Kalends ritual (Nova Roma)

From NovaRoma
Jump to: navigation, search

 Home| Latíné | Deutsch | Español | Français | Italiano | Magyar | Português | Română | Русский | English

Cn. Lentulus offers a corona, a garland or wreath on an altar at the reconstructed Roman villa of the Carnuntum Museum. Coronae were the regular decorative offerings to the Lares on the Kalends, Nones, and Ides.
Household worship

Lararium
Acerra - Gutus - Lucerna - Patera - Salinum - Turibulum


Reconstructionism in Nova Roma


Making a lararium
Simple rituals for starters
Daily rites - Kalends rites - Nones rites - Ides rites

These are modern rituals for cultores of the religio Romana to perform on the Kalends at their lararium. The Kalends are sacred to Juno, but Janus has also a special role as guardian of the beginnings, and thus the guardian of the first day of the months. The Lar Familiaris was also celebrated on each Kalends, Nones and Ides as protector of the home, and traditionally Romans decorated their lararium with garlands and wreaths as an offering to the Lar. Accordingly, these restored Kalends rituals below specially address Juno and Janus and the offering of wreaths and garlands to the Lar Familiaris. These Kalends rituals are intended for private and domestic worship, and replace the basic daily rituals, so they are practically extended versions of the daily rituals used for the Kalends. They are modelled on the prayers found in Cato's De Agricultura and various prayers found on imperial era inscriptions (for example, the Acta Ludorum Saecularium). The rituals should be performed; if possible, in a clean tunica and toga for males, for females in tunica, stola and palla. The toga or palla should be draped capite velato, so as to veil the performer from any and all ill omens that might present themselves in the course of the ritual. It is acceptable to perform this ritual in a more casual manner, without toga and in a cloak instead (e. g. lacerna), or even just in tunica, or even in modern clothes.

You may find more information on household worship in our article on simple rituals for starters.

Contents

Opening of the Kalends ritual

  • If others attend, say the following opening expression, but if you pray alone, it is not needed:
Be favorable by your tongues!
Favete linguis!
  • Wash both hands in clean salted water and say:
Father Janus, be blessed.
Iane pater, macte esto.
  • Approach the lararium capite velato, ignite the fire on your lararium, for example a lucerna, then say:
Mother Vesta, be blessed.
Vesta mater, macte esto.
  • Perform the adoratio, then you can start the invocations and prayers.


Closing of the Kalends ritual

  • Extinguish the fire on your lararium, and say:
Mother Vesta, be blessed.
Vesta Mater, macte esto.
Father Janus, be blessed.
Iane pater, macte esto.
  • This is the end of the ritual. Perform the adoratio, and if others attend, say the following closing expression, but if you pray alone, it is not needed:
You can go!
Ilicet!


Shortened Kalends rituals

Shortened Kalends morning ritual

  • Perform the opening for the Kalends ritual (see above).
  • Decorate your lararium with one or more wreaths or garlands, or if it is not possible, with flowers, burn some incense, and, while touching the altar with your right hand, invoke all your household gods:
Janus Matutinus, mother Vesta, mother Juno, Lar Familiaris, my Manes, (select list of ancestors), my Penates, (list of patron gods), my Genius / Iuno Genialis (Genius / Iuno Genialis of my pater familias), on these Kalends, on the beginning of this new day and of this new month, by honoring you with wreath/wreaths (flowers) and by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you protect me, my hearth, my family and my household today and this month, so that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen today and this month to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family, and that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family.
Iane Matutine, Vesta mater, Iuno mater, Lar Familiaris, mi Manes (select list of ancestors in vocative), mi Penates, (list of patron deities in vocative), mi Geni / mea Iuno Genialis (Geni / Iuno Genialis patris familias), his Kalendis, huiusce novi diei novique mensis initio, corona data / coronis datis (floribus datis), et hoc thure ommovendo vos precor, ut me, domum familiamque meam hodie et hoc mense bene tutemini, ut omnia bona fausta felicia fortunataque hodie et hoc mense mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae eveniant, et ut sitis volentes propitii mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae.
  • Sacrifice a spelt cake sprinkled with salt to all your household gods, and wine and garlands separately to the Lar Familiaris, after this prayer:
For these reasons, be blessed by this libum! Father Lar, for the same reasons be blessed by the wine, be blessed by the wreath/wreaths (flowers).
Harum rerum ergo macte hoc libo estote! Lar pater, earundem rerum ergo macte hoc vino esto, macte corona/coronis (floribus) esto.
  • If you have more time, you should individually invoke, and sacrifice to, all the deities you called upon in the previous general invocation, and you should sacrifice libum, wine (to male deities only) or incense to each one of them, accompanied by this prayer below, repeating this for all of your household deities. Remember when calling upon the Manes that you point your palm and right hand toward the ground (in the direction of the underworld):
(Name of deity), for the same reason, be blessed by this libum/wine/incense.
(Name of deity in vocative), eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo/vino/thure esto.
  • Sacrifice spelt cake sprinkled with salt to Juno for the Kalends:
Mother Juno, on these Kalends of yours sacred to you, on the beginning of this new month, I pray that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family this month. For this reason, be blessed by this libum.
Iuno mater, his Kalendis tuis sacris, huiusce novi mensis initio te precor, ut hoc mense sis volens propitia mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc libo esto.
  • Sacrifice spelt cake sprinkled with salt to Janus for the Kalends:
Father Janus, on these Kalends, on the beginning of this month, for the same reason, be blessed by this libum.
Iane pater, his Kalendis, huius mensis initio, eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo esto.
  • If you think there was an error in your ceremony, make an expiation by adding this prayer, naming all the gods who invoked in your morning ritual:
Janus Matutinus, Janus, Vesta, Juno, Lar Familiaris, my Manes, (select list of ancestors), my Penates, (list of patron gods), my Genius / Iuno Genialis (Genius / Iuno Genialis of my pater familias), if something was unsatisfactory for you in these ceremonies, I expiate you by this libum.
Iane Matutine, Iane, Vesta, Iuno, Iane Matutine, Lar Familiaris, mi Manes, (select list of ancestors in vocative), mi Penates, (list of patron deities in vocative), mi Geni / mea Iuno Genialis (Geni / Iuno Genialis patris familias), quod vobis his sacris neque satisfactum est, vos hoc libo piaculo.
  • Perform the closing for the Kalends ritual (see above).

Shortened Kalends evening ritual

The evening ritual should be performed only if you have already done a standalone (or midday) ritual, or if you specifically want to ask the gods' protection for the night. Otherwise, if your first Kalends prayer that day is made in the evening, use the standalone Kalends ritual.

  • Perform the opening for the Kalends ritual (see above).
  • Burn some incense, and, while touching the altar with your right hand, invoke all your household gods:
Father Janus, mother Vesta, mother Juno, Lar Familiaris, my Manes, (select list of ancestors), my Penates, (list of patron gods), my Genius / Iuno Genialis (Genius / Iuno Genialis of my pater familias), on these Kalends, on the beginning of this new month, on the end of this day, by honoring you with wreath/wreaths (flowers) and by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you protect me, my hearth, my family and my household today and this month, so that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen today and this month to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family, and that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family.
Iane pater, Vesta mater, Iuno mater, Lar Familiaris, mi Manes (select list of ancestors in vocative), mi Penates, (list of patron deities in vocative), mi Geni / mea Iuno Genialis (Geni / Iuno Genialis patris familias), his Kalendis, huius novi mensis initio et huiusce diei exitio, corona data / coronis datis (floribus datis), et hoc thure ommovendo vos precor, ut me, domum familiamque meam hodie et hoc mense bene tutemini, ut omnia bona fausta felicia fortunataque hodie et hoc mense mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae eveniant, et ut sitis volentes propitii mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae.
  • Sacrifice a spelt cake sprinkled with salt to all your household gods, after this prayer:
For these reasons, be blessed by this libum!
Harum rerum ergo macte hoc libo estote!
  • If you have more time, you should individually invoke, and sacrifice to, all the deities you called upon in the previous general invocation, and you should sacrifice libum, wine (to male deities only) or incense to each one of them, accompanied by this prayer below, repeating this for all of your household deities. Remember when calling upon the Manes that you point your palm and right hand toward the ground (in the direction of the underworld):
(Name of deity), for the same reason, be blessed by this libum/wine/incense.
(Name of deity in vocative), eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo/vino/thure esto.
  • Optionally, you can repeat the morning sacrifices to Juno and Janus for the Kalends with the same prayers, but it's satisfactory if you have sacrificed to them in the morning.
  • If you think there was an error in your ceremony, make an expiation by adding this prayer, naming all the gods who invoked in your morning ritual:
Janus, Vesta, Juno, Lar Familiaris, my Manes, (select list of ancestors), my Penates, (list of patron gods), my Genius / Iuno Genialis (Genius / Iuno Genialis of my pater familias), if something was unsatisfactory for you in these ceremonies, I expiate you by this libum.
Iane, Vesta, Iuno, Iane Matutine, Lar Familiaris, mi Manes, (select list of ancestors in vocative), mi Penates, (list of patron deities in vocative), mi Geni / mea Iuno Genialis (Geni / Iuno Genialis patris familias), quod vobis his sacris neque satisfactum est, vos hoc libo piaculo.
  • Perform the closing for the Kalends ritual (see above).


Shortened standalone Kalends ritual, or midday ritual, without morning and evening rites

  • Perform the opening for the Kalends ritual (see above).
  • Decorate your lararium with one or more wreaths or garlands, or if it is not possible, with flowers, burn some incense, and, while touching the altar with your right hand, invoke all your household gods:
Father Janus, mother Vesta, mother Juno, Lar Familiaris, my Manes, (select list of ancestors), my Penates, (list of patron gods), my Genius / Iuno Genialis (Genius / Iuno Genialis of my pater familias), on these Kalends, on the beginning of this new month, by honoring you with wreath/wreaths (flowers) and by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you protect me, my hearth, my family and my household today and this month, so that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen today and this month to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family, and that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family.
Iane pater, Vesta mater, Iuno mater, Lar Familiaris, mi Manes (select list of ancestors in vocative), mi Penates, (list of patron deities in vocative), mi Geni / mea Iuno Genialis (Geni / Iuno Genialis patris familias), his Kalendis, huius novi mensis initio, corona data / coronis datis (floribus datis), et hoc thure ommovendo vos precor, ut me, domum familiamque meam hodie et hoc mense bene tutemini, ut omnia bona fausta felicia fortunataque hodie et hoc mense mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae eveniant, et ut sitis volentes propitii mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae.
  • Sacrifice a spelt cake sprinkled with salt to all your household gods, and wine and garlands separately to the Lar Familiaris, after this prayer:
For these reasons, be blessed by this libum! Father Lar, for the same reasons be blessed by the wine, be blessed by the wreath/wreaths (flowers).
Harum rerum ergo macte hoc libo estote! Lar pater, earundem rerum ergo macte hoc vino esto, macte corona/coronis (floribus) esto.
  • If you have more time, you should individually invoke, and sacrifice to, all the deities you called upon in the previous general invocation, and you should sacrifice libum, wine (to male deities only) or incense to each one of them, accompanied by this prayer below, repeating this for all of your household deities. Remember when calling upon the Manes that you point your palm and right hand toward the ground (in the direction of the underworld):
(Name of deity), for the same reason, be blessed by this libum/wine/incense.
(Name of deity in vocative), eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo/vino/thure esto.
  • Sacrifice spelt cake sprinkled with salt to Juno for the Kalends:
Mother Juno, on these Kalends of yours sacred to you, on the beginning of this new month, I pray that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family this month. For this reason, be blessed by this libum.
Iuno mater, his Kalendis tuis sacris, huiusce novi mensis initio te precor, ut hoc mense sis volens propitia mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc libo esto.
  • Sacrifice spelt cake sprinkled with salt to Janus for the Kalends:
Father Janus, on these Kalends, on the beginning of this month, for the same reason, be blessed by this libum.
Iane pater, his Kalendis, huius mensis initio, eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo esto.
  • If you think there was an error in your ceremony, make an expiation by adding this prayer, naming all the gods who invoked in your morning ritual:
Janus, Vesta, Juno, Lar Familiaris, my Manes, (select list of ancestors), my Penates, (list of patron gods), my Genius / Iuno Genialis (Genius / Iuno Genialis of my pater familias), if something was unsatisfactory for you in these ceremonies, I expiate you by this libum.
Iane, Vesta, Iuno, Lar Familiaris, mi Manes, (select list of ancestors in vocative), mi Penates, (list of patron deities in vocative), mi Geni / mea Iuno Genialis (Geni / Iuno Genialis patris familias), quod vobis his sacris neque satisfactum est, vos hoc libo piaculo.
  • Perform the closing for the Kalends ritual (see above).


Full length Kalends rituals

Kalends morning ritual

  • Perform the opening for the Kalends ritual (see above).
  • Decorate your lararium with one or more wreaths or garlands, or if it is not possible, with flowers, burn some incense, and, while touching the altar with your right hand, invoke Janus Matutinus, Vesta and your Lar Familiaris.
Janus Matutinus, on these Kalends, on the beginning of this new day and of this new month, by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family.
Iane Matutine, his Kalendis, huiusce novi diei novique mensis initio, te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces precor, ut sis volens propitius mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae.
Mother Vesta, on these Kalends, by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you protect me, my hearth, my family and my household by being benevolent and propitious today and this month.
Vesta mater, his Kalendis te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces precor, ut me, focum meum, domum meam, familiam meam hodie et hoc mense volens propitia bene tuteris.
Lar Familiaris, on these Kalends, on the beginning of this new day and of this new month, by honoring you with wreath/wreaths (flowers) and by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you protect my home and my family so that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen today and this month to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family.
Lar familiaris, his Kalendis, huiusce novi diei novique mensis initio, te corona data / coronis datis (floribus datis) et hoc ture obmovendo bonas preces precor, ut domum familiamque meam bene tuteris, ut omnia bona fausta felicia fortunataque hodie et hoc mense mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae eveniant.
  • Sacrifice a spelt cake sprinkled with salt, wine and garlands to the Lar Familiaris for the Kalends after this prayer:
Lar Familiaris, as by honoring you with wreath/wreaths (flowers) and by offering the incense I have prayed good prayers to you, for the same reason, blessed by this libum, by this wine and by the wreath/wreaths (flowers) be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family.
Lar familiaris, ut te te corona data / coronis datis (floribus datis) et ture dato bona prece precatus (precata, if you are a woman) sum, eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo libando, hoc vino libando, hac corona data / his coronis datis (his floribus datis) esto fito volens propitius mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae.
  • Sacrifice spelt cake sprinkled with salt to Juno for the Kalends:
Mother Juno, on these Kalends of yours sacred to you, on the beginning of this new month, I pray that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family this month. For this reason, be blessed by this libum.
Iuno mater, his Kalendis tuis sacris, huiusce novi mensis initio te precor, ut hoc mense sis volens propitia mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc libo esto.
  • Sacrifice spelt cake sprinkled with salt to Janus for the Kalends:
Father Janus, on these Kalends, on the beginning of this month, for the same reason, be blessed by this libum.
Iane pater, his Kalendis, huius mensis initio, eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo esto.
  • Sacrifice wine to your Manes (you can invoke some deceased family members by name) after this prayer, and while praying, point your palm and right hand toward the ground (in the direction of the underworld):
My Manes, (select list of ancestors), on these Kalends, I pray that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen today and this month to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family, and that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family. For this reason, be blessed by this wine.
Mi Manes, (select list of ancestors in vocative), his Kalendis vos precor, ut omnia bona fausta felicia fortunataque hodie et hoc mense mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae eveniant, utique sitis volentes propitii mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc vino estote.
  • Sacrifice a spelt cake sprinkled with salt to your Penates and, if you have any, to your patron deities after this prayer. Insert the list of your patron deities after the invocation of the Penates:
My Penates, (list of patron gods), on these Kalends, I pray that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen today and this month to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family, and that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family. For this reason, be blessed by this libum.
Mi Penates, (list of patron gods in vocative), his Kalendis vos precor, ut omnia bona fausta felicia fortunataque hodie et hoc mense mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae eveniant, utique sitis volentes propitii mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc libo estote.
  • If you have more time or if you want to a make more solemn ritual because of the importance of the day, you should individually invoke all your patron deities after the previous general invocation, and you should sacrifice libum to each one of them, accompanied by this prayer, repeating this for all of your patron deities:
(Name of patron deity), for the same reason, be blessed by this libum.
(Name of patron deity in vocative), eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo esto.
  • Sacrifice a wine to your Genius or Iuno Genialis if you are the head of your family, if not, then to the Genius or Iuno Genialis of your pater familias. If you sacrifice to the Genius or Iuno Genialis of your pater familias, you still can offer a second sacrifice to your own Genius or Iuno Genialis, although it is not necessary each day:
My Genius / Iuno Genialis (Genius / Iuno Genialis of my pater familias), on these Kalends, I pray that you help me on this day and this month and be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family. For this reason, be blessed by this wine.
Mi Geni / mea Iuno Genialis (Geni / Iuno Genialis patris familias), his Kalendis te precor, ut me hodie et hoc mense adiuves et sis volens propitius/propitia mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc vino esto.
  • If you think there was an error in your ceremony, make an expiation by adding this prayer, naming all the gods who invoked in your morning ritual:
Janus Matutinus, Janus, Vesta, Juno, Lar Familiaris, my Manes, (select list of ancestors), my Penates, (list of patron gods), my Genius / Iuno Genialis (Genius / Iuno Genialis of my pater familias), if something was unsatisfactory for you in these ceremonies, I expiate you by this libum.
Iane Matutine, Iane, Vesta, Iuno, Iane Matutine, Lar Familiaris, mi Manes, (select list of ancestors in vocative), mi Penates, (list of patron deities in vocative), mi Geni / mea Iuno Genialis (Geni / Iuno Genialis patris familias), quod vobis his sacris neque satisfactum est, vos hoc libo piaculo.
  • Perform the closing for the Kalends ritual (see above).

Kalends evening ritual

The evening ritual should be performed only if you have already done a standalone (or midday) ritual, or if you specifically want to ask the gods' protection for the night. Otherwise, if your first Kalends prayer that day is made in the evening, use the standalone Kalends ritual.

  • Perform the opening for the Kalends ritual (see above).
  • Burn some incense, and, while touching the altar with your right hand, invoke Janus Matutinus, Vesta and your Lar Familiaris.
Father Janus, on these Kalends, on the beginning of this new month, on the end of this day, by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family.
Iane pater, his Kalendis, huius novi mensis initio et huiusce diei exitio, te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces precor, ut sis volens propitius mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae.
Mother Vesta, on these Kalends, by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you protect me, my hearth, my family and my household by being benevolent and propitious tonight and this month.
Vesta mater, his Kalendis te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces precor, ut me, focum meum, domum meam, familiam meam hac nocte et hoc mense volens propitia bene tuteris.
Lar Familiaris, on these Kalends, on the beginning of this new month, on the end of this day, by honoring you with wreath/wreaths (flowers) and by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you protect my home and my family so that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen tonight and this month to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family.
Lar familiaris, his Kalendis, huius novi mensis initio et huiusce diei exitio, te corona data / coronis datis (floribus datis) et hoc ture obmovendo bonas preces precor, ut domum familiamque meam bene tuteris, ut omnia bona fausta felicia fortunataque hac nocte et hoc mense mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae eveniant.
  • Sacrifice a spelt cake sprinkled with salt, wine and garlands to the Lar Familiaris for the Kalends after this prayer:
Lar Familiaris, as by honoring you with wreath/wreaths (flowers) and by offering the incense I have prayed good prayers to you, for the same reason, blessed by this libum, by this wine and by the wreath/wreaths (flowers) be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family.
Lar familiaris, ut te te corona data / coronis datis (floribus datis) et ture dato bona prece precatus (precata, if you are a woman) sum, eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo libando, hoc vino libando, hac corona data / his coronis datis (his floribus datis) esto fito volens propitius mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae.
  • Optionally, you can repeat the morning sacrifices to Juno and Janus for the Kalends with the same prayers, but it's satisfactory if you have sacrificed to them in the morning.
  • Sacrifice wine to your Manes (you can invoke some deceased family members by name) after this prayer, and while praying, point your palm and right hand toward the ground (in the direction of the underworld):
My Manes, (select list of ancestors), on these Kalends, I pray that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen tonight and this month to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family, and that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family. For this reason, be blessed by this wine.
Mi Manes, (select list of ancestors in vocative), his Kalendis vos precor, ut omnia bona fausta felicia fortunataque hac nocte et hoc mense mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae eveniant, utique sitis volentes propitii mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc vino estote.
  • Sacrifice a spelt cake sprinkled with salt to your Penates and, if you have any, to your patron deities after this prayer. Insert the list of your patron deities after the invocation of the Penates:
My Penates, (list of patron gods), on these Kalends, I pray that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen tonight and this month to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family, and that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family. For this reason, be blessed by this libum.
Mi Penates, (list of patron gods in vocative), his Kalendis vos precor, ut omnia bona fausta felicia fortunataque hac nocte et hoc mense mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae eveniant, utique sitis volentes propitii mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc libo estote.
  • If you have more time or if you want to a make more solemn ritual because of the importance of the day, you should individually invoke all your patron deities after the previous general invocation, and you should sacrifice libum to each one of them, accompanied by this prayer, repeating this for all of your patron deities:
(Name of patron deity), for the same reason, be blessed by this libum.
(Name of patron deity in vocative), eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo esto.
  • Sacrifice a wine to your Genius or Iuno Genialis if you are the head of your family, if not, then to the Genius or Iuno Genialis of your pater familias. If you sacrifice to the Genius or Iuno Genialis of your pater familias, you still can offer a second sacrifice to your own Genius or Iuno Genialis, although it is not necessary each day:
My Genius / Iuno Genialis (Genius / Iuno Genialis of my pater familias), on these Kalends, I pray that you help me on this night and this month and be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family. For this reason, be blessed by this wine.
Mi Geni / mea Iuno Genialis (Geni / Iuno Genialis patris familias), his Kalendis te precor, ut me hac nocte et hoc mense adiuves et sis volens propitius/propitia mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc vino esto.
  • If you think there was an error in your ceremony, make an expiation by adding this prayer, naming all the gods who invoked in your morning ritual:
Janus, Vesta, Juno, Lar Familiaris, my Manes, (select list of ancestors), my Penates, (list of patron gods), my Genius / Iuno Genialis (Genius / Iuno Genialis of my pater familias), if something was unsatisfactory for you in these ceremonies, I expiate you by this libum.
Iane, Vesta, Iuno, Iane Matutine, Lar Familiaris, mi Manes, (select list of ancestors in vocative), mi Penates, (list of patron deities in vocative), mi Geni / mea Iuno Genialis (Geni / Iuno Genialis patris familias), quod vobis his sacris neque satisfactum est, vos hoc libo piaculo.
  • Perform the closing for the Kalends ritual (see above).

Kalends standalone ritual, or midday ritual, without morning and evening rites

This ritual should be performed if you can do only one domestic ritual on a specific day, and you don't do a separate morning and night ritual that day. If, at the evening, you get a chance to perform the evening ritual, you are free to do that, too: this standalone or midday ritual doesn't inhibit the possibility for performing either or both the morning and the evening rituals, as well. If you want to do morning ritual but you are late and it is already afternoon, you should do this midday ritual instead of the morning Kalends ritual.

  • Perform the opening for the Kalends ritual (see above).
  • Decorate your lararium with one or more wreaths or garlands, or if it is not possible, with flowers, burn some incense, and, while touching the altar with your right hand, invoke Janus Matutinus, Vesta and your Lar Familiaris.
Father Janus, on these Kalends, on the beginning of this new month, by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family.
Iane pater, his Kalendis, huius novi mensis initio, te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces precor, ut sis volens propitius mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae.
Mother Vesta, on these Kalends, by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you protect me, my hearth, my family and my household by being benevolent and propitious today and this month.
Vesta mater, his Kalendis te hoc ture ommovendo bonas preces precor, ut me, focum meum, domum meam, familiam meam hodie et hoc mense volens propitia bene tuteris.
Lar Familiaris, on these Kalends, on the beginning of this new month, by honoring you with wreath/wreaths (flowers) and by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you protect my home and my family so that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen today and this month to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family.
Lar familiaris, his Kalendis, huius novi mensis initio, te corona data / coronis datis (floribus datis) et hoc ture obmovendo bonas preces precor, ut domum familiamque meam bene tuteris, ut omnia bona fausta felicia fortunataque hodie et hoc mense mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae eveniant.
  • Sacrifice a spelt cake sprinkled with salt, wine and garlands to the Lar Familiaris for the Kalends after this prayer:
Lar Familiaris, as by honoring you with wreath/wreaths (flowers) and by offering the incense I have prayed good prayers to you, for the same reason, blessed by this libum, by this wine and by the wreath/wreaths (flowers) be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family.
Lar familiaris, ut te te corona data / coronis datis (floribus datis) et ture dato bona prece precatus (precata, if you are a woman) sum, eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo libando, hoc vino libando, hac corona data / his coronis datis (his floribus datis) esto fito volens propitius mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae.
  • Sacrifice spelt cake sprinkled with salt to Juno for the Kalends:
Mother Juno, on these Kalends of yours sacred to you, on the beginning of this new month, I pray that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family this month. For this reason, be blessed by this libum.
Iuno mater, his Kalendis tuis sacris, huiusce novi mensis initio te precor, ut hoc mense sis volens propitia mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc libo esto.
  • Sacrifice spelt cake sprinkled with salt to Janus for the Kalends:
Father Janus, on these Kalends, on the beginning of this month, for the same reason, be blessed by this libum.
Iane pater, his Kalendis, huius mensis initio, eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo esto.
  • Sacrifice wine to your Manes (you can invoke some deceased family members by name) after this prayer, and while praying, point your palm and right hand toward the ground (in the direction of the underworld):
My Manes, (select list of ancestors), on these Kalends, I pray that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen today and this month to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family, and that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family. For this reason, be blessed by this wine.
Mi Manes, (select list of ancestors in vocative), his Kalendis vos precor, ut omnia bona fausta felicia fortunataque hodie et hoc mense mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae eveniant, utique sitis volentes propitii mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc vino estote.
  • Sacrifice a spelt cake sprinkled with salt to your Penates and, if you have any, to your patron deities after this prayer. Insert the list of your patron deities after the invocation of the Penates:
My Penates, (list of patron gods), on these Kalends, I pray that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen today and this month to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family, and that you be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family. For this reason, be blessed by this libum.
Mi Penates, (list of patron gods in vocative), his Kalendis vos precor, ut omnia bona fausta felicia fortunataque hodie et hoc mense mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae eveniant, utique sitis volentes propitii mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc libo estote.
  • If you have more time or if you want to a make more solemn ritual because of the importance of the day, you should individually invoke all your patron deities after the previous general invocation, and you should sacrifice libum to each one of them, accompanied by this prayer, repeating this for all of your patron deities:
(Name of patron deity), for the same reason, be blessed by this libum.
(Name of patron deity in vocative), eiusdem rei ergo macte hoc libo esto.
  • Sacrifice a wine to your Genius or Iuno Genialis if you are the head of your family, if not, then to the Genius or Iuno Genialis of your pater familias. If you sacrifice to the Genius or Iuno Genialis of your pater familias, you still can offer a second sacrifice to your own Genius or Iuno Genialis, although it is not necessary each day:
My Genius / Iuno Genialis (Genius / Iuno Genialis of my pater familias), on these Kalends, I pray that you help me on this day and this month and be benevolent and propitious to me (and to my children), to my household and to my family. For this reason, be blessed by this wine.
Mi Geni / mea Iuno Genialis (Geni / Iuno Genialis patris familias), his Kalendis te precor, ut me hodie et hoc mense adiuves et sis volens propitius/propitia mihi (liberisque meis) domo familiaeque meae. Huius rei ergo macte hoc vino esto.
  • If you think there was an error in your ceremony, make an expiation by adding this prayer, naming all the gods who invoked in your morning ritual:
Janus, Vesta, Juno, Lar Familiaris, my Manes, (select list of ancestors), my Penates, (list of patron gods), my Genius / Iuno Genialis (Genius / Iuno Genialis of my pater familias), if something was unsatisfactory for you in these ceremonies, I expiate you by this libum.
Iane, Vesta, Iuno, Iane Matutine, Lar Familiaris, mi Manes, (select list of ancestors in vocative), mi Penates, (list of patron deities in vocative), mi Geni / mea Iuno Genialis (Geni / Iuno Genialis patris familias), quod vobis his sacris neque satisfactum est, vos hoc libo piaculo.
  • Perform the closing for the Kalends ritual (see above).
Personal tools