Summer Harvest

In honor of both the Christos and Sophia, Members of the Order of Allogenes have nominated and established the patronage of one male saint and one female saint as representative of the activities of the Order. Although our choices for Patron Saints of the Order may seem unlikely and unexpected for an organization of Gnostic individuals, it is with great gladness that we have accepted the patronage of these two Holy Figures over our Order.

First, a word on terminology: members of the Order collectively agreed that the term Saint could be applied to any individual found worthy by the Order. We therefore considered a number of individuals from traditional roster of Canon– such as St. Joan of Arc– as well as rather unconventional individuals– for example, William Burroughs– equally meritorious and deserving of consideration. We have accepted the patronage of Clement of Alexandria and La Santa Muerte as we find them representative of many of the qualities of the Order, and it is with great humility that we establish them as symbolic representatives of the Gnostic Order of Allogenes. As befits the nature of our organization, the Patronage of these two Saints may be accepted or rejected by individual members of the Order.

Saint Clement of Alexandria was a distinguished Christian scholar, active in Alexandria during the time of the historical Gnostic movements. Although not associated with historical Gnosticism, St Clement wrote extensively on his understanding of the Gnostic as the perfected Christian. No figure in the early church did more to bring the influence of reason and knowledge into the realm of faith and gnosis. We also embrace Saint Clement for his radical ecumenicism and his belief that salvation is available to all. Although the Order of Allogenes is not overtly Christian, we find in the figure of this Holy Saint the beauty and necessity of the Life of the Mind as tempered with compassion and wisdom.

In Saint Clement, we have a representative of the masculine, the historical, the rational. Conversely, in La Santa Muerte, we have a representative of the feminine, the mythical, the ecstatic. As we embrace Saint Clement for his devotion to philosophy and gnosis, so we embrace La Santa Muerte for her dedication to praxis, and for her wealth of associated aspects.

La Santa Muerte, Holy Death, is a syncretic Folk Saint of the indigenous people of Mexico. She is of especial import to those whom Jesus those to dwell with– the downtrodden, the outcast, the criminal and impoverished. In this sense, she is also representative of those poor in spirit to whom the OA dedicates itself in service.

Those of us who have dwelt with Death know that Death brings Wisdom. So, the face of La Santa Muerte, shrouded by vestments either red, black, or white is the face of Sophia, the Wisdom of the Pleroma, the Triple Goddess also present within Mary, sister of Martha, Mary, mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. As Patroness of the Order, she represents the constant presence of death within the individual Gnostic as we search for the resurrection which occurs every second of every day. Where Saint Clement is idealistic, La Santa Muerte is practical. La Santa Muerte also has roots extending far beyond the influence of Western spirituality in Latin America. We embrace the possibility that her veneration proceeds from pre-Christian roots, and celebrate her transcendence of cultural milieu. We also recognize her powerful ability to answer prayers of those who call upon her, though we counsel that she often asks a high price for her intercession. Gnosis comes at a great price to all who ask, but one must encounter the White Lady on the path to the resurrection.

Life and Death: Clement and La Santisima: Reason and Emotion; in these two holy figures, all of the Mysteries of the Knowledge of the Limitless Light are contained.

HYMN TO CHRIST THE SAVIOUR BY ST. CLEMENT.

Bridle of untamed colts,
Wing of unwandering birds, sure Helm of babes,
Shepherd of royal lambs, assemble Thy simple children to praise piously, to hymn guilelessly with innocent mouths,
Christ the guide of children.

O King of saints, all-subduing Word of the most high Father,
Ruler of wisdom,
Support of sorrows, that rejoicest in the ages,
Jesus, Saviour of the human race,
Shepherd, Husbandman, Helm, Bridle, Heavenly Wing of the all-holy flock,
Fisher of men who are saved, catching the chaste fishes with sweet life from the hateful wave of a sea of vices,–
Guide, Shepherd of rational sheep;
guide unharmed children,
O holy King, O footsteps of Christ,
O heavenly way, perennial Word, immeasurable Age,
Eternal Light, Fount of mercy, performer of virtue;
noble [is the] life of those who hymn God,
O Christ Jesus, heavenly milk of the sweet breasts of the graces of the Bride, pressed out of Thy Sophia.
Babes nourished with tender mouths, filled with the dewy spirit of the rational pap, let us sing together simple praises, true hymns to Christ [our] King, holy fee for the teaching of life;
let us sing in simplicity the powerful Child.

O choir of peace,
the Christ-begotten,
O chaste people,
let us sing together the God of peace.

We celebrate the Feast Day of St. Clement on December 4.

GNOSTIC PRAYER OF THE SANTA MUERTE

Holy Santa Muerte, she of the three aspects, who comes to all with Wisdom and brings the peace of the resurrection, shower your love upon your humble servant. Santisima Muerte, I beseech you lovingly inasmuch as the Limitless Light formed you with you great power over all of the imperfection, so that you might place them in the Pleroma, where we may enjoy a glorious day without night for all eternity, and in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Sophia, I pray and I beseech you that you deign to be my protectress and that you grant me your favor that I ask of you, that I may attain the resurrection and the gnosis of the Kingdom until the last day, hour and moment in which your Divine Majesty commands to take me before your presence. AMEN.

We celebrate the Greater Feast Day of La Santa Muerte on August 15, and the Lesser Feast Day on November 2.