Ritual , Secrecy , and Civil Society
ic time — and where , under the gaze and by the “ grace ” of Christ on the cross , the recipient receives “ by divine infusion ” the three virtues by which he “ reaches God by uniting us to him .” The one who obtains a true knowledge of the three virtues therefore establishes a bridge between the Earth and Heaven ... which is the exact definition of the priesthood .
B . The Imitation of Jesus Christ
Once perfected by the three theological virtues , the recipient must resume the quest for the lost word . For that , he is led “ into the darkest place where the word must emerge triumphant .” In question is the third level , “ destined to be the image of hell where there will be seven chandeliers bearing large , blazing flames and all the candle holders are heads of the dead and cross-bones . The walls must be covered with a painting of flames and human figures condemned to Hell , which inspires horror and hatred , with chains and people in chains .” 27 As the ritual specifies , the symbolic passage of the candidate to the deepest abode of the dead is made “ in memory of the nocturnal and mystical journeys that J .[ esus ] C [ hrist ] made in the shadows , which lasted three days .” 28 “ The descent of Christ into Hell ” 29 between his death on the cross and his resurrection the third day is an essential figure of the doctrine of Christian salvation . It is by confronting the forces of Darkness in their kingdom that Jesus triumphs over them and thus delivers man from the anguish of death . This “ nocturnal and mystical ” visit of Christ to the Underworld may be shown to be particularly welcoming to esotericizing glosses . The Chevalier Rose- Croix is therefore invited to follow the Savior into the Underworld and through this “ imitation of Jesus Christ ” to also triumph over the horrors of death . It is as an after-result of this supreme test that the lost word will be revealed to him , the word that wrenches him out of the Underworld , disperses the darkness , and brings back the Light even brighter . This word is the name of Jesus , I . N . R . I ., Jesus of Nazareth , King of the Jews .
It is difficult to connect this sequence of the ritual to one doctrinal tendency or the other since “ The Descent of Christ into the Underworld ” is one of the fundamentals of Christianity . The theme appears to be more present in the Churches of the East where it has been the object of a bountiful iconography and numerous commentaries . Less commonly addressed in the Latin tradition , which is moreover peculiar , it nevertheless occupies a definite spot if only because of its position in the Creed . In any case , “ through their identification with Christ in his passion , they [ the Chevaliers Rose-Croix ] attain a priestly status .” 30
Paradoxically — but the paradox is of course only apparent — this episode of “ The Descent of Christ into the Underworld ” is both a central figure of Christianity and , in the image of Orpheus , the very archetype of universal initiation that brings life back to a symbolic death in order to then ensure a rebirth leading to another quality of presence in the world . It is certainly one of the figures
27
Description of the third apartment . Document : a ritual from the degree of Rose-Croix dated 1765 , op . cit ., 77 .
28
Document : a ritual from the degree of Rose-Croix dated 1765 , op . cit ., 162 .
29
See for example the commentaries of Thomas Aquinas , “ The Descent of Christ into the Underworld ” Summa Theologica , IIIa , qu . 52 .
30
Jérôme Rousse-Lacordaire , op . cit ., 207 . 20