JORENIC RITE OF BAPTISM

[Xarkly 17299]

 

 

A SACRAMENT OF THE

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

The sacrament of Baptism is what makes one a Canonist.

 

 

Although the Canonist Church was incepted as an institution with the coming of Owyn - the second Exalted - the act of Baptism - of pledging oneself to the Holy Light Everlasting - dates back much further. For it was in the Grotto of Gamesh that Exalted Horen, the first Lord of Man, was visited by the Aengul Tesion as a vassal of the Light itself, and baptized Horen in those most holy waters.

 

 

Two thousand years later, as this sacrament holds steadfast. To this day, the Canonist faithful pledge their fealty to the Light by way of Baptism, as Exalted Horen once did, and, in doing so, they become Canonists. Often, Baptism has been regarded as a covenant with the Light - those undergoing the sacrament vow to serve as adherents of the Light, and, in return, the Light will lift its faithful into the Seven Skies upon their death.

 

 

Of all the sacraments, Baptism in Jorenic custom is the one that differs least from its common Danielian counterpart, and involves the submergence in water to wash away worldly sin. The chief difference of the Jorenic Rite derives from the necessity of total submergence beneath naturally-sourced water, and the addendum of the Ashen Baptism, where the ashes of a deceased are used to anoint one as a Canonist.

 

 

Of particular import is the understanding when it comes to the Baptism of newborn children in Canonist families. The typical Jorenic custom is that a truncated rite is performed, wherein the newborn is blessed and essentially ‘pledged’ to Canonism by their parents, and therefore may ascend to the Second Sky if killed in infancy. Once the child reaches the age of majority, it is proper that they undergo the sacrament of Baptism proper, whereby they confirm their parents’ pledge and affirm their fealty to the Light.

 

 

 

 

 

The congregation gathers before a font of water.

 

 

In contrast with weddings and funerals, those present for a Baptism typically number fewer, amounting to the family of the faithful being Baptised. The Jorenic priest commences the sacrament with an opening prayer, invoking the Light’s attention and favour:

 

 

Light Everlasting; bear witness to [name],

Who would be illumined by your grace.

As Exalted Horen was once blessed in the waters of Gamesh

By the Aengul Tesion, so too does [name]

Seek to enter the covenant of his/her forebears.

Amin.

 

The celebrant kneels within the water. The cleric wades into the stream, and places a hand upon their forehead. The celebrant is compelled to speak before the Light, and explain why it is they seek to be baptised, and enter the covenant of Canonism. The cleric will often ring a wind chime to invoke the Light’s presence. Once the reasons are professed in the celebrant’s own words, the cleric will continue the sacrament.

 

 

Light Everlasting; hear them,

For he/she comes before you as one adherent the Virtue of Horen,

One driven by the Spirit of Owyn,

One tempered by the Gospel of Godfrey,

and one humbled by the Auspice of Sigismund.

Bestow upon them your judgement.

 

 

The celebrant is fully submerged within the water, and must remain so for a full minute. During their immersion, the cleric continues the sacramental prayer.

 

 

Light; cleanse his/her soul of temptation,

And wash away the touch of the Shadow.

Let his/her fealty be pledged, here and now,

In the bounty of your grace.

 

If the celebrant survives the submission, the Light is considered to have welcomed them as an adherent of the Canonist faith. If the celebrant is to drown, then the Light has rejected them. As they rise from the water, the cleric draws the Hussariyan Cross on their forehead in ash and oil. In cases where a deceased has directed their ashes are to be used to baptise another, it is at this point that the celebrant is doused in those ashes, which marks the direct passing of a legacy from a deceased to a newly-baptised. The cleric may append the prayer as appropriate in these cases.

 

 

As it was spoke unto Exalted Horen

by the Aengul Tesion thousands of years ago,

So is it spoken unto you now:

You are cleneased, and walk within the Light.

 

The sacrament is thereafter considered concluded, and the celebrant baptised.