cathars? Another track to the Treasury ...
For the Cathars, evil has succeeded in penetrating into the sky and some corrupt angels. A battle has begun between these angels become demons and those loyal to Good. The main idea of the Cathar thought that man must be crushed in time to triumph in the spiritual. The material world is the work of Satan, man creature of flesh is also the work of evil. But God in his infinite mercy, has given the human mind and soul. After a long ordeal that will last several lifetimes, the soul and spirit return to God. During these lives, humans must improve to achieve the purity and thus regain its spiritual body.
At the end of time, all the souls who inhabited the land will be saved. Satan will find himself alone on the ground, reduced to impotence and it will no longer fight against Good. That is the idea of Catharism which goes against Christianity: The Reincarnation.
Reincarnation
For Christians, we live a life. In our death, the soul goes to heaven or hell. For Cathars, on the contrary, the soul returns in a new body to purify themselves before reaching perfection. Even insiders need several lives to reach this original purity and to help believers to move on the same path. As there is in perfect Cathar a spirit of selflessness, sacrifice and love. Moreover, God wants all souls are saved, but have to wrest the Devil. Thus victory will be complete.
The idea of reincarnation is revolutionary in Europe in the Middle Ages. In addition, it is an egalitarian theory in a world where inequality is glaring. Reincarnation does not differentiate sex, could be reincarnated in a male or female body. While at the same time, the Catholic Church questioned the existence of the soul in women. Reincarnation also abolished the privileges, a lord could be reincarnated in the body of a serf and vice versa.
Only a few insiders knew this theory. The ideal teaching does not merely believers.
Teaching Cathar
The ideal preached the same education as well as humble to the rich: fairness, humility and tolerance. Never revolt, even during the crusade.
The Cathars advocating meditation and prayer.
The Cathar Church was composed of bishops, elected democratically. Each was responsible for a region, he was assisted by two believers, the son major and minor son. On the death of the bishop's son, Major took his place. Below him, deacons, each at the head of a small community. Then the perfect teaching doctrine. And finally, ordinary believers or sympathizers.
The transition between believer and perfect Consolamentum done through the simple ritual essential to the Cathars. He closed the initiation period that suffered novices.
The rites Cathar
The Cathars rejected Rome and throughout the ceremony surrounding the Catholic Church, particularly the Mass, baptism, marriage and extreme unction. Most of their rituals remained concentrated around the prayer. They withdrew as often as possible to pray. The believer also listened to sermons. At the Cathars no church, no temple, the hall of a castle or the home of a farmer was the case, as instead of a village. The Cathar clergy therefore had no place of worship to honor God, to bring the faithful.
There was also a kind of public confession: The Apparellumentum. But the main ceremony remained the Consolamentum. Thanks to him, became a pure believer. He spent another lifestyle, not eating more meat, had sex, remained faithful to the Cathar Church. It is for these reasons that there was a very small number of candidates (10 000 20 000).
The Consolamentum be received at any age. It simply is worthy because the applicant must undergo a long preparation, which began in a monastery who was under the authority of the church and during the Cathar crusade in the forests. It included several steps. First, the novice learned meditation, and then he had to learn by heart passages from the whole. A classic introduction sum. The made cathars mind through education and the body through meditation. Then there was a ritual that took place in caves. In particular, certain to Ussat and Ornolac (Ariege) which remain engraved in stone signs that had a mysterious significance during the ritual. There are on the wall of the cave of Bethlehem, Ussat, a pentagon in which a man can be held, arms and legs feel excluded. The design is partly natural and partly burned by humans. He wears brands that seem to be points of support for the hands and feet. This figure is probably older than the Cathars but they will be used during initiation of novices, surrounding it with some reverence. Moreover, there are other Pentagram, some portable, with another engraved on a rock, always Ussat.
- The pentagon of the cave of Bethlehem, Ussat-les-Bains --
(photograph by Philippe © Contal, August 2001)
Unfortunately, it is unclear what is actually happening in these caves. This remains a mystery. Without doubt a review of passage for the novice in the bowels of the earth. Then, could take place on Consolamentum which makes him a perfect. It took place in public.
The Consolamentum
The guard room is filled castle. The lord of the place is back: Although Catholic, he supports the Cathar church. It does not necessarily demonstrated anticléricalisme it is primarily anti-pope. At his side, stands the chatelaine, his wife, who gave up Catholicism for the Cathars. Around them, simple believers, whose parents novice who shortly will become a pure.
By the door low, the applicant arrives, accompanied by his godfather, which was initiated in caves and the dean of the meeting. They are moving a step slow to the three dignitaries Cathars and prostrate before them. The deacon or bishop who will order the novice washes his hands, like all those present. Then he turns to the assembly and forgives all sins that the meeting be purified. On the table, a table the Cathar holy book, most likely the Gospel according to Saint John. When everything is ready, the ceremony begins. The bishop takes the book and remained above the head of the applicants who was still kneeling before him and said: "Bless us, forgive us." The applicant requests to improve his soul. Then everyone recited a prayer. The master of ceremonies will now explain the meaning of prayer.
The novice will now abandon the religion of his birth and bridges break with its past. Then he asked to join the Cathar Church. The officiate made him promise not to eat meat, cheese, not to lie, not recant the true faith even under torture or before the pyre. (It is interesting to note that we did not find a single example of a perfect having renounced his faith.)
The novice is now ready to receive the Consolamentum. Still kneeling before the altar, he raises his hands on the white tablecloth. The officiate again takes the book and said: "Holy Father welcomes your servant in your justice and make your grace and your spirit in him." This is a time for laying on of hands. First the bishop, then all believers, will impose their right hand on the forehead of the novice. This gesture means that the Holy Spirit moves from one body to another. Then there are again prayers. The former adds: "We deliver this Holy Prayer that you receive from God and us, and the Church, and you have the power to repeat at every moment of your life, day and night , Alone or in company, and you do not eat or drink without ever say this first Prayer. If you miss it you should do penance ". The novice then responded: "I get from God, you and the Church."
The novice, who is now initiated, three révérences to the Gospel of St. John before kissing the book. It became a perfect. And to show this new state, it is the clothing and receives the kiss of all participants.
The Consolamentum is finished. The ceremony ends Cathar. At least the only one that we truly known. All others, we do not know as we know nothing of the many sermons. The disappearance of texts prevents us to learn more about the religion. Perhaps they will be found one day, as the manuscript of the Dead Sea ... This disappearance is part of the Cathar mysteries and famous treasures.
Given the above, we can notice that the Cathar Church becomes more like a secret community, as the Essenes, as a large church. His aim was not to have the largest number of faithful, but to be a small group of insiders who have faith in any event. The bishops not engaged to perfect their teaching. Becoming a pure called a real initiation.
The Cathars was a true religion with its sacred books, beliefs, rituals, but also a religion based on the initiation of a novice. It is a gradual revelation that only an insider could access.
Not the Cathars did not reveal the common people the merits of their thoughts and texts of their belief. Even before the Inquisition, past master untying the languages most tenacious. They have never disclosed the esoteric aspect of their belief. Déodat Roché, one of the last people to have tried to revive the Cathar thought to XXO century wrote: "The view was initiated by an experiment in the form of light of his mind and then take conscience of the meeting of marriage of his soul with his Higher Self. "
Another aspect of esoteric religion Cathar for food. We have seen that became pure vegetarian. Like many other insiders before them, such as Pythagorean. The Cathars do not eat meat or poultry, and apparently on grounds that more esoteric theological. Vegetarianism at home seemed to take the magical value of plants. Indeed, they directly absorb the light, as we have seen, is the symbol of purity and divine life. The light was very important for the Cathars. So by eating plants, they absorbed the energy directly beneficial for the body and even sick mind. While eating animals, they thought that light had lost its power and its benefits. For the Cathars the lack of food meat allowed a purification of the body. By this act they were entering the light of Life in the ownership of evil. This is a hypothesis because as I indicated, we have too little documentation on the teaching philosophy and Cathar.
But one of the greatest mysteries of the Cathars remains its treasures. What do they contain? Many avenues available to find out.
Philip Ward
Manichaeism is a summary of the teaching of Buddha, Zoroaster and the Gnostics. It is the religion of light. Its base is still dualism, each god has its own territory, the world top for good, down to evil. In the middle, the man shared between them. It is both good and evil. He lived in the area of evil and is intended to remain there until the light does not come to his rescue. For Manes, the man should leave his body to come to light.
In this religion, there was also a barrier between insiders and simple believers. The first practice asceticism were very hard, based on fasting and meditation for awareness of the struggle taking place in them and thus overcome evil with death. To achieve this, one life was not enough, then Manicheans believed in reincarnation.
Here we find the main basis of religion cathare dualism, the man at the center of fighting between the two gods, reincarnation, the separation between insiders and simple believers, simplicity observance. The thought of Manès was known to VIIo century in the region of Narbonne, as shown by an engraving is at the Museum of Narbonne, which represents an insider Manichean.
Manichéennes ideas will cross the Middle East to arrive in Central Europe where they will give Bogomils and Arianism.
The European Dualism
The Arianism and Paulicians
The Arianism was one of the first major heresies knew that Christianity in its infancy. She was born in Ivo century AD The point of friction with Christians was the problem of the trinity. The three persons who are, father, son and Holy Spirit are for three different Arians. Moreover, for them, Jesus Christ is not eternal like his father.
The Languedoc Arianism reached around 500 AD. Visigoths kings who ruled over this region when it converted. This led to their loss as the Franks, who were Christians obedient to the pope since the baptism of Clovis, invaded their field and will emparèrent. But the doctrine remained in the minds of the region.
The Paulicians, however, are a little known sect that we do very little information. We know that its followers were also of dualistic. They were crushed by the Emperor of East 872. They then took refuge in the Balkans where we see them reappear under a new name: The Bogomils.
The Bogomils
Their name comes from their founder: Bogomil. A character who has a good chance of being legendary. Their doctrine is simple, similar to those demanded of dualism: Well has the light, evil government land. The Bogomils worshiped the sun and for them that Jesus was sent to light in the world of evil. They also rejected the Old Testament, and saw the Gospel according to Saint John as the Holy Book.
Regarding the sun, it is possible that he also held an important place in the Cathar thought. Some Cathar celebrations were held at the solstices and equinoxes as we shall see in the study of the Cathar treasure. Indeed, the Cathars were waiting for the spring equinox to and especially the Montsegur treasure leaves, probably after a ceremony.
- The pog Montségur (right) from the road from Montferrier --
(photograph by Philippe © Contal, June 2003)
Until 12o century, the Church Bogomils is very influential in the Balkans, then Rome, expressing concern that power the attack while launching his crusade against the Albigeois. In 1202, a major Balkan lords supporting heresy to abandon dualism and the pope can carry out the termination of dualism in Europe.
But before that disappearance, many fruitful exchanges between the two churches revolted. The main reason seems to be that Northern Italy is also in the hands of dualistic and therefore facilitates the passage of people.
In 1167, a large meeting is held by the Cathar clergy in the city of St. Felix de Caraman, a deacon Bogomils chairs. In addition, during the siege of Montsegur, many messages exchanged between the Cathars locked in their citadel and Bogomils.
The Cathars: insiders
Having walked on the sources of the Cathar religion, here are the various puzzles that have dotted the Cathar thought.
As was often the case in its history, the Catholic Church was not interested in the philosophy of his opponents. It simply kill the man and burn the books that nothing remains. This was the case with the Cathars. Very few books written by Cathars were received. We have two rituals, one in Oc language, the other in Latin. A treaty Cathar dated 13o century was written by Bartholomew of Carcassonne, Book Two Principles of Lugie Jean, and two other treaties: Apology and Cathar Gloss on the Pater. However, we are almost sure that the Cathars should have more books, some were destroyed by the Catholic Church. Indeed, we see in the second part that the treasure left Montsegur in March 1244 could be composed of manuscripts. And why not books Manès?
Cathar dualism
Manichaeism proclaimed that the earth was the creation of the devil and the light of God's creation. Like Zoroaster, or at Manès among Gnostics we find the same idea in the Cathar religion. The dualism is the answer to the questions that were asked Christians about the evil. Why are there, then that God is infinitely good and generous? Why evil can live with this omnipresent god? For Cathars, the answer is in dualism.
But there are small differences in the strength of both forces. The Cathars sailed between dualism and absolute dualism mixed. For the absolute dualism, the two principles existed since the beginning of time and they are forever. For the dualism mixed, evil is the work of a fallen angel from God, the myth of rebellion and the fall of Lucifer on Earth. And in the fall on earth, Lucifer would have lost the emerald which shone in his forehead and this stone was recovered by men. Why would it not fallen into the hands of the Cathars? Another track to the Treasury ...
For the Cathars, evil has succeeded in penetrating into the sky and some corrupt angels. A battle has begun between these angels become demons and those loyal to Good. The main idea of the Cathar thought that man must be crushed in time to triumph in the spiritual. The material world is the work of Satan, man creature of flesh is also the work of evil. But God in his infinite mercy, has given the human mind and soul. After a long ordeal that will last several lifetimes, the soul and spirit return to God. During these lives, humans must improve to achieve the purity and thus regain its spiritual body.
At the end of time, all the souls who inhabited the land will be saved. Satan will find himself alone on the ground, reduced to impotence and it will no longer fight against Good. That is the idea of Catharism which goes against Christianity: The Reincarnation.
Reincarnation
For Christians, we live a life. In our death, the soul goes to heaven or hell. For Cathars, on the contrary, the soul returns in a new body to purify themselves before reaching perfection. Even insiders need several lives to reach this original purity and to help believers to move on the same path. As there is in perfect Cathar a spirit of selflessness, sacrifice and love. Moreover, God wants all souls are saved, but have to wrest the Devil. Thus victory will be complete.
The idea of reincarnation is revolutionary in Europe in the Middle Ages. In addition, it is an egalitarian theory in a world where inequality is glaring. Reincarnation does not differentiate sex, could be reincarnated in a male or female body. While at the same time, the Catholic Church questioned the existence of the soul in women. Reincarnation also abolished the privileges, a lord could be reincarnated in the body of a serf and vice versa.
Only a few insiders knew this theory. The ideal teaching does not merely believers.
Teaching Cathar
The ideal preached the same education as well as humble to the rich: fairness, humility and tolerance. Never revolt, even during the crusade.
The Cathars advocating meditation and prayer.
The Cathar Church was composed of bishops, elected democratically. Each was responsible for a region, he was assisted by two believers, the son major and minor son. On the death of the bishop's son, Major took his place. Below him, deacons, each at the head of a small community. Then the perfect teaching doctrine. And finally, ordinary believers or sympathizers.
The transition between believer and perfect Consolamentum done through the simple ritual essential to the Cathars. He closed the initiation period that suffered novices.
The rites Cathar
The Cathars rejected Rome and throughout the ceremony surrounding the Catholic Church, particularly the Mass, baptism, marriage and extreme unction. Most of their rituals remained concentrated around the prayer. They withdrew as often as possible to pray. The believer also listened to sermons. At the Cathars no church, no temple, the hall of a castle or the home of a farmer was the case, as instead of a village. The Cathar clergy therefore had no place of worship to honor God, to bring the faithful.
There was also a kind of public confession: The Apparellumentum. But the main ceremony remained the Consolamentum. Thanks to him, became a pure believer. He spent another lifestyle, not eating more meat, had sex, remained faithful to the Cathar Church. It is for these reasons that there was a very small number of candidates (10 000 20 000).
The Consolamentum be received at any age. It simply is worthy because the applicant must undergo a long preparation, which began in a monastery who was under the authority of the church and during the Cathar crusade in the forests. It included several steps. First, the novice learned meditation, and then he had to learn by heart passages from the whole. A classic introduction sum. The made cathars mind through education and the body through meditation. Then there was a ritual that took place in caves. In particular, certain to Ussat and Ornolac (Ariege) which remain engraved in stone signs that had a mysterious significance during the ritual. There are on the wall of the cave of Bethlehem, Ussat, a pentagon in which a man can be held, arms and legs feel excluded. The design is partly natural and partly burned by humans. He wears brands that seem to be points of support for the hands and feet. This figure is probably older than the Cathars but they will be used during initiation of novices, surrounding it with some reverence. Moreover, there are other Pentagram, some portable, with another engraved on a rock, always Ussat.
- The pentagon of the cave of Bethlehem, Ussat-les-Bains --
(photograph by Philippe © Contal, August 2001)
Unfortunately, it is unclear what is actually happening in these caves. This remains a mystery. Without doubt a review of passage for the novice in the bowels of the earth. Then, could take place on Consolamentum which makes him a perfect. It took place in public.
The Consolamentum
The guard room is filled castle. The lord of the place is back: Although Catholic, he supports the Cathar church. It does not necessarily demonstrated anticléricalisme it is primarily anti-pope. At his side, stands the chatelaine, his wife, who gave up Catholicism for the Cathars. Around them, simple believers, whose parents novice who shortly will become a pure.
By the door low, the applicant arrives, accompanied by his godfather, which was initiated in caves and the dean of the meeting. They are moving a step slow to the three dignitaries Cathars and prostrate before them. The deacon or bishop who will order the novice washes his hands, like all those present. Then he turns to the assembly and forgives all sins that the meeting be purified. On the table, a table the Cathar holy book, most likely the Gospel according to Saint John. When everything is ready, the ceremony begins. The bishop takes the book and remained above the head of the applicants who was still kneeling before him and said: "Bless us, forgive us." The applicant requests to improve his soul. Then everyone recited a prayer. The master of ceremonies will now explain the meaning of prayer.
The novice will now abandon the religion of his birth and bridges break with its past. Then he asked to join the Cathar Church. The officiate made him promise not to eat meat, cheese, not to lie, not recant the true faith even under torture or before the pyre. (It is interesting to note that we did not find a single example of a perfect having renounced his faith.)
The novice is now ready to receive the Consolamentum. Still kneeling before the altar, he raises his hands on the white tablecloth. The officiate again takes the book and said: "Holy Father welcomes your servant in your justice and make your grace and your spirit in him." This is a time for laying on of hands. First the bishop, then all believers, will impose their right hand on the forehead of the novice. This gesture means that the Holy Spirit moves from one body to another. Then there are again prayers. The former adds: "We deliver this Holy Prayer that you receive from God and us, and the Church, and you have the power to repeat at every moment of your life, day and night , Alone or in company, and you do not eat or drink without ever say this first Prayer. If you miss it you should do penance ". The novice then responded: "I get from God, you and the Church."
The novice, who is now initiated, three révérences to the Gospel of St. John before kissing the book. It became a perfect. And to show this new state, it is the clothing and receives the kiss of all participants.
The Consolamentum is finished. The ceremony ends Cathar. At least the only one that we truly known. All others, we do not know as we know nothing of the many sermons. The disappearance of texts prevents us to learn more about the religion. Perhaps they will be found one day, as the manuscript of the Dead Sea ... This disappearance is part of the Cathar mysteries and famous treasures.
Given the above, we can notice that the Cathar Church becomes more like a secret community, as the Essenes, as a large church. His aim was not to have the largest number of faithful, but to be a small group of insiders who have faith in any event. The bishops not engaged to perfect their teaching. Becoming a pure called a real initiation.
The Cathars was a true religion with its sacred books, beliefs, rituals, but also a religion based on the initiation of a novice. It is a gradual revelation that only an insider could access.
Not the Cathars did not reveal the common people the merits of their thoughts and texts of their belief. Even before the Inquisition, past master untying the languages most tenacious. They have never disclosed the esoteric aspect of their belief. Déodat Roché, one of the last people to have tried to revive the Cathar thought to XXO century wrote: "The view was initiated by an experiment in the form of light of his mind and then take conscience of the meeting of marriage of his soul with his Higher Self. "
Another aspect of esoteric religion Cathar for food. We have seen that became pure vegetarian. Like many other insiders before them, such as Pythagorean. The Cathars do not eat meat or poultry, and apparently on grounds that more esoteric theological. Vegetarianism at home seemed to take the magical value of plants. Indeed, they directly absorb the light, as we have seen, is the symbol of purity and divine life. The light was very important for the Cathars. So by eating plants, they absorbed the energy directly beneficial for the body and even sick mind. While eating animals, they thought that light had lost its power and its benefits. For the Cathars the lack of food meat allowed a purification of the body. By this act they were entering the light of Life in the ownership of evil. This is a hypothesis because as I indicated, we have too little documentation on the teaching philosophy and Cathar.
But one of the greatest mysteries of the Cathars remains its treasures. What do they contain? Many avenues available to find out.
Philip Ward
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