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Gnostic Mass
Liber XV, also known as the Gnostic Mass, is the central ritual of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (E.G.C.). The E.G.C. is the ecclesiastical arm of Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.). It is a Thelemic religious organization dedicated to the advancement of Light, Life, Love, and Liberty through alignment with the Law of Thelema, which is "Do what thou wilt".
Liber XV was composed in the year 1913 in the city of Moscow, Russia. Though it shares certain formats with the Roman Catholic Mass, possessing a Creed, rising/resting of congregants and such, the Gnostic Mass is a celebration of the principles of Thelema. Thus, there is no separation between man and god. An eucharistic rite, all attending congregants are required to partake of the Sacrament, consisting of the consumption of a Cake of Light and the imbibing of a glass of wine or water. This is flourished with the proclamation: "There is no part of me that is not of the gods!"
As mentioned above, officers of the Mass do not mediate between man and god, but demonstrate a method by which any and all may attain to their own direct knowledge (Gnosis) of the Divine. No part of the Mass requires devotion to any individual, historical or mythological (Jesus, Aleister Crowley, &tc). The Mass does not include a sermon or any ethical instructions beyond the summary of the Law of Thelema.
Crowley writes in The Confessions of Aleister Crowley, "Human nature demands (in the case of most people) the satisfaction of the religious instinct, and, to very many, this may best be done by ceremonial means. I wished therefore to construct a ritual through which people might enter into ecstasy as they have always done under the influence of appropriate ritual."
Ad Astra Oasis celebrates Liber XV monthly, on the second Saturday of each month. Please reference the calendar for scheduled events. Our Masses are open to the public. For information on how to attend this ritual you may contact us at:
contact@adastra-oto.org, or (719) 360-4252.
Saturday Masses begin at 8:00PM.
