March 19th,  2004 - Feria Quinquatria 

Gaius Minucius Hadrianus Felix Quiritibus S.P.D.

Salvete, Quirites.

Yesterday, XIV Kal. Apr. (March 19th) was the feria of the Quinquatria,
sacred to Dea Minerva.

As Minerva Templi Sacerdotes, to observe this feria I performed the
following caerimonia:

I bathed in preparation, then, garbed in toga praetexta, cinctu Gabino,
capite velato, I began the praefatio.

Praefatio

"Iane pater, te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces precor, uti sies volens
propitius mihi et Senatui Populoque Novorum Romanorum Quiritum [Father
Ianus, by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers, so that you
may be willingly propitious to me and the Senate and People of the Nova
Romans, the Quirites"]. I placed incense in the focus of the altar.

"Iuppiter Optime Maxime, te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces precor, uti
sies volens propitius mihi et Senatui Populoque Novorum Romanorum
[Iuppiter Best and Greatest, by offering this incense to you I pray good
prayers, so that you may be willingly propitious to me and the Senate
and People of the Nova Romans, the Quirites"]. I placed incense in the
focus of the altar.

"Iuno Dea, te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces precor, uti sies volens
propitia mihi et Senatui Populoque Novorum Romanorum Quiritum [Goddess
Iuno, by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers, so that you
may be willingly propitious to me and the Senate and People of the Nova
Romans, the Quirites"]. I placed incense in the focus of the altar.

"Mars pater, te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces precor, uti sies volens
propitius mihi et Senatui Populoque Novorum Romanorum Quiritum [Father
Mars, by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers, so that you
may be willingly propitious to me and the Senate and People of the Nova
Romans, the Quirites.]" I placed incense in the focus of the altar.

"Quirine pater, te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces precor, uti sies
volens propitius mihi et Senatui Populoque Novorum Romanorum Quirites
[Father Quirinus, by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers,
so that you may be willingly propitious to me and the Senate and People
of the Nova Romans, the Quirites.]" I placed incense in the focus of the
altar.

"Iane pater, uti te ture ommovendo bonas preces bene precatus sum,
eiusdem rei ergo macte vino inferio esto [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.]" I poured a libation on the focus
of the altar.

"Iuppiter Optime Maxime, uti te ture ommovendo bonas preces bene
precatus sum, eiusdem rei ergo macte vino inferio esto [Iuppiter Best
and Greatest, as by offering to you the incense virtuous prayers were
well prayed, for the sake of this be honoured by this humble wine.]" I
poured a libation on the focus of the altar.

"Iuno Dea, uti te ture ommovendo bonas preces bene precatus sum, eiusdem
rei ergo macte vino inferio esto [Goddess Iuno, as by offering to you
the incense virtuous prayers were well prayed, for the sake of this be
honoured by this humble wine.]" I poured a libation on the focus of the
altar.

"Mars pater, uti te ture ommovendo bonas preces bene precatus sum,
eiusdem rei ergo macte vino inferio esto [Father Mars, as by offering to
you the incense virtuous prayers were well prayed, for the sake of this
be honoured by this humble wine.]" I poured a libation on the focus of
the altar.

"Quirine pater, uti te ture ommovendo bonas preces bene precatus sum,
eiusdem rei ergo macte vino inferio esto [Father Quirinus, as by
offering to you the incense virtuous prayers were well prayed, for the
sake of this be honoured by this humble wine.]" I poured a libation on
the focus of the altar.

I washed my hands in preparation for the praecatio.

Precatio

"Minerva Sapientissima, fons fluens artium et artificiorum et scientiae
sapientiaeque, ad defensionem Senatus Populique Novorum Romanorum
Quiritum salias perinde ac a capite Iovis armata copiose saluisti; tibi
fieri oportet culignam vini dapi, eius rei ergo hac illace dape
pullucenda esto [Most Wise Minerva, flowing font of arts, crafts,
knowledge, and wisdom, may you leap to the defence of the Senate and
People of the Nova Romans, the Quirites, just as you leapt fully armed
from the head of Iuppiter; to you it is proper for a cup of wine to be
given, for the sake of this thing may you be honoured by this feast
offering]." I poured a libation on the focus of the altar.

Again I washed my hands in preparation for the redditio.

Redditio

"Minerva Sapientissima, Regina Aventina, a quo omnes res bonas mentis et
manus accipimus, macte istace dape pollucenda esto, macte vino inferio
esto [Most Wise Minerva, Aventine Queen, from whom we receive all good
things of mind and hand, may you be honoured by this feast offering, may
you be honoured by the humble wine.]" I offered Minerva Sapientissima
cakes and wine on the focus of the altar.

"Quirine pater, uti te ture ommovendo bonas preces bene precatus sum,
eiusdem rei ergo macte vino inferio esto [Father Quirinus, as by
offering to you the incense virtuous prayers were well prayed, for the
sake of this be honoured by this humble wine.]" I poured a libation on
the focus of the altar.

"Mars pater, uti te ture ommovendo bonas preces bene precatus sum,
eiusdem rei ergo macte vino inferio esto [Father Mars, as by offering to
you the incense virtuous prayers were well prayed, for the sake of this
be honoured by this humble wine.]" I poured a libation on the focus of
the altar.

"Iuno Dea, uti te ture ommovendo bonas preces bene precatus sum, eiusdem
rei ergo macte vino inferio esto [Goddess Iuno, as by offering to you
the incense virtuous prayers were well prayed, for the sake of this be
honoured by this humble wine.]" I poured a libation on the focus of the
altar.

"Iane pater, uti te ture ommovendo bonas preces bene precatus sum,
eiusdem rei ergo macte vino inferio esto [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.]" I poured a libation on the focus
of the altar.

"Vesta Dea, custos ignis sacri, macte vino inferio esto [Goddess Vesta,
guardian of the sacred fire, be honoured by this humble wine.]" I poured
a libation on the focus of the altar.

"Illicet [It is permitted to go.]"

I profaned wine and cakes, and I partook of the epulum with Minerva
Sapientissima, praying as I ate and offering libations in my private
devotions.

Piaculum

Since the historical caerimonia of the feria of Quinquatria has not yet
been recovered, I offered a piaculum to Minerva Sapientissima if
anything in this caerimonia should offend her:

"Minerva Sapientissima, si quidquam tibi in hac caerimonia displicet,
hoc ture veniam peto et vitium meum expio [Most Wise Minerva, if
anything in this ceremony is displeasing to you, with this incense I ask
forgiveness and expiate my fault.]" I offered incense on the focus of
the altar.

"Minerva Sapientissima, si quidquam tibi in hac caerimonia displicet,
hoc vino inferio veniam peto et vitium meum expio [Most Wise Minerva, if
anything in this ceremony is displeasing to you, with this humble wine I
ask forgiveness and expiate my fault.]" I poured a libation on the focus
of the altar.

Valete,

C. Minucius Hadrianus Felix
Minerva Templi Sacerdotes et Pontifex