This is the ongoing service honoring the deceased and now recognizing his inheritor. Quite dramatic and seriously consistent and providing real comfort as the reality of the afterlife is understood by all.
This whole tradition has been completely lost, but clearly has real validity and could well be adopted again with good conscience. Of course it was lost and even suppressed with the destruction of the Alexandrian library which explains why so much is intact here. The Kolbrin material was actively maintained there until around the fifth century AD.
Thus migration to Glastonbury is very credible. We are talking of a few centuries of monks maintaining a tradition and protecting it from mere archiving as would be expected from the Vatican.... .
CHAPTER THREE
THE SACRED REGISTERS - PART 3
Behold, one comes wearing white sandals and clad
in fine linen. Arise, stand up to greet him. He bears the staff of
righteousness. He brings a pearl of priceless value, take it and become
perfect.
Others come, fair women and young children. His
father's heir has come and the four great ones who bear sweet waters, who
spread the feast and rejoice under the strong arm of their protector. He who
has gone is not forgotten, but this is the day of the living.
He who has inherited ceases from weeping and
begins to smile, the protecting one comes in peace. The heart in the sky is no
longer small, it expands, it grows large. Thus it is also with the heart of he
who lives, his days of lamentations are over and his heart swells and grows
large.
The good son never ceases from faithful service
on behalf of the absent one who has escaped from the confinement of the body.
The dutiful son now calls upon the absent one for protection from wandering
shadows and fi-om the molestations of life Shadows.
O Bountiful, Ever Considerate One, hear the words
of your faithful and dutiful son, as they ascend with the blue, penetrating
smoke of fragrant incense. Let no shadow wander from your safe abode to haunt
our habitations, for they who dwell therein have done you no dishonour.
Safeguard the Dark Doorway, that things in vile forms come not near us to
pollute our bodies with sickness and disease.
You left, and before the waters rose again the
man of Shodu, he who dealt harshly with the widow dwelling beside the channel
of black stones, departed for his judgement. Is not he whom you judged, and did
you not deal rightly with him when the scales went down against him? Therefore,
might he not return from the Region of Darkness with others of his kind and
cause misfortune to fall upon us? You he cannot harm, you are now in the Place
of Glory, in the land beyond theWestera waters. Therefore, send us guardians
from among the Glorious Company, that they may spread protecting wings over our
habitations.
Many come, bearing cakes of fine meal and barley
cakes, large, fat-bodied fish and meats of many kinds, honeywine in jars and
fruits in plenty. He who is absent from the feast is joyful.his arm is strong
and he issues his commands to the guardians. Cast off all gloom and be joyful,
for this is not the time of sorrow, and tears have no place in your eyes.
If there be benevolent Life Shadows beyond the
protective pale, they may enter. Join with us in our rejoicing. Let us all
enjoy what we have and what we share, for life is irrepressible.
These are things from a foreign place said for
our brother Gwelm, according to the rites of the Sons of Fire, and thus it
shall be for those who enter the chambers of stone.
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