Friends of Santo Daime in Australia

Fardamento

The fardamento is the ceremony of giving the Star and of consecration of the ceremonial vestment, making the associate an active member of the Doctrine of the Imperial Master Juramidam.

The conditions preceding the fardamento are:

· participation in at least three official works, (Concentrations included)

· having knowledge of the principles of the Doctrine, the ethics and statutes, both of the local centre and of CEFLURIS.

· having his registration approved by the direction of the centre to with he is affiliated.

· being associated with CEFLURIS and the local centre where he attends the works.

The ceremony is carried out at the beginning of a spiritual work of the official calendar, after the opening-prayers and before the beginning of the actual hinário. Preferably it should be an hinário with white farda. The ceremony consists of an opening (address) of the commander of the work about the importance of the Fardamento, bringing to memory the rights and duties of each fardado, and the care we must take for our ceremonial vestments. Then the aspirant(-s) places himself standing before the Holy Cross. Men at the left side, women at the right. The whole Brotherhood sings hymn nº 65 - Graduation of Padrinho Alfredo Gregório.

At the sound of the hymn the leader of the work or person assigned by him places the Star on the breast of the aspirant. The Star of children, young men and young women must be on the left side (the side of the heart) and of the adults on the right side. The aspirant must present himself with the complete farda (white and blue).

Note: Even when the programmed hinário for the day is that of Padrinho Alfredo, is the ceremony done at the beginning. Hymn n° 65 is later on sung in its normal sequence.

At the end of the ceremony VIVA AO(S) NOVO(S) FARDADO(S) can be given and an applause.

Marriage

This ritual must be preferably performed at the opening of hinários in honour of Saint Joseph, Saint Anthony. Saint John. Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, and Three Kings (Epiphany).

In special situations it is advised to perform the ritual simultaneously with some hinário of white farda.

Note: The prayers of the opening are done, the serving is opened, and when it is finished, the ceremony of Marriage is started.

The bride and bridegroom must be in white farda. The virgin-bride may use bridal dress with veil and wreath, while the non-virgins use a more appropriate dress.

Opening of the ceremony: The fardados of the brotherhood place themselves in a line from the door to the central table of the Church The men at one side, the women at the other, forming a corridor through which the girl-bride will pass accompanied by her father or the responsible person.

The bridegroom will be waiting at the head of the table, accompanied by the padrinho and madrinha of the marriage. When the bride enters, all present sing hymn nº 142 - "O Simbolo da Verdade"- of
Padrinho Sebastião. The bride stands at the right side of the broom at the table-head and the brotherhood take their respective places in the line of dancing.

Note: the woman-bride will take her place directly at the head of the table, and then the "Simbolo da Verdade" is sung.

The Officiant, not necessarily the leader of the work, a person qualified by his knowledge of the Doctrine and exemplary ethics, initiates the ceremony with the following prayer:

" Lord, Supreme God, Lord our Father, Lord Saint John the Baptist, Lord of this Holy House. Your children............. and.......... present themselves today, with only one thought: to follow together the path of life, on the compass of the whole nature, which unfolds itself and multiplies, that this union may make them stronger, two in one, in the unity of the family. We ask Lord, may their days be harmonious, like the whole nature that sings. That the same source of light brings them clarity, the same fire may warm their bodies, that in the same water they may quench their thirst of life. May neither hate, nor jealousy, nor lie, nor discord find shelter at their Hearth, for in Love the Truth will be manifested, like the light of the Sun which covers everything. Lady of Immaculate Conception, Our Mother, may these, your children.............. and........be like a good seed in fertile soil, your fruits, good fruits, spread Your Mantle of protection against the fear, that hammers the weak, against the plague that increases in darkness. Lord Our Imperial Master Juramidam, give to all who are present prosperity in love, health in work and life to praise You. forever, forever, forever. Amen."

And he continues:

"Before the Holy Cross and the Brotherhood here assembled...............and................promise to share their lives, searching to bring Harmony, Love, Truth and Justice to perfection. To show this unity of heart, bride and bridegroom shall link arms which will be the symbol of their lives from now on."

At this point the Officiant will serve the Santo Daime of the newly weds, having them offer each other the sacrament.

"The hymn which we will sing now, represents the word of power of our Imperial Master, which consecrates this ceremony and makes it legitimate."

The brotherhood sings the hymn "Sou Luz, dou Luz" of Padrinho Sebastião.

Again the officiant:

"Marriage is a commitment to work on the forming of a new family. Many take this commitment upon them, but do not succeed in bringing this divine mission to a good conclusion, because they have no wisdom of life. Love one another, but do not make this love into a fetter. We live in a time in which many families break apart, loosing the providential goal with which they were begun. But the happy end of this mission is for those who remember the advice and wisdom."

The officiant can optionally read some quote from the Bible.

We suggest: Epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians - Chapter V, verse 21 to 33, or Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians - Chapter VII, or also, I, Epistle of Saint Peter, Chapter III, verse 1 to 12.

Then the wedding-rings will be exchanged. In front of the officiant, the bridegroom puts the ring at the ring-finger of the left hand of the bride, saying: "Receive............, this wedding-ring as symbol of my pledge to you"

After that the bride does the same, affirming the same words, and then the brotherhood sings the hymn " O Amor é para ser distribuído" of Padrinho Sebastião.

Closing of the ceremony: the Officiant says

"Lord, Almighty God, we are sparks of this your Universal Love, which has given to the planet
Earth the living shrine of Your Presence. We ask the Omniscient Lord, that You protect your children........... and.............. , and bless, Lord, this union. That they may know the truthful teaching of Your Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ the Redeemer, and that they may have a life of Peace and Prosperity. In the joy of this occasion may this wedding receive Your Divine Blessing, we ask, Lord, steadfastness and courage so that they may travel together the road of their existence on earth, the one strengthening the other.

That this pledge, confirmed before the Holy Cross, symbol of Your universal forgiveness, may be present all the days in the joy and in the love of beholding the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, the Earth, the Forest and the flowers as children of God and heirs of eternal glories. Amen."

"Congratulations to the newly wed, we wish them success in their new life!"

"Viva bride and bridegroom!"

After short congratulations the newly-wed take their habitual places in the dancing-line (the girl-bride will only move to the women's line at the next hinário) and the actual hinário will begin.

Ritual of Baptism

The Santo Daime, the salt and the water are on the table in small vessels, together with a piece of cotton-wool.

The child accompanied by the godfather and -mother around the table.

Those attending the ritual, from three to nine, with candles in the hand, softly praying the Lords Prayer and Ave Maria.

The celebrant at the centre of the table.

Opening-words

"The Baptism symbolizes the passage to a new life. Saint John baptized in the waters of the river Jordan those who were converted. In the olden times it was the adults who adhered to the Christian Doctrine, that were baptized. Since Christianity was established, this custom was extended to children"

The following text from the Bible is read:- Saint Matthew - Chapter 28 - verse 16: "And the eleven disciples left for Galilee, to the mountain that Jesus had indicated. And when they saw Him, they adored Him, but some had doubts. And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying:
"Me is given all power in the Heaven and on the Earth. Therefore, go forth and teach all the nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and teach them to keep to all the things that I have ordered you and look!, I shall be with you all days until the completion of the ages. Amen."

Explications

The godfather and -mother were chosen as guardians of the child, helping the parents to give it direction on the roads of life. When the parents fail, the godfather and -mother must sustain the child.

In the ceremony the Santo Daime signifies the new revelation of Jesus Christ. He is the call for the spiritual life.

The salt which the baptized receives on his lips to have the taste, symbolizes the material and external contact, which must be made holy by the new Christian. "You are the salt of the Earth, if the salt becomes insipid, without taste, it will be of no service, if not thrown outside and crushed by the feet. Just as the force of salt is so useful and appreciated, so is the call for the new Christian to behave in this earthly life.

The water symbolizes purification. The water that washes the body, now purifies the soul in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The actual ritual now starts. The celebrant will baptize in the following order:

1) Santo Daime (in soaked cottonwool) -The child is called by its full name. The cottonwool is brought to its lips, saying: "I baptize you with the Santo Daime which is Light to guide you in spiritual life in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost".

2) Salt - The child is called by its full name: "I baptize you with the salt that you may have strength to fight against the adversities, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost".

3) Water - The child is called by its full name: '"Just as Saint John baptized Jesus in the river Jordan, so I baptize you with water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost Amen."