SEPTEMBER 5th.

                                                  opening              religious celebrations

 Iuppiter, qui genus colis alisque hominem, per quem vivimus vitalem aevom, quem penes spes vitae sunt hominum omnium, da diem hunc sospitem quaeso meis rebus agundis .
              

 

      

 
 O Iuppiter, who dost cherish and nurture the human race, through whom we live and draw the breath of being, in whom rest the hopes and lives of all humankind, I beg you to grant that this day may prosper that which I have in hand .

 

               

  We, T. Iulius Sabinus and C. Equitius Cato, Nova Roma Curule Aediles hereby solemny declare LUDI ROMANI of the year 2759 a.U.c open !  

RELIGIOUS CELEBRATIONS.

Curulis Aediles, T. Iulius Sabinus and C. Equitius Cato, in front of their Cohors, garbed in toga praetexta, cinctu Gabino, capite velato.

Curule Aedile, T. Iulius Sabinus, garbed in toga praetexta, cinctu Gabino, capite velato, perform the ritual * :

SALUTATIO.
Silentium is ordered: Praeco C. Marius Maior admonishes those who know themselves to be impure to leave: Hoc agete!. "Give your attention to this!"
Procul, o procul, quaecumque profanae, ferte gradus nec vos casto miscete labori ! "Far away, be gone, whosoever among you is unchaste, do not share in this sacred task".
Those attending the celebrations respond: Tacemus. Dis sumus fretus, deos sperabimus. "We are silent. We trust in the Gods, we will put our hopes in the Gods."
 

I, Aedilis Curulis,Iulius Sabinus, perform a ritual washing my hands, dripping pure water upon my brow as I pray:
Haec aqua a corpore impuritates eluat, ut pluvial terra purgat.  "May my body be purified by this water, as the earth is purified by rain."
I addresses the Gods :
Avete Iove Supremi Dique Imortales! Quin agete ipsos et libens propriorum certaminis vos dignare manu indulgete sacris.
"Hail Jupiter Supreme and all You immortal Gods! Why not arouse Yourselves and graciously attend the ceremonies that we hold in Your honor with Your divine presence."
The altars are purified and prepared. The foci are lit with prayers and offerings to Sancta Vesta. Di Testores are called to witness the ritual :

INVOCATIO.
Audi, Iane, audi Iuppiter, audite Di Deaeque omnes caelestes, vosque terrestes vosque inferni, qui hanc urbem, hoc sacratos locosque
colitis, audite; Di parenti, ego vos testor; si hoc adsistis, tum ego, dico, divi, ut vos audiatis vinem inferiorem dato. Ilaec advorsum si quid pecasso, divi, veneror vos ut misera ego esse.
"Hear me, Janus. Listen, Jupiter. All You Heavenly Gods, and You Gods of the earth, and You below, who cherish this City and these sacred groves, listen. I call You to be my witnesses, that if in here You will be present, then this lesser portion of wine I shall give to You. And if I do anything to violate this rite, I pray that I shall suffer misfortune."
With my head veiled, I offer incense at the round altar of the Lares:
Di Parenti, vos hoc turem obmoveo bonas preces precor, ut sistis volens propitius nobis liberisque notris domis familisque nostris.
"Gods of our forefathers, I make this offering of incense to You and pray with good prayers that You will look kindly and favorably upon us and our children, on our houses and on our households."
I next pour a libation of wine:
Di parenti, macte istic libatione pollicenda sint, macte vino inferio sint.
"Gods of our forefathers, may You be strengthened by this libation, may You be honored by this portion of wine"

SACRIFICATIO.
To the other celebrants I say:
Auspicato, omina bona accepi. Sic purgatus est hoc locus ad ritum. Venite nunc ante hanc aram ut affirmetis fideles coram Diis vos libenter adnuere his ritiis.
"The auspices taken; the birds favor. Thus this place has been purified for the rite. Come now before this altar to declare faithfully before the Gods that you willingly give your consent to this rite."
My head veiled, I approaches the altar of Jupiter, my right arm forward, bent as my waist, palm up, in the gesture of offering.
Then I raise my right hand to the sky, manus supina.
Iovi disque ago gratias merito magnas. Serva, Iuppiter supreme, nos mihi per tuom te genium obsecro, exi, te volumus.
"To Jove and the Gods I deservedly give great thanks. Jove Supreme, look down and preserve us, I do beseech you by your good genius.
Come forth! We wish for You.
"Iupiter, Father of Gods and humans, we come before You this day with open hearts, pure and chaste. By these games and ceremonies we seek to honor You. Hear us, O Heavenly Father, and may You honor us this day with your presence. As many times before, so now accept these offerings and bless our civitas. With lightning You rule the firmament and by Your rains is this world made fertile. Everything above and below knows Your greatness and opulence. Accept our libations and send upon us Your kind thoughts. May You grant Nova
Roma concord and a richness of life!"
Laurel, incense, honeyed cakes, and wine are offered each in turn by the usual manner upon the altar fires.
Pater noster qui in caelo, Saturni, Iove Optime Maxime, te hoc turem obmoveimus bonas preces precamur, ut sis volens propitius nos liberisque noster domo familiaeque noster.
Our Father who dwells in the Heavens, Son of Saturnus, Best and Greatest Jupiter, to You we make this offering of incense and pray that You will look kindly and favorably upon us, upon our children, on our homes and our households.
Iove, macte istic libatione pollicenda esto, macte vino inferio esto. In tua, Pater carissime, in tua sumus custodia.
"Jove, may You be strengthened by this libation, may You be honored by this wine. In You, dearest Father, in Your hands do we place our safekeeping."


I turn about, extend my right hand in a gesture of liberalis towards the altar of Jupiter. I move to the second altar where Iuno Capitolina is next invoked :
Magni Iovis germana et coniuga , Saturni, sive tu, quae sola partu vagituque et alimonia tua gloriatur, tenes vetusta delubra. Beatas sedes frequentas. Huc ades, O Regina Caelistis, precamur, et nobis feras venerabile donos.
"O spouse and sister of Mighty Jupiter, Daughter of Saturnus, whether You are worshipped and adored in the public rites of the temples, or whether You are called upon singularly by women in their tearful moment of giving birth, Your glory is nourished. Blessed are the places You frequent. Be present, O Queen of Heaven, we pray, bearing Your heavenly gifts for us.
Iuno Regina Caelistis, te hoc turem obmoveimus bonas preces precamur, ut sis volens propitius nos liberisque noster domo familiaeque noster.
Juno, Queen of Heaven, to You we make this offering of incense and pray that You will look kindly and favorably upon us, upon our children, on our homes and our households.
Tu quidem sanctissima et humani generis sospitatrix perpetua, semper fovendis mortalibus munifica, dulcem matris adfectationem miserorum casibus tribuis. Nec dies nec quies nulla ac ne momentum quidem tenue tuis transcurrit beneficiis otiosum, quin mari terraque protegas homines et depulsis vitae procellis salutarem porrigas dexteram.
"Most holy and everlasting, blessed Lady, Redeemer and perpetual comfort of human kind, who by Your bounty and grace nourish all the world, cherish our lives, and bestow the consoling smiles of a Mother with great affection upon our trials and tribulations. As a loving Mother You take no rest. There is no day or night, not so much as a moment, that is not filled by Your mercy succoring all men and women. On land as well as at sea, You are She who chases away all storms and dangers from our lives by Your right hand."
Iuno, macte istic libatione pollicenda esto, macte vino inferio esto. Da nobis hasce opes, quas petimus, quas precamur porrige opitula.
"Juno, may You be strengthened by this libation, may You be honored by this wine. Grant us Your strength, to whom we pray, to whom we ask, extend Your aid to us."

I turn about, extend my right hand in a gesture of liberalis towards the altar of Juno. I move to the third altar where Minerva is next invoked :
Quamcumque partem sedis aetheriae premis, filia Iovis, nunc ades o coeptis, flava Minerva, meis. Seu Pandionio nostras inuisere caedes monte uenis, siue Aonia deuertis Itone laeta choris, seu tu Libyco Tritone repexas iota comas, huis adnue sacro.
"Wherever You may be in the ethereal regions, Daughter of Jupiter, come now, golden haired Minerva, to favor the task I've begun. Whether You come from Mount Pandion to our rites by night, or from dancing happily in Ainian Itone, or from washing once more Your hair in the waters of Libyan Triton, may You, with Your nod, willing accept this sacrifice."
Sancte Minerva, te hoc turem obmoveimus bonas preces precamur, ut sis volens propitius nos liberisque noster domo familiaeque noster.
Holy Minerva, to You we make this offering of incense and pray that You will look kindly and favorably upon us, upon our children, on our homes and our households.
Laying a wreathe upon the altar, I prays:
Dea magna ex Iove nata, anima laeta veni, sapientissima Minerva, benevolens benignaque. Eluce sapientiá amicitiáque, aperi cordia mentesque nostra, inspira nos in omnibus quae facimus. Minerva, te his donis obmovendis bonas preces precor uti sies volens propitia nobis, domo familaeque nostrae. Macta his doniss.
"Great Goddess, sprung from mighty Jupiter, with joyful mind come, all wise Minerva, benevolent and kind. Shine this day Your light of wisdom and love, open our hearts and minds, inspire us in all that we do. Minerva, in making this offering to you, I pray with good prayers, that You look favorably on us and our household and guide us in Your crafts. May You be honored by this gift.

Sancte Mineva, macte istic libatione pollicenda esto, macte vino inferio esto. Da nobis hasce opes, quas petimus, quas precamur porrige opitula.
"Holy Minerva, may You be strengthened by this libation, may You be honored by this wine. Grant us Your strength, to whom we pray, to whom we ask, extend Your aid to us."

LITATIO.
Wine and honey cakes are offered once more in thanksgiving to Janus and to the other Gods and Goddesses who have attended this ceremony. Lastly then is thanks given to Vesta. I step away from the altar and end the rite:
Nil amplius vos hodie posco, superi, satis est.
"No more, Gods on High, do I ask of You today; it is enough."

PERLITATIO.
In silence I turn and await a sign from the Gods that the offerings have been accepted. Turning once more to the celebrants I say:
Ilicet. Di deaeque omnes, superi atque inferi, vos semper ament et felicitam volunt.
"Thus it is done. May all the Gods above and below always love you and wish you happiness in all that is good."
The celebrants respond:
Di immortales faciant, tam felix quam pia.
"May the immortal Gods make it so, as fortunate as it is pious".

 

Iovi opulento, incluto, Ope gnato, supreme, valido, viripotenti, Opes, spes bonas, copias commodanti; lubens disque omnibus ago gratias vitulorque merito, quia meo amico amiciter hanc copiam danunt, argenti mutui ut ei egenti optem adferam.

O Jove, opulent, glorious son of Ops, deity supreme, powerful and mighty, bestower of wealth, good hopes and bounty, gladly I give you thanks and duly offer praise also that all the gods kindly bestow this generous benefit by enabling me to help my friend in his need with an opulent loan.

  * The ritual was developed by M. Moravius Piscinus Horatianus..     

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