Kalends ritual (Nova Roma)

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The Kalends is the first day of the month in the Roman calendar. On this day in Roma Antiqua, when the slightest crescent of the new moon appeared, the Rex Sacrorum was accompanied by a secondary Pontifex in making a sacrifice in the Curia Calabra on the Capitoline Hill. This sacrifice was made to Juno and also honored Ianus; the prevailing idea being that Ianus, as the God of Good Beginnings, assisted Juno in giving "birth" to the new month.

In the course of this sacrifice, the name of Juno Covella was invoked as the date of the Nones was announced. After the Rex Sacrorum fulfilled his duties in performing this sacrifice, his wife the Regina Sacrorum would perform a sacrifice to Juno in the Regia in the Forum.

While the Collegium Pontificum performed their religious duties on behalf of the Roman State, in every home the Lares of the familia were especially honored on this day.

Preparation

This ritual is performed in clean clothing; if possible, a clean tunica and toga are best, even better if they are white. The toga should be draped in capite velato, so as to veil the performer from any and all ill omens that might present themselves in the course of the ritual.

  • Wash both hands in clean water and pray:

May this water cast out all impurities from my substance as from lead to gold.

  • Place both hands upon your head and pray:

Purify my mind.

  • Bring the arms down to your sides with hands in manu supina and pray:

Purify my body.

  • Place both hands on the chest, over the heart and pray:

Purify my heart.

  • Take a moment to focus and become fully present and affirm:

It is so.

The Ritual

  • Approach the Lararium in capite velato, adoratio, and ignite the lucerna, then pray:

Be Thou well, Mother Vesta. May Your flames always guide us to the Gods.

  • Ignite the turibulum and burn some incense, with the right hand over the heart, pray:

Mother Vesta, may all be well this morning/day in the House of __Family and/or Gens Name__.

  • Pray with both hands manu supina: (Carmen Salii in Varro Lingua Latina 7.26)

Arise Father Janus, God of Good Beginnings. Arise, Good Creator. Arise, Janus the Gatekeeper.

  • Burn incense in the turibulum and pray:

May this incense find favor with You, Janus.

  • Adoratio while praying: (Silius Italicus Punica 7.78-85)

Be Thou well Mother Juno, be present O Queen of the Heavenly Gods. Your sons and daughters of Nova Roma bring forth venerable gifts on this day, the Kalends of ________. May you find favor with Nova Roma, that You may look kindly and favorably upon our families and households. May Your blessings of health, good fortune and happiness be with us always!

  • Pour a libation and offer a spelt cake with a prayer: (Cato, De Agricultura 132)(Tibullus IV.6.1 sqq.)

Juno, may You be strengthened by this libation, may You be honored by the small portion of our _______.

Juno, most chaste Queen of Heaven, in offering you this cake I pray good prayers that You will be gracious and merciful to me and family, my house and household.

  • Announce the date of the Nones:

I proclaim, under Juno Covella, the Nones of ________ to be held on the fifth/seventh of ________.

  • Honor the Family Gods with some incense and pray:

(adoratio) Hail Lar Familiaris! May You tend to the family you have established. (Ennius Annales I.141)

(adoratio) Be ye well, Divine Penates, may You always safeguard our home. (Plautus Merc ator 834-5)

(anoint with olive oil) Be Thou well Genius/Iuno of the Pater/Materfamilias, may You guide us always.

  • Make an offering of bread drizzled with olive oil and pray:

With this offering of bread and oil, may our family and house be blessed with health, long life, happiness, and good fortune.

  • Adoratio while praying: (Afranius Fabula Togata fr. 11).

I pray by the Gods that everything will be made fortunate.

  • Burn some incense while praying manu supina: (Plautus Rudens 1338-49)

Be well ye Immortal Gods, if I have done anything to violate this rite may You kindly receive this incense in expiation of my mortal error.

  • Adoratio to the altar and announce:

It is done.

Other Info

This Kalends ritual is ab mani Titi Iuliani Neroni MMDCCLX a.u.c.

You will find above, in parenthetical notations, the primary sources of directly quoted or otherwise inspired prayers.

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