CASTORIBVS SANCTIS

{The supplicant faces Northwest, assuming the "Y" posture, being
capite velato*, and recites these words:}

DENITERNI CASTORES, NVNTII SACRI, FRATRES SOTERES,
Dependable Castores!, Holy Messengers!, Rescuing Brethren!,

DOMINI, FILII IOVIS, ROMANI EQVITATVS PATRONI.
Lords!, Sons of Jove!, Patrons of the Roman Knights!

ADESTE! SALVETE CASTORES
Be Ye present! Hail, O Castores!

{supplicant performs the Adoratio**, and continues:}

VOS EGO {touching breast) PRECOR QVAESOQVE
I pray and beseech Ye,

NE VITIA MEA MORAM
that Ye mayest not fault the observance through my part...

AFFERENT MEAE CORPORIS MENTIS CORDIS SANCTITATI
that my body, mind, and heart be imbued with holiness;

HIC ET NVNCT VBICVMQVE ET SEMPER:
here and now, everywhere and always:

{The supplicant now offers a few grains of incense upon the fire ...
then concludes with the words:}

ITA EST! ILLICET.
So mote it be! So may it be granted!

{The rite is ended}

Nota Bene:

*capite velato: with the head veiled

This Rite to the Castores is traditionally performed on the
Ides of July (13 July), but may be performed anytime the help
of the Castores is needed. The Castores are usually depicted as
two young handsome men with reddish blond hair, riding white
stallions. They are nude, except for a cape and each wearing a
pileus (Liberty cap), topped with a star.

Another festival for Castor & Pollux occurs on VI.KAL.FEB.
(27 January).

** Concerning the Adoratio:

Lately I have come across some descriptions of how to perform the ritual act of the "adoratio." First of all it is not just a twisting of the body, or merely waving ones hand or just kissing the hand in salute! From the ancient Roman accounts that we have, it could be performed in a manner of TWO ways!

The first way consists of stretching out the right arm and hand straight ahead of you (similar to the Fascist salute) towards a statue or picture of the deity and then immediately bringing the hand back to then kiss the fingertips of that right hand, and then thrust the hand and arm back out again towards the deity. Then as you do so you wave that arm and hand back and forth (left to right), twisting your body left and right as well in union with the arm. If you happen to be praying at an altar or the Lararium you should be grasping the altar with your left hand as you make the adoratio with your right arm and hand!

The second adoratio can be simply performed by repeating the first gesture, EXCEPT when after the salute part and you bring the hand back you join the index finger and thumb together to make a hole or circle and kiss the tips of the index finger and thumb and then thrust out your arm and hand as you blow the kiss. Then you wave the arm and hand, twisting as before.

In relation to any Roman act of prayer, especially at the Lararium, it is NECESSARY that one grasp or touches the altar as you pray for any prayer or sacrifice to be valid! This is according to our Mos Maiorum in order to create a proper link and contact with the Numina!

VALETE!
FRATER GAIVS IVLIVS IVLIANVS, PGI

* GRATIAS C IVLIO IVLIANO AGEMVS*
We thank Gaius Iulius Iulianus for providing this Rite.

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