Symbolism

The first stream is Symbolism. Symbolism was birthed as a result of the urbanization of France. Catholicism was merged most intimately with the wonders of the natural world, utilizing the visual and performing arts, a noble goal to which we also strive.

A good example of this approach was exemplified by Josephan Peladan (1858-1918), who, according to Christopher McIntosh, was "a character who personified everything eccentric and fin de siecle." He was originally a bank clerk, but soon set himself up as an occult propagandist, calling himself Sar Merodack Peladan: Sar being the Assyrian word for mage-king, and Merodack the Chaldean god associated with Jupiter. He published a series of remarkable novels, some with underlying occult themes. In 1890, he broke away from l'Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rosecroix, of which he had been a leader, after a series of conflicts, and formed his own organization, l'Ordre de la Rose Croix Catholique, du Temple et du Graal. According to McIntosh, it was much more than an occult order: "Peladan envisaged it as a nucleus from which would emerge a whole set of religious, moral and aesthetic values. He assumed the role of standard-bearer in the field of art, music and drama, and carried it out with considerable effectiveness."

In 'L'Art Ochlorocratique, Peladan wrote, "The artist should be a knight in armour, eagerly engaged in the symbolic quest for the Holy Grail, a crusader waging perpetual war on the burgeoisie!" He arranged a number of art exhibitions under the heading 'Salons de la Rose-Croix', starting in 1892. It ideal was to restore "the cult of the ideal, with the accent on beauty and tradition," focusing on Catholic, mystical or spiritual themes. The concept ran for five years, and included such noted names as Gustave Moreau, Felicien Rops and Georges Roualt. The composer Erik Satie employed much of the same fundamentals for his Rose-Croix orders, and even worked directly with Peladan for a period, writing music for his plays and rituals.

Here is a poem which exemplifies some of the Symbolist merging of the Pagan and Catholic. If anyone knows the author, please drop a line. (It was set to music by Franck.)

The Procession

Dieu s'avance a travers les champs!
Par les landes, les pres, les verts taillis de hetres!
Il vient, suivi du peuple et porte par les pretres:
Aux cantiques de l'homme, oiseaux melez vos chants!
On s'arrete. La foule autour d'un chene antique
S'incline, en adorant, sous l'ostensoir mystique:
Soleil! darde sur lui tes longes rayons couchants!
Aux cantiques de l'homme, oiseaux melez vos chants!
Vous, fleurs, avec l'encens exhalez votre arome!
O fete! tout reluit, tout prie et tout embaume!
Dieu s'avance a travers les champs, etc.

God is approaching across the fields!
Over the moors, the meadows, the green copses of beech!
He is coming, followed by the people and carried by the priests:
To the canticles of men, birds join your songs!
They stop. Around an ancient oak the crowd
bends down, adoring, over the mystic monstrance:
Sun! shoot over it your long rays as you set!
To the canticles of men, bird join your songs!
You flowers, breathe out your perfume with the incense!
O celebration! all glistens, all prays and all is fragrant!
God is approaching across the fields! etc.--translation by Hugh Graham

All written material in this site is copyrighted by the Most Rev. Jon Ryner, except where noted.