April 19th,  2004 - Caerimonia Ceralia

Gaius Modius Athanasius S.P.D.

I conducted a ceremoniae on behalf of the Cerialia this evening. Below is the
text of the ceremoniae performed. Hopefully, Nova Roma will again have a Flamen
Cerealis who will be able to regularly conduct offerings to Ceres! Many thanks
to Hadrianus Rutilius Bardulus, former Flamen Cerealis of Nova Roma, as I kept
the tradition he started last year of lighting two candles -- see text below.

As it is getting late, I hope everyone had a blessed Cerialia!

Valete;

Gaius Modius Athanasius
Flamen Pomonalis

CERIALIA RITUAL

Head covered with toga praetexta.

PRAEFATIO

OFFERING OF INCENSE TO IANUS
LATIN: Iane pater, te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces precor, uti sies volens
propitius mihi et Senatui Populoque Novae Romae.

ENGLISH: Father Ianus, by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers, so
that you may be propitious to me and the Senate and People of Nova Roma.

OFFERING OF INCENSE TO IUPPITER
LATIN: Iuppiter Optime Maxime, rex Deorum, te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces
precor, uti sies volens propitius mihi et Senatui Populoque Novae Romae.

ENGLISH: Iuppiter Best and Greatest, King of the Gods, by offering this incense
to you I pray good prayers, so that you may be propitious to me and the Senate
and People of Nova Roma.

OFFERING OF WINE TO IANUS
LATIN: Iane pater, uti te ture ommovendo bonas preces bene precatus sum,
eiusdem rei ergo macte vino inferio esto.

ENGLISH: Father Ianus, as by offering to you the incense virtuous prayers were
well prayed, for the sake of this be honoured by this humble wine.

OFFERING OF WINE TO IUPPITER
LATIN: Iuppiter Optime Maxime, rex Deorum, uti te ture ommovendo bonas preces
bene precatus sum, eiusdem rei ergo macte vino inferio esto.

ENGLISH: Iuppiter Best and Greatest, King of the Gods, as by offering to you
the incense virtuous prayers were well prayed, for the sake of this be honoured
by this humble wine.

MAIN SACRIFICE

Wash hands with water in small bowl and dry.

LATINE: Ceres, venio ad te, dum feriis tibi sanctis aguntur, ad afferendum
grana/sal(em). Accipe grana/sal(em) allata/tum et fave familiam civitatemque
bonis tuis. Gaude Cerialiis feriis pro te veneranda actis et fave Novam Romam
omnem.

ENGLISH: Ceres, I come before you today during your sacred festival to offer a
sacrifice of grain/salt. Accept this offering of grain/salt and bless my family
and community with your bounty. May you be pleased by the Cerealia festival
being held in your honor and bless Nova Roma as a whole.

After all prayers are complete offer the grain/salt to Ceres in the patera.

[Later I buried the salt outside of my home.]

LIGHTING OF TWO CANDLES

LATINE: Ceres, memor sum te ad inferos pervenientis duos arbores incendisti ad
viam illuminandam. Gaudeo te redeunte ad nos iterum. Pro itinere tuo
gratitudineque mea accendo has candelas duas, quibus coleris.

ENGLISH: Ceres, during this time I also remember your journey into the
underworld and how you lit two trees to guide you. I am glad for your return to
us and welcome you once again. As a symbol of your journey and my thanks for
your return I light two candles. May you be honored by this tradition.

Two candles lit.

PIACULUM

LATIN: Ceres, Iuppiter Optime Maxime, Ianus, Di Immortales, si quidquam tibi in
hac caerimonia displicet, hoc vino inferio veniam peto et vitium meum expio.

ENGLISH: Ceres, Iuppiter best and greatest, Ianus, Immortal Gods, if anything
in this ceremony is displeasing to you, with this humble wine I ask forgiveness
and expiate my fault.

Offering of wine made.

Main Sacrifice written by Hadrianus Rutilius Bardulus (former Flamen Cerealis
Novae Romae).