Raymond Bernard: A Secret Meeting in Rome

SPECIAL EDITION

A

Secret Meeting

in Rome

by

Raymond Bernard

FRANCIS BACON

LODGE

PUBLICATIONS

The Rosicrucian Order,

AMORC

Known as ‘TH E ANCIENT, MYSTICAL ORDER ROSAE CRUCIS” throughout the world

FRANCIS BACON LODGE

181A Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TE

Secret Meeting

in

Rome

by

Raymond Bernard

Supreme Legate for Europe

Past Grand Master for

Francophone Countries

SPECIAL EDITION

World

Convention

London

23-26 July 1981

Translated and firs t published in

Great Britain by Pensatia and B enefactor - 1 970 2nd e d itio n . Francis Bacon Lodge AMORC — 1 978 3rd ed itio n - a special lim ite d issue - 1 981 English tra n sla tio n co p yrig h t

e Francis Bacon Lodge 1981

All rig h ts reserved. No part of th is p u b lica tio n may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system , or tra n sm itte d in any form or by any means, w hatsoever, w ith o u t the p rio r perm ission o f the p ublisher.

This book is sold su b je ct to th e c o n d itio n that it shall n o t be re-sold, loaned or circulated in any m anner w ith any d iffe re n t form of binding or cover o ther than that in w h ic h it is p u b lished, w ith o u t the p rio r perm ission of the publisher. This c o n d itio n shall apply to all subsequent purchasers or borrowers.

CONTENTS

Page F o r e w o r d ... i In t r o d u c t io n ... 1 1 — R o m e ... 3 2 — Beside The F o u n ta in ... 5

3 — Secrets and W itc h c r a f t... 9

4 — In E xpectation o f the N ig h t... 16

5 — The Abbey o f San N il o ... ... 18

6 — The Cardinal in W h ite ... 22

7 — The Times Have C o m e ... 25

8 — The L ife And Death o f The Order o f The T e m p le ... 30

9 — The M ystery o f The G r a i l ... ... 36

10 — Tunis ... ... 42

11 — And The D oor Is Opened To U s ... ... 51

The cover design is th a t o f an emblem inscribed in the stone arch over the gateway to w hat was once a Tem plar establishm ent, located on the Tours-Navers road in France.

FOREWORD

The thousands o f copies o f this m anuscript sold till now, the quotations w hich have been made w ith great success in w ritings or heard in lectures, and above all the numerous letters received fro m my readers, have been fo r me very encouraging and moving evidence. However, some o f m y correspondents have been led to such erroneous conclusions th a t it seemed necessary fo r me to w rite a fore w o rd to be included im m ediately in this w o rk and in all those which treat o f sim ilar subjects, w ith the purpose o f preventing any fu rth e r tendency to misleading interpretations or sim ply misunderstandings.

The fundam ental purpose o f this manuscript is to tra n sm it certain knowledge o f particular subjects o f mystical tra d itio n w hich now-a-days, p a rticu la rly in France, continue to exercise a strong a ttra ctio n upon whoever is interested in great questions beyond the lim its o f a non-sensical item in the popular press. It is enough, to be convinced o f this, to notice the considerable success met w ith fro m the general public, by books dealing w ith these subjects. N ow, most o f these books are n ot b u ilt on any fo u n d a tio n . They do n o t have any basis OF T R U T H fo r m editation and reflection, and they lead their readers towards false and even dangerous conclusions.

It was also necessary to show the im portance o f the Rosicrucian Order AM O R C in the w o rld , and this m anuscript is indeed to p u t it in its rig h tfu l place, th a t is first, regarding its objectives, its w o rld ly activities and the number o f its members. In spite o f the great tolerance o f o ur Order and its extrem e liberalism, it has sometimes been

necessary to show s tric t severity w ith regard to those w ho, deceived perhaps by th e ir own errors, risk deceiving others and leading them in to terrible ways w hich have no aspect o f psychic e q u ilib riu m . T o warn is a d u ty , especially if one such advertisement is directed to one w ho is on the sure and tr u th fu l path offered by the Rosicrucian Order AM ORC. To stray fro m this path o f ce rta in ty after assuming it is incontestably to retrogress. M y aim has been th a t m y Rosicrucian readers may avoid co m m ittin g this regrettable error o f seeking elsewhere th a t w hich they w ill always fin d at the most o pportune m om ent, the most efficacious fo r them , in the teachings o f the Rosicrucian Order AMORC.

Such were the reasons w hich induced me to w rite this m anuscript and some others. The manner chosen to comm unicate this knowledge is im p o rta n t. To understand certain subjects, it is n o t enough to read them , one must experience them , and th a t is w hy I adopted this fo rm o f w ritin g . The result is th a t this manuscript is P A R T IA L L Y A L L E G O R IC A L A N D P A R T IA L L Y A LSO IT R E LA T E S FACTS. It is based on S YM BO LIS M , fo r the S YM BO L is, in essence, a language, w hich each understands according to his developm ent and w hich the Rosicrucian understands better than most. Thus, through A L L E G O R Y , through S Y M B O L and through FACTS, subjects o f the highest interest are examined, and th is exam ination w ill lead you to an understanding more vast, more useful and more true, o f the great questions w hich tra d itio n , past and present, has applied itself in solving.

My dearest wish w ill always be th a t this lecture may be fo r you a source o f

inspiration, and a constant encouragement to carry on yo u r e ffo rts w ith in the Rosicrucian Order AM O R C towards greater lig h t and Peace P rofound.

R A Y M O N D B E R N A R D Domaine de la Rose-Croix Friday 17th O ctober, 1969

0 Chiunque tu sia, che fu o r d'ogni uso Pieghi natura ad opre altere e strane E spiando i segreti, e n tri al piu chiuso Spazio tua voglia delle m enti umane Deh! D im m i!

(Gerusal)

0 thou whoever th o u art, w ho obliges nature to apply itself to th y strange works, and who, master o f th e ir secrets, penetrates at w ill to th e hidden depths o f th e human soul, te ll me . . . .

INTRODUCTION

A secret meeting at Rome! The title could surprise or sim ply intrigue. In the final analysis, I have n o t been able to fin d a more appropriate one. O nly one o ther m ight be used and I had chosen it in the beginning, b u t to call this story "T h e Cardinal in W h ite ", as I had the in te n tio n o f doing, w ould have been to run the risk o f a regrettable confusion. The question is, tr u ly , to tell here o f m y meeting w ith a man whose unique stature in the invisible empire o f in itia tio n is such th a t he fills the role o f " p iv o t" , o r a hinge, and my recollection was n o t able to clothe him w ith a higher or more appropriate d ig n ity than that o f the "W h ite C ardinal". But the great Gustave M eyrink had already, in his tim e, reported the extraordinary message o f a "W h ite D o m in ica n ". F urther the term "C a rd in a l" has taken a meaning much more precise in relation to a religious hierarchy in the See o f w hich my Cardinal had never entered in any way. The fact, also, th a t all, fo r me, may have

happened in Rome, required the prudence o f n o t using a term w hich m ig h t be m isunder­ stood and thus was born the d iffe re n t and less com prom ising title o f this manuscript . . . .

Then, here once more I must clothe w ith words th a t w h ich , in me, is o n ly rememberance, sentim ent and em otion. Here then to transm it to others the message instilled in m y soul by a rare experience, the hour has come to reveal w ith o u t betraying much and to give w ith o u t abandoning anything. The task w ould be impossible if it did n o t deal w ith knowledge, perhaps o f wisdom , the o n ly dom ain where the transmission is so absolute th a t another becomes him self and that, in the u n ity thus realised, he w ho gives takes part in his ow n g ift. T o share a secret, is w ith o u t d o u b t, esoterically, to delegate a certain power, a fo rm o f a u th o rity which is acted upon in our name, because, fo r the initiate, the secret is the very co n d itio n o f the sacred m ystery and o f the ancient powers in

w hich he is adm itted to take part. B ut to share a secret is above all to give to others the essential im plem ents w hich w ill p e rm it them in d iv id u a lly to m anufacture the key opening the sublime portal o f the realised consciousness where emerging man is regenerated and forever raises him self.

I am going to relive fo r you, w ith you, certain circumstances. I w o u ld have said "an adventure" if this w ord had n o t, in our day, lost its p ro fo u n d value o f exceptional occurrence, ye t th a t all, in ou r universe, is so exceptional fo r him w ho knows how to see and take part, th a t the q u a lifica tio n here is w ith o u t im portance. These circumstances, this adventure, they can, at the end o f y o u r reading, become yours, as they were o r are mine, fo r they are placed, so to speak, "b e yo n d tim e and space" where they are unfolded. They are in fa ct la te n t in each o f us and the e x te rio r elem ent, th a t w hich is produced in the phenomenal w o rld , o n ly fu lfills a fu n c tio n o f stim u la tio n o r awakening. The spark is th ro w n o u t, facts capable o f an illusory "o u ts id e " enflame the permanent reality in us and illum ine o ur consciousness. We learn nothing, fo r all is w ith in ourselves, b u t the veil cannot be to rn aside except by the strange and irreplaceable action on us o f the e x te rio r w o rld such as it appears to us however unreal it may be. In th is regard, my SECRET M E E T IN G IN ROME has caused to resound afresh the echo o f a hidden wisdom at the heart o f the divine essence w hich I carry w ith in m yself ju st as you carry it w ith in

you and I have gathered together, on the conscious plane, a little more lig h t and peace. It w ill be the same fo r you, as I w ould wish it to be. Y ou can, by means o f this recital, make m y Roman adventure Y O U R adventure fo r, after all, the message w hich I have collected is destined fo r yo u and it is Y O U , EACH ONE OF Y O U , w ho w aits at this very instant fo r a secret interview , a sage, an in itia te , a m a s te r. . . T H E W H ITE C A R D IN A L .

A SECRET MEETING IN ROME

1

ROME

There are few countries in the w o rld where the exigencies o f an existence, at firs t profane, then consecrated to an exceptional mission, have n ot led me at various times. Few are im p o rta n t tow ns w hich one could name at random to w hich I may n o t have gone at some mom ent. O f all these countries and o f all these cities, Rome, in m y m em ory, is the Jewel. It was there in October 1955, in an imposing palace w ith an extraordinary silence b u t w hich, as promised, I w ith o ld the name, I received, in the autum n o f my 32nd year, the in itia tic adjustm ent o f a secular tra d itio n . It is there, in w hich I was led to accomplish in another dom ain, where "began the d e s tin y " w hich manifests my present responsibilities. It is there th a t friendship to o k fo r me the fo rm o f a friend fro m w hom , ever since, neither tim e nor distance have separated me b u t w ho one day, inescapably, as G ilb e rt Becaud, w ill be w e p t "a b s e n t". A t least it w ill n o t be so fo r me. It is there and it is Rome and a road has led me there in order th a t my soul manifest there in its

completeness, in its absoluteness, in its fu ll am ount at all levels o f experience and o f consciousness. . . However, I feel m yself incapable o f describing Rome. While there, w hat w ould be the advantage fo r me reader to stroll w ith me in the Borghese gardens to see again the vestiges o f ancient Rome, to visit hastily certain museums, to admire some churches, to descend in to some sad catacombs, to enter the Vatican C ity , to w alk through the basilica o f St. Peter and come at last exhausted, to look fo r an unattainable rest in a celebrated terrace o f the Via Veneto. T o my Roman friend after having visited Rome o f the past fo r a long tim e , I said to him one day in je s t:— "T h is c ity is a m useum ." He then conducted me to modern Rome where there is nothing to be envied in o ther foreign capitals. Again jestingly I observed:— "T h is c ity is like the o th e r!" He led me towards the ancient ruins. I have understood and I am silent.

Rome, it is the ancient and the m odern m ixed in the present w hich sings under the dark and cu rly heads, whose eyes give life to things and to beings w hich they touch. It is the reljgious and the profane, the beauty o f a thousand faces, the tru th if it is agreeable, the venial illusion w hich wishes to make pleasure and w hich fo r th a t is so sincere th a t it becomes tru th . Rome, it is a pleasure and a song, sad or gay, more lively than sad and perhaps sad and gay at the same tim e. The c ity , in the end, w ill be fo r you th a t w hich you are yourself, and it is yourself you w ill love through her. As fo r me, it is to the Roman fountains th a t I take pleasure in confiding myself. True, I never fail to give a piece o f money to the F ountain o f Trevi so th a t a favourable departure leads me q u ic kly to Rome, b u t I have dow n there M Y fo u n ta in ; the Fountain o f the Tortoise . . . . Why do I prefer it to all others, how should I know? It is sentim ental and there are memories.

N a tu ra lly, I speak here o f M Y Roman fo u n ta in because it has a connection w ith my story. When I reflect on it, it could n o t possibly be otherwise. In Rome, if certain problems assail me, m y steps, invariably, lead me towards it. Strangely th is tim e they take me in to a journey w hich w ill culm inate in an exceptional experience.

A SECRET MEETING IN ROME

2

BESIDE THE FOUNTAIN

It is nightim e in a Roman spring. From the balcony o f my apartm ent in the H ilto n Hotel Cavalien, adm irably situated on th e M onte Mario, I contem plate, fo r some tim e, the lights o f the c ity . . . when I am seized w ith an irresistable impulse to visit MY fo u n ta in . I have arrived in the evening and my hotel being some distance fro m the centre, laziness has been more pow erful than the a ttra ctio n o f the deep bath o f w hich I always feel the need when arriving at some place . . . as much as making or remaking the acquaintance o f my hosts o f the m om ent. B u t now, the desire is more pow erful and it is concentrated w h o lly on M Y fo u n ta in . It is late, very late, b u t am I n o t, as one says " o f the n ig h t"? I w ill perhaps be alone there below . . . w ith my memories, w hat a privilege! . . . .

The ta xi le ft me at the corner o f the street and here I am before it . . . . Oh, I am n o t alone! Someone is there before me, b u t I do n o t feel myself tro u b le d b y this presence. A ll is so calm here at this late hour. "T h e O th e r", perhaps shares my curious a ttra ctio n fo r this fo u n ta in . A t least, I wish to believe it, and my heart w ith o u t any jealousy makes itself a silent accomplice o f the stranger. I come nearer to the fo u n ta in . . . and to him . He appears to be far away, wrapped up in him self and his eyes are closed. I make as little noise as possible, b u t scarcely am I near him when he gives a start and he looks at me fo r a long tim e. On me! I t is on my eyes, I must be precise . . . like men w ho stare w ith o u t seeing!

From the eyes come a mysterious vibrating alchemy whose power is the lo t o f him who knows how to give a meaning to his look and many ignore it. This man knows all w hich I believe I know m yself. His eyes search m y soul, and mine his, and all is accomplished in understanding almost as attunem ent and in a smile.

"D o you speak French?" What could I have said otherwise? One o f us must make the firs t move and w hy n o t me . . . w ith a banality? The reply is unexpected: "JE SUIS fra n ca is!" I take a better lo o k at m y q u e s tio n e r. . . he is more o r less m y b u ild and clothed in an exquisite way. His grey suit is, in effect, cu t in the French fashion and the blue tie is discreet. His face is angular, incisive and his brow n eyes w hich are fixe d on mine reflect a great goodness and m elancholy.

" I am F re n ch ," he continued, " b u t o fte n in Rome. My affairs call me here . . . and other things! A n d you? Is this y o u r firs t stay in Rome?"

"C e rta in ly n o t! Many circumstances lead me to Rome fre q u e n tly . . . . " M y questioner in terrupted me; "T h e circumstances . . . . religious ones?"

r

I smiled; "Religious? Perhaps, b u t n o t in the sense you w ould understand i t " W ho knows! If I meet th is man, w hy should there n o t be a particu la r reason? The hazard, a fte r all, o n ly exists as such. I add then, and it is alm ost a challenge:

" I w o u ld in preference say circumstances . . . tra d itio n a l and e so te ric!"

The man gave a slight sta rt; "E soteric? Y ou k n o w then th a t esotericism exists in Rome! The d evil! Our encounter does n o t w ant fo r c u rio s ity ."

"E xperience has taught me th a t every encounter is curious. Certain ones are even strange . . . " and I add slo w ly; "Is it n o t, in the m ain, strange th a t at an h o u r so late at night, we chance to be, you and I, tw o Frenchmen, alone, here, before this fo u n ta in in the heart o f Rome, and is it n o t stranger still th a t we are chattering thus w ith o u t know ing each other, revealing ourselves rapidly one to the o th e r and, fo r m y part, showing you my esoteric interest. A llo w me to introduce m yself . . . . "

W ith o u t hesitation, moved by an irresistable and p ro fo u n d impulse, I declare my id e n tity , my title and m y responsibilities. He regarded me in te n tly and I suppose w ith surprise u n til m y ow n surprise reduced to n o th in g in me some instants q u ite another feeling. My questioner replied, indeed, to m y declaration w ith his, and there was no need whatever to p in p o in t his title or his responsibilities. HIS N AM E WAS S U F F IC IE N T , AN D IT WAS ONE OF TH E G R E ATE S T NAM ES IN FRAN CE. A h ! When I was ta lkin g not long ago o f tra d itio n a l circumstances, how was I to imagine th a t the man to w hom I was addressing myself represented him self alone, by his name, many many great undertakings in the long h isto ry o f m y c o u n try ! Meanwhile I reacted very ra p id ly. Numerous are the great o f this w o rld w ho honour me w ith th e ir confidence and some o f them w ith th e ir friendship, more relaxed w ith me than they w ould be in th e ir o ffic ia l position. Otherwise those o f the tem poral w o rld scarcely impress me always; my veneration goes to the simple ones, to the hum ble, to the smallest, fo r at the level o f th e ir reality they are great, much greater than he, proud o f his name and his qualitites, whose pride in the last analysis is o n ly ju s tifie d by his ancestors and rarely by him self or by the vainness o f an absurd vanity o f o ffice . B ut the man w ho was there, before me, is o f a s im p lic ity so vib ra n t th a t the illustrious name w hich he has inherited is an ornam ent fo r his p ro fo u n d personality which becomes him w ith o u t reservation.

"Perhaps we could pursue this conversation at m y h om e?" said he, "Unless you feel to o tire d ."

I was n o t tire d and the in vita tio n pleased me.

"O u r conversation w ill be more p ro fita b le than sleep. I w ill fo llo w . Thank y o u ." We walked fo r some minutes . . . his car, badly parked — b u t we are in Rome — is licensed in Ita ly and I conclude fro m that, th a t he lives here more often than he is w illin g to adm it. It is one o f my failings, in this incarnation, to appreciate p ow erful cars. They are a human e ffo rt to overcome the illusion o f tim e and the mirages o f space. A t the same tim e they are the admirable fr u it o f research and o f the genius o f man w ho, in his wide awake dream, believes w ith o u t ceasing in going more q u ick ly , to come nearer a sum m it where tim e and space w ill o n ly be u n ity . They are so in fact and the m ystic knows it fro m experience b u t h u m a n ity has chosen the long, the very long road o f materialism and o f sensation. Man, whatever may be his degree o f internal awakening, cannot reject his h um anity w ith o u t c o m m ittin g an unpardonable sin o f p ro u d ly supposing him self separated fro m others. He can o n ly be awakened among the others; and the others, he can o n ly serve them by remaining human him self. The awakened consciousness has no room fo r

hypocrisy. It sees all and at firs t the body which it inhabits te m p o ra rily ; this body w ith its appetites and its shortcomings w hich are n o t an ill unless th o u g h t and remorse consider them so and make them an im pedim ent.

I do n o t feel it a hindrance to my higher consciousness to appreciate the power o f a car. Strange inner experiences have come to me when driving at a very fast pace, and in the same way useful in tu itio n s have sprung to my th o u g h t whose consequences fo r many others have been o f considerable use.

My com panion drives w ith a sure and agile hand w hich requires silence and concentration. D uring the days w hich fo llo w he w ill give me th e pleasure o f d rivin g this exceptional car. This indeed w ill be, on his p a rt, a sign o f confidence and esteem, b u t both o f us are today concentrated and silent. It is w ith o u t d o u b t during this tim e o f apparent repose fro m th o u g h t th a t knowledge and lig h t w ill gather beneath our objective consciousness and w ill spring fo rth fro m o ur being, firs t in our conversation and, a little later, in the exceptional circumstances we w ill live through together.

I t is very necessary to give a name to my com panion and I decide th a t there cannot be any question o f giving h im HIS OWN name. No particu la r recom m endation has been given me by h im on this subject, b u t a n o n ym ity is an im p lic it rule in this kind o f adventure, fo r the stronger reason a name risks personalising the story and leading away fro m the in te n tio n . It is n o t the history o f a man which I w rite , it is the story o f a meeting, where he, like me, is nothing b u t an actor and n o t even in the leading role. Thus, my com panion cannot be anything else in these pages b u t a Christian name chosen at random

fro m a fleeting idea . . . . Robert, P hilip, Louis? What m atter! However it is necessary and th a t is w h y m y frie n d , I have baptised yo u JOHN.

That John's apartm ent is situated on one o f the celebrated hills o f Rome is not surprising and it is less surprising when one knows w ho John is th a t the " V ia " where this apartm ent is, is one o f the most desirable in Rome. I shall n o t describe this dwelling except to underline in a few words its discreet lu x u ry , composed o f a s im p lic ity and grandeur where one recognises in all circumstances and in every occasion th e im p rin t o f authentic n o b ility . Meanwhile, in his o ther residences, elsewhere in the w o rld , I shall later fin d everywhere th a t w hich I name to m yself "T h e Sign o f J o h n ". This sign I shall also see in the homes o f those w ho encompass him , at the home o f his children, certainly, b u t also at the homes o f those w h o serve him . F or example, this manservant w ho comes in an amiable manner to make sure we are alone in the d im ly lit lib ra ry where we have sat down, side by side, on a couch w ith glistening designs near an elegant w ritin g desk . . . .

A SECRET MEETING IN ROME

3

SECRETS A N D W ITCH CRAFT

" In the august lineage w hich, in o u r tim e, has grown d im b u t w hich f represent In spite o f everything, an irresistable a ttra ctio n fo r mystery has been transm itted fro m one generation to another and I am certainly not, in this regard, an e x c e p tio n ."

Does m y host intend to do all the ta lkin g during the tim e we are together? . . . I do n o t know . . . although I am disposed to listen o n ly and to learn. He speaks in a grave voice and the gestures w hich accompany certain words do not lack in grandeur. That which he goes on to a ffirm is n o t said in the guise o f an excuse. A confession, in whatever fo rm it is clothed, always begins w ith a d e fin itio n , more or less precise, o f self. John was not ignorant th a t the " o c c u lt" history o f his ancestors is well know n to me. Much is know n of it and perhaps a little more to me w ho has the privilege o f access to rare archives. So I w ill in te rru p t m y questioner as little as possible.

" . . . Power in this w o rld , p o litic a l, financial and even religious, concentrates in itse lf the desire o f a power still greater, fo r man is ever unsatisfied w ith his lo t. Power must have its com plem ent in power. The p o liticia n feels the need to dom inate the

financier, the financier is irresistably inclined to weigh all his gold against the p o litic ia n and as for the church, it aspires o ften, alas, to tem poral power and seeks the favour o f the politician and the financier. What a strange triangle, in tru th , where one o f the points can o nly fu n c tio n w ith the o ther tw o fo r its proper m anifestation! Now, these three points m y fa m ily has overcome and persevered fo r ages and a far greater compensating power was necessary to it placing itse lf beyond the tem poral triangle. From it has become w h a t I consider to day the quest, so to say, I have thus inherited. . .w ith the rest, and my privilege is assuredly n o t to have to go over th a t w hich was surm ounted before my tim e, a fter many gropings, mistakes, and even deviations such as one could q u a lify as " w itc h c r a ft" ."

These last words are accentuated w ith a smile w hich I share. John is silent fo r a few moments and I ask m yself a question. What is he leading to? I w ould have to ask myself the question very soon, b u t fro m ha b it, I am so curious o f others, so adventurous by

nature, so eager to share w ith others, th a t my idle soul refuses to anticipate. Meanwhile, all is at this strange p o in t in this adventure and in w hich is confided to me th a t questions emerge to m y consciousness and th a t I ask myself w hy and how I agreed to come here. However this man w ith the illu strio u s name, w ho o f course is nothing else in this story but "J o h n ", he was near M Y fo u n ta in at an unexpected tim e and, after a few words, received me in to his home, treated me as an old friend and that appeared to me norm al, coming fro m him . . . Once again my psychology astonishes me! Unless . . . Unless he A L R E A D Y had knowledge o f the Rosicrucian Order AM ORC and to confide in me w ould allay his restless hope. Why should I at b o tto m be surprised? I had recently arrived at

O rly, then w hile w aiting to embark, to say a few words to a very old passenger departing fo r another destination and suddenly to listen to him , during some minutes, speaking to me o f " c ry p tic secrets o f Is ta n b u l"! Why then should I be astonished at this adventure w hich I see at this m om ent!

I could n o t however avoid an inner start when m y com panion continued, seeming to reply to m y secret question.

" I have read a tte n tive ly all the docum entation concerning yo u r Order and I have been instructed in y o u r philosophy and y o u r tra d itio n , in particu la r w ith regard to the Rosicrucian Manual and the Sanctuary o f self. I could not. imagine meeting you this evening in Rome at this fo u n ta in . . . "

I in te rru p te d h im : " I t is M Y fo u n ta in , charged w ith m y memories, w ith m y thoughts, perhaps my doubts . . . "

" F o r m y part, it is the firs t tim e th a t I have stopped th e re ," he replied. " A fte r a late meal, I fe lt the necessity o f taking a w alk and m y steps to o k me there by chance . . . "

"B y chance?"

"Y o u are right. Do n o t let us seek to understand. We have m et and there is a profound purpose in everything. I believe you have come to me at the m om ent when the need has made itself fe lt. I am w ith in a few hours o f an IM P O R T A N T IN T E R V IE W in the quest o f w hat I have undertaken many years ago. Now, curiously I have been forewarned T H A T I W O U LD N OT COME A LO N E . . . and you are there! A few hours . . . It is you, assuredly, w hom I sought unconsciously near the fo u n ta in . . . A t last! Tim e presses. A llo w me to "Place m y s e lf" before you, allow me to unburden my soul o f ITS SECRETS A N D OF ITS W IT C H C R A F T ! I t is necessary th a t yo u should k n o w where m y quest has led me, fo r the level attained is fundam ental BECAUSE OF W H A T IS PREPARED FOR ME A N D FOR YOU . . . "

He rose and opening a drawer in the w ritin g desk w ith an engraved key taken o u t of his le ft pocket, he lifte d a rolled parchm ent w hich he handed to me saying: "R e a d ". I unrolled the slig h tly ye llo w docum ent and as well as having d iffic u lty in scrutinising the fin e penmanship and in decyphering certain ancient phrases. I am at the height o f

bew ilderm ent . . . I w ill n o t reproduce here the secret symbols nor the exact titles inserted below the main device (Text?). They have a very considerable im portance at the dawn o f these new times through w hich we are passing and T H E Y BELO NG TO "T H A T WHICH C O M ES". I w ill sim ply say th a t " the phoenix is reborn fro m his ashes" and TWO

a w o rld where A L L V A L U E S W IL L BE UPSET TO SUCH A DEGREE th a t no comparison w ill be possible between this tim e and th a t, and th a t, naturally, in the sense o f a G R E A T GOOD — and since I am in Rome, w ill I dare to reveal so soon th a t the fa ith fu l o f our epoch, if they still live, w ill have great d iffic u lty then to recognise th e ir ow n church? TW EN TY Y EA R S HENCE . . . and in te n tio n a lly I prolong the exp ira tio n by some years, b u t w hat is one year, tw o o r E IG H T years in an o u tlo o k so confused"?

The docum ent then reproduces tw o quatrains fro m the prophecies o f Nostradamus and here they are:

"W ho w ill open the discovered m onum ent and w ill n o t come to close it p ro m p tly Evil w ill come to him and w ill n o t prove

W hether it is b etter fo r Breton or Norman to be King When the w ritin g D.M. fo u n d

And the ancient cave has lamps discovered Law, King, and Prince Ulpian proved Royal pavillion and duke under co ve r." Im m ediately below these incom prehensible words

"N ile has source in Crypta Ferrata."

And at the b o tto m o f the parchm ent the incredible signature, made authentic by a cross spreading tow ards the extrem ities.

LOUIS. Tem plar . . . I made appeal w ith in myself to all the knowledge, transm itted or acquired, to all the in itia te power accorded o r m erited. I scrutinise the te x t and plunge my search in to my subconscious mem ory. I pick up several leads and liberated them to m y reasoning, b u t the road to solution is still n o t established . . .

N IL E has source in crypta ferrata! W hat does th a t Latin q u o ta tio n mean in relation to the river Nile? It is the firs t tim e I have seen such an association o f terms so c o n tra d icto ry. The Nile, o f course, — w ho does not kn o w it? — was venerated by the ancient Egyptians. It was the servant o f the Gods, the good genie. A t the tim e o f the pharoahs, it was said th a t Hapi lived in a g ro tto at the b o tto m o f the N ile, in the m iddle o f the firs t cataract. His nourishing fru itfu ln e ss earned him the breast o f an androgine. Those are com m on notions know n to all, and they invade my thoughts o f the m om ent

w ith o u t however enlightening me. Crypta? C ry p t, g ro tto . . . A h perhaps the legendary g ro tto o f Hapi? . . . b u t "fe rra ta ", iron, iron w indow . No lin k has ever been made between the g ro tto o f Hapi and an iron w in d o w , even if one adm itted in these fa r o f f times the u n like ly supposition th a t the Nile could have had its source in this g ro tto .

I no longer kn o w w h y, S U D D E N L Y , t th in k o f Osirian history and the cu lt o f Isis. We are in Rome. W ould it be so stupid to believe th a t there was here or in the surroundings a centre o f ancient in itia tio n ? IS NOT IN IT IA T IO N R E A D Y IN A L L THESE PLACES FOR THOSE WHO A R E R E A D Y TO SEE? It is then th a t there sprang to m y m ind THE HYPOTHESIS th a t the event was to ju s tify in a great part b u t my reasoning still did not recognise it. However IT IS T H A T ! IN T U IT IO N HAS SPOKEN! I have said it in o ther circumstances; I am a creature o f nocturnal habits, and I rejoice this night, to have agreed to keep awake. The talkative heaven has once more revealed to me its secret.

The w o rk in g o f m y m ind is certainly more rapid than the setting dow n o f the w ritte n explanation, and several m inutes have in re a lity been s u ffic ie n t fo r me to understand the parchm ent, reflect on its contents and return it to my host. He looked at me in te n tly and m urm ured;

"Have you understood?"

I replied: " I cannot be sure o f my in te rp re ta tio n . I naturally have an idea, b u t long m e ditation w ould be necessary to define a correct and above all a com plete solution. I must say, meanwhile, T H A T I KNOW A PLACE. IN THE O U T S K IR T S OF ROME . . . B ut I refuse to intervene u n til you have to ld me o f yo u r own in te rp re ta tio n . I w ould n o t wish to be a source o f confusion fo r you. A llo w me to listen to y o u ."

" A PLACE IN TH E O U T S K IR T S OF ROME! B ut . . . you are rig h t! How strange is ou r encounter. A h! Sir, yo u w ould n o t kn o w how to measure my inner jo y ! What an e xtraordinary universe where THE LAW manifests itself to the p o in t o f supposing th a t all is pre-established, then it is ourselves w ho, in observing the law and in applying it quite apart fro m our tru e selves, fo rm ou r destiny . . . OUR E X C E P T IO N A L M EETING S . . . In sh o rt! Here is the story and the conclusions I have drawn fro m i t . . .

" I have m entioned to you just now "SECRETS A N D W IT C H C R A F T ". This docum ent is one o f the secrets o f m y fa m ily and I shall confide in yo u others just as surprising, b u t where do yo u th in k the w itc h c ra ft is? This is so m ixed up in the secrets th a t m y explanation w ill contain bo th . I have spoken o f " w itc h c ra ft” and it is

true that, n o t long ago, TO KNOW, certain o f my people have been adepts . . . let us say, o u t o f respect, o f lesser theurgy. They sought and refused nothing, n o t even the aid o f

interested adventurers im puting to themselves the title o f Magi and impressing th e ir ignorant pupils by the unconsidered and anarchical em ploym ent o f form ulae o f a Kabal o f which they themselves knew nothing. I pass over the alchemical sw indling o f which certain relatives o f m ine were victim s. The sw indling was above all moral and it had its uses. I shall show you later on, in France, the private notes o f one o f my illustrious ancestors. I also pass over the black masses and other incantations w hich deceived the curious o f these times. I now come to the essentials: M Y F A M IL Y , IN SECRET. A L W A Y S SOUGHT FOR IT S E LF TH E ID E A L T E M P LA R . I cannot be more precise and I cannot, in particular, pretend th a t a R E A L A F F IL IA T IO N undeniably exists between the Order such as it was and over the period such as its knowledge has come A T LA ST TO ME. EVEN IF THIS WAS SO, I W O U LD REFUSE TO M A K E A CASE OF IT and I shall leave you then in d o u b t on this subject. It is n o t im p o rta n t anyway, it is n o t a fundam ental element fo r th a t w hich concerns us, you and me, im m ediately . . .

" \ must however state clearly that a little before the PUBLIC disappearance o f the

Order o f the Temple, one o f my ancestors at the age o f 11 years, had received fro m the Grand Master a particular u nction and th a t this u n ctio n is perpetuated right dow n to our days, FOR I M YSELF R EC E IV ED IT A T E LE V E N YEAR S OF AGE. Our times have conferred on me advantages w hich my predecessors were not able to enjoy. I have passed three years in India and in T ib e t and I have been a disciple o f the Sage Atamanda. A certain wisdom was com m unicated to me during this stay. A fte r that, I to o k part in the instruction o f o ther Masters, in the M iddle East and in the secret w o rld of Islam. In France I have passed through dangerous experiences, to o q u ic k ly classified as o ccu lt and FROM A L L T H A T I H AVE G A IN E D MUCH KNO W LED G E A N D IN N ER POWER BUT I H AVE NOT FOUND PEACE . . . A lth o u g h born a C hristian, my fa ith is universal. I practice, by

tra d itio n and respect fo r m y fa m ily, w ith o u t ceasing fo r one single instant to vibrate an

inte rio r rh yth m fo r a belief w hich I designate as "C o s m ic " . . . BUT I H A V E NOT FOUND PEACE, YET. A N D I SEEK IT HERE, KNO W IN G T H A T FOR ME IT IS HERE,

SOMEWHERE, and if you ask w h y, I reply th a t I do n o t kn o w . . . "

I rather wanted to say to him th a t this peace fo r w hich he sought is neither here nor there, but where he finds it, th a t is to say W IT H IN H IM S E LF. B ut I judged it preferable n o t to in te rru p t him , fo r he was above all speaking at this m om ent fro m his inner self.

"Somewhere! I believe I know where and it is there th a t I am going to seek it . . . This parchm ent w hich d uring the years, I have examined w ith o u t understanding the sense and w ith o u t evaluating its im p o rt is revealed to me IN ITS T R U T H , today exactly THREE years later. It required all this tim e fo r me to determ ine "th e m o m e n t", to define "th e w ritin g D .M .” and to place "th e ancient cave o f the lamp in the o p e n " THR EE YEA R S!

Could it be otherwise! The O TH ER indications o f the quatrains are applied more to me fo r having been at some tim e an enigma fo r the seeker th a t I am, and I have been no more surprised by the signature o f m y ancestor and the title he has used since IT IS MV ABS O LU TE R IG H T TO M A K E USE OF TH E SAM E, as it w ill be th a t my son and heir after me A N D HE H AS KNOWN IT SINCE HIS E L E V E N T H B IR T H D A Y . , .

" I f you share m y a ttra c tio n fo r the sym bolism o f numbers, remember again th a t it is eleven days since I received the " c a ll'', th a t it is T O D A Y (see the dawn is breaking), this night at E LEV E N o 'clo ck I am awaited w ith M Y COM PANIO N and this com panion, I cannot d o u b t it, IS Y O U ! W hat w ill the ONE say w ho must receive us? The coming n ig h t w ill teach us b e tte r than the hypothesis about w hich our thoughts w ould be able to u n fo ld the p lo t. Where? I believe th a t you have divined it and I am stupified tha t you have been able to arrive at i t . . .

"O h ! An association o f ideas has rem inded me o f a visit w hich I made, some tim e

ago, to the Abbey o f "

" . . . o f S aint-N ilo, and th a t is THE PLACE. I k n o w Rome and its o u tskirts as well as Paris and it has required TH R E E years to come to this p o in t. Let us say IT WAS W IL L E D , otherwise it w ould be absurd.

" N ilo . . . N ile! And one has made o f it N ile, a saint — S A IN T N IL O . I w ould love to read the biography o f this saint. I w o u ld be interested in i t . . . to kn o w the " b o d y " and the "p e rs o n a lity ” where an excess o f devotion has been able to reclothe the N ile to make o f it N ilo and reward him w ith Sainthood.

" I n any case, 'c ryp ta fe rra ta ’ designates the village of G ro tto fe rra ta w ith o u t any possible d o u b t. There is o n ly one in the w hole w o rld — and it is exceptional! The o n ly agglomeration bearing this name.

"T h u s, IN THE G R O TTO W IT H THE IR O N W IN D O W , THE N IL E HAS ITS SOURCE . . . The Nile, the land o f Egypt, the ancient in itia tio n . . .

“ I t is now tim e fo r us to separate. I shall accompany you to y o u r hotel. Rest during the day. We shall meet this evening at eight o 'clo ck. W ait fo r me in the hall . . . . "

I propose to take a ta xi, w hich w ould pe rm it him to retire at once, b u t he refuses and his pow erful dark Ferrari, in the calm o f a Roman evening, takes me q u ic k ly back to the Cavalieri H ilto n . In the lif t , tw o Am erican night birds, bachelors fo r the tim e being, return to th e ir ro o m . They suppose me to be t h e i r . . . accomplice and smile at me. A fte r

all, they have had t h e i r . . . experience and w ill remember the Roman "d o lce v ita " . I have also had my adventure and i t is equally an experience. Then, beyond them , it is to San NiJo th a t I send m y ow n smile. . . and o u r dreams, in a m om ent w ill be joined to ­ gether, pe rh a p s.. . .

A SECRET MEETING IN ROME

4

IN EXPECTATION OF THE NIGHT

I

wake up at tw o o 'clo ck in the a fternoon! Lucky th a t I am n o t o f the m orning, it is

a record fo r me w ith o u t precedent b u t I absolve m yself at once in th in k in g th a t the

coming night w ill allow me little sleep.

I

order my breakfast and I surprise nobody. In Rome, as in M adrid, one does not rise early . . . I w ould rather be born Roman than M adrilanian! The next tim e perhaps.

Q uite naturally my thoughts return to the preceding night, I promise never to relate such an adventure to anyone, and fo r all th a t, to d a y, I w rite it fo r a great number. True it is a com m on saying to say th a t tru th is stranger than fic tio n , in the emergency, I do not feel any need fo r such ju s tific a tio n . My Roman fo u n ta in , if I were a poet again and I had sung o f it, yo u r soul w ould have been able, reader, to k n o w the embrace and jo y o f the voluptuous secret.

I

am no longer a poet and

I

do n o t dedicate an ode to the Fountain of the Tortoise.

I

feel some jealousy in having had to reveal p u b licly in these pages, the love th a t I bear fo r it b u t I have n o t been able to do otherwise in order to be tru th fu l. It has been the meeting place and fro m it this adventure was born. Pardon my memories! I have o n ly betrayed my fo u n ta in . . .

To believe o r n o t to believe, to be o r n o t to be, the dilemm a is the same . . . This tale, I proclaim it T R U E ! For you, frie n d , may it be w hat you wish, b u t consider carefully y o u r ow n life, see if, o fte n , it is n o t interspersed w ith m ystery, and th a t w hich, fo r others

than yourself, w ould be im probable . . . in case you w ould tell it. Then m y im p ro b a b ility

w ould rejoin yours and b o th , the one fo r the other, w ill be T R U T H .

I shall speak in a m om ent o f the Abbey o f San N ilo and it is in this enchanting atmosphere th a t together we shall meet the C A R D IN A L IN W H IT E . It w ould have been wrong to present it otherwise than I have done. I was n o t p u t suddenly in his august presence. It is slow ly th a t I have been led near to him and it is thus th a t w ith an illustrious com panion, I have been to collect his message and draw fro m it a veritable spiritual p ro fit. I respect you to o much, reader, n o t to wish th a t you benefit yourself IN THE SAME C O N D ITIO N S AS M Y S ELF o f w hat I have learned fo r the enrichm ent o f my soul, and th a t is w hy I co n d u ct yo u to TH E EXPERIENCE exactly as I was myself. A h! if, at the tim e o f y o u r reading, YOU BECAME ME; if this story could be YOU RS; if, by light, I was able in these pages to be Y O U ; w h a t a sublime end w ould we have attained together, since I w o u ld have received and YOU W O U LD BE TH E IN IT IA T E ! . . .

"H a p i was living in a g ro tto at the b o tto m o f the Nile . . . HIS N O U R ISH IN G FR U IT F U LN E S S M A D E H IM W ORTH AN A N D R O G IN E B R E A S T ". Quite true, you know w hat the A ndrogine is. Again th a t o fte n one o n ly considers the principle fro m one p o in t o f view . . . let us say "b io lo g ic a l". I do not wish to make m yself the herald o f my ow n w ritings, b u t do yo u remember w h a t I w ro te in "th e couple and their problem s". You, man, you believe yourself to be a man, and you are woman ALSO . Y ou, woman, you believe yourself to be a woman and you are man ALSO . A ccording to yo u r sex, y o u r com plem entary masculine or fem inine part is IN Y O U R S E LF, at the level, if you wish, o f yo u r subconsciousness and IT IS FROM T H E IR R EFO U N D U N IT Y T H A T ONE D A Y W IL L SPRING FORTH YO U R R E A L IT Y .

Each being is com plete in him self and have you understood at last th a t this illusory w orld w hich surrounds you A N D IS N O T H IN G ELSE BUT W H A T YOU A R E , has no o th e r reason fo r being than to make you perceive and R EA LIS E Y O U R OWN U N IT Y ? . . .

Also remember the long alchemical monologue o f a Father Rosencreutz in the Secret Houses o f the Rose-Croix. He also, by his explanations, symbolised YOUR androgine. These are w ith o u t ceasing TH E SAME T H IN G S which are said to you w ith d iffe re n t words, in various circumstances, w ith a changing ceremonial. It w ill always be thus u n til the flash o f the awakening thunders w ith in you, and that w ill n o t be u n til the m om ent where having know n A L L , proved A L L , Mastered A L L , you w ill be ready, in a R E C E P T IV ITY w hich is n o t what you suppose as yet. You w ill then understand th a t ONE WORD was su fficie n t, o r rather ONE a ttitu d e , or sim ply ONE gesture. D IV E R S IT Y was necessary fo r you to recover U N IT Y and th a t was inescapable. There is no quick way. It is necessary to fo llo w the h o rizo n ta l line and then the vertical in order th a t they rejoin at the proper tim e and at th e ir intersection the rose o f YOUR reality flourishes, forg o tte n b u t N EVER lo s t . . .

The Cardinal in W hite has o ther revelations to transm it to us. Y ou foresee that, by his voice, THE TEM PLE w ill teach us and y o u r presentim ent is ju stifie d . . .

Besides, the tim e has come and the w aiting is over. In a few moments it w ill be eight o 'clo ck. Come . . . He w ho comes is n o t o f those one can keep w aiting.

5

THE ABBEY OF SAN NILO

Some th irty kilom etres fro m Rome . . . the Abbey o f S aint-N ilo! at G ro tto fe rra ta , the Italian version o f the ancient cryp ta ferrata, the g ro tto or c ry p t w ith the iron w in d o w s . . . the A bbey, has it conferred its name on the village, or on the co n tra ry, in selecting the place, gathered its history and its name? My soul has chosen to th ro w itself on an assault o f the past and dig in it fo r remains in order to atte m p t to extra ct fro m it the true secret, and here is w hat I saw . . .

I see advancing towards these solitary places, in the night, the solemn procession o f the fo rg o tte n wisdom gathering together around the g ro tto the postulants to the mysteries. The g ro tto on the outside, w ith in becomes the c ry p t whose altar is the heart where three lighted candles p o u r o u t in silence th e ir waxen tears.

The shadow o f the Master w ho awaits falls on the circular wall in m u ltip le silhouettes w hich occasionally die in the obscurity behind the iron bars o f non-existent windows. Is it the sacred w ailing o f Isis o r the psalmody o f Eleusis w hich here strikes the echo of the eternal tra d itio n ? In an instant, resigned to the gesture o f the supplication and guided by the one w ho has elected him and judged him w o rth y , the in itia te , bending low , w ill cross the narrow d oorw ay, and descending seven steps, and suddenly before the in itia to r, he w ill fa ll to his knees, his hands clasped on the altar, his head on his hands, ready to die or to live as the sage in w h ite decides, w ho, in this instant, reads his soul to the smallest detail . . . Then, the mantle o f lig h t descends on the in itia te , fo r the master has extended his hands over him . . . and the G R E A T LESSON is learned; death and life are ONE. There is o n ly PER M AN EN CE, One does n o t die nor does one live; ONE IS and o n ly the w o rk in g o f the m ind creates the a rtific ia l d is fu n c tio n o f life and death, o f anim ation or inertia, in a w orld where man dreams in an illusion w hich he believes is life u n til the sublime instant where, the veil is to rn , e te rn ity and consciousness w ith o u t aspect BECOMES KNOW N.

The in itia te rises again now p o w e rfu l, b u t W ITH POWER. He has not obtained any rig h t to the tru th not tru th itself. HE IS T R U T H and the Master, u p rig h t before him , in his im maculate robe, is no longer another b u t H IM -S E LF, the in itia to r and the in itia te now manifest the same inseparable T R U T H , TH E U N IQ U E w ord w hich has been pronounced, the three sounds w hich have been e m itte d , the seven gestures w hich the fingers have accomplished, all th a t is shaded o ff in a cloud w hich the consciousness fo r EVER A FT E R awakened dissolves . . . a postulant has recently entered, the in itia te goes o u t towards the w o rld . . . the "c ry p ta fe rra ta " has fu lfille d its w o rk o f w isdom : it has liberated a man fro m his earthly ties and has loaded him w ith fetters o f freedom fo r the service o f h u m a n ity.

Thus, the monks, w ho, in the Abbey o f S aint-N ilo, render to the creator a cu lt recognised here by the Catholic Church, b u t w hich in o ther places one w ould call

" o rth o d o x " , and observe a s trict oriental rite as much by their ecclesiastical robes and their physical appearance, whose long beard one knows is a distinctive element, as by th e ir furnishings, the icons, and the diverse phases o f th e ir ceremonies. These monks, w ith o u t know ing it, perpetuate, in th e ir e m o tio n provoking chapel, the m em ory o f an ancient in itia tio n and prolong the beneficent e ffe ct on those w ho come to these places, the simple fa ith fu l o r the in itia te d pilgrim .

I shall always remember my firs t visit to the Abbey o f S aint-N ilo. My Roman friend had conducted me there, so to say by surprise, know ing th a t he w ould thus add to me inner enchantm ent. It was a Sunday and the monks were celebrating th e ir own very attractive service. I was at the same tim e impressed by the unforgettable atmosphere which impregnated each stone o f the church whose style was very d iffe re n t fro m th a t w hich the tru ly catholic church o f Ita ly offered fo r comparison. I seemed to be abru p tly transported to some oriental church, and I experienced no astonishment, once inside, in assisting at the sacred pageantry o f an o rth o d o x service. I had a presentim ent then tha t I w ould one day learn something HERE b u t I natu ra lly did n o t kn o w the nature o f w hat w ould be revealed to me.

However it remains in m y m em ory th a t on leaving these pleasant places we were plunged extra-m urally in to an atmosphere o f the market place. It was m arket day and the greater part o f the merchants were o ffe rin g the fru its o f th e ir harvest to the passers by. W ith o u t reflecting very m uch, I came to a halt before a stall w ith tools fo r the garden. I bought a little wooden fo rk w ith three prongs, quite inoffensive, and I offered it to my friend w ho accepted it laughingly and placed it im m ediately on the back seat o f his c a r . . . N ow one w ill see it is a utensil very sim ilar, although smaller, w hich I shall soon perceive on the le ft hand side o f the w ritin g table o f HIM w hom m y friend now reveres as the Cardinal in W hite. A ll is sacred, even the pebble w hich a careless fo o t displaces in the course o f a w a lk! To distinguish the sacred value o f an object supposedly profane is one stage and n o t the least on the Path. The fo rk w hich one used fo r eating is fo rg o tte n in the autom atism o f movement and habit. Is it not meanwhile the essential instrum ent

employed to o ffe r a S A C R IF IC E , bearer o f v ita lity , to the body, SACRED cathedral o f a soul in quest o f itself? and is n o t th a t b u t an example?

Today, anew, sees me at the Abbey o f S aint-N ilo, and fo r him w ho accompanies me, it is the end o f a long inner search. We go to discover together A SECRET. For him , assuredly, this secret is THE secret in his completeness o f the mom ent. W ill I dare to a ffirm th a t this w ill be fo r me ONE secret after many others? In this case, our meeting has an end more far reaching and this discovery mastered, m y role — more p a rticu la rly th a t

o f our Order — w ill begin fo r him . The fu tu re w ill indicate the tim e . . . and I m u rm u r: "So Mote It Be."

We have arrived and then the darkness o f the n ig h t descended a fte r a dusk whose ra p id ity made sport o f our rapid journey in the q u ie t Roman countryside. My companion was driving, his gaze fixe d on the assumed road, b u t his thoughts, I fe lt, were echoing w ith mine. It was o n ly at the entrance to G rottogerrata th a t he had m urm ured: We are there " and I could add nothing more to the pointless remark than, "S o we are."

The m arket place seemed deserted and any way it is early in the season. It is true th a t television, here as in o th e r places, has transform ed habits. Then, passively, one sinks deeper and deeper w ith in oneself and one is more than ever, perhaps more, separated fro m others. We have n o t entered the gateway. The car is parked at the fo o t o f the road. It is on fo o t th a t we shall go to the A bbey close b y, a massive shadow form ed there, before us, in a sky fu ll o f clouds. John has quite co rre ctly th o u g h t th a t to break the silence o f these places where we were secretly awaited w ould arouse the c u rio s ity o f some o f the monks and compromise o ur undertaking. He has n o t received any precise orders and these questions were le ft to his judgem ent w hich could o n ly be o f goodness and grandeur. The tim e o n ly was fixed and it was o n ly five minutes to the appointed h o u r o f eleven o'clock. We hastened o ur steps, the shadow became darker and darker. Here we are beyond the gateway, here we are in the vast co u rtya rd , then near the church and . . . someone approaches us, as if emerging fro m the night o f a neighbouring colum n. It is a m onk in his dark robe, his hat th ru st d o w n on his long dark hair and his beard added to the severity o f his young face where, alone, lived his b rillia n t dark eyes:

" F o llo w m e."

The door o f the church is h a lf open. He enters firs t, and ha rd ly daring to breathe, we enter in o u r tu rn . . .

On the occasion o f y o u r n ext visit to Ita ly , it is in this extra o rd in a ry church o f G ro tto fe rra ta th a t I suggest to yo u th a t yo u give yourself over to the deepest o f

m editations. If you fin d yourself there at the tim e when the o rth o d o x service is perform ed, take part in it w ith all y o u r being. Analyse each move o f the o ffic ia n ts A N D SEE

B EYO ND . Beyond the icons, perceive THE IN T E N T IO N . Transport yourselves by means o f the ritu a l, TO TH E V IB R A T O R Y P LA N E TO W HICH THESE PLACES P E R M IT YOU TO A T T A IN . Y ou w ill be bathed in the ONENESS and in the U N IT Y and yo u w ill have, fo r some moments, perceived in yourself THE IN T E G R A L R E A L IT Y OF TH E COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS. B ut before this p a rticip a tio n in the rite , tr y to realise intensely W H AT

THIS CENTRE REPRESENTS IN TH E H IS TO R Y OF THE T R A D IT IO N . The 'crypta ferrata' fo r you w ill remain U N K N O W N . It exists meanwhile, SECRET, FO R G O TTE N , DISOW NED and it is fro m it th a t these places have T H E IR POWER.

It is to t h i ' c ry p t th a t m y illustrious com panion and myself are conducted at this mom ent. Why must we, in o rder to arrive there, to pass by A T FIRST, this sacred enclosure, where in the ob scu rity, the red, flic k e rin g flame w hich symbolises THE

PRESENCE, shines in the background.

We have stopped fo r scarcely the tim e o f a prayer, the m onk between us, w ho had taken ou r hand and almost as q u ic k ly released it — I o n ly understood later this gesture o f p o w e r. . . we go forw ard again in silence, inside and o u t, like a m inute in heaven, and the

narrow doorw ay appeared suddenly before us; a little d o o r set in a low and enormous doorw ay w hich, by reason o f the im m ensity fro m the o ther side, awaits ou r littleness.

My hands are clasped over my heart w hich does n o t feel any fear. I experienced meanwhile a sensation which I kn o w w ell, since it is a privilege o f my position, o f my fu n c tio n ; my eyes seem to trem ble fro m " w ith in " at the level o f my neck and ears, a scarcely p e rc e p t'ile quivering begins and I KNOW th a t fro m this m om ent THE EXC H AN G E HAS BEEN M AD E „nd th a t m y psychic being, my true self, has taken CO N TR O L. I am fro m th a t m om ent myself and a little more, th a t is to say, in the state w hich I have always designated in my personal term inology under the name o f T O T A L and where, w ith o u t losing the fa c u lty o f reasoning and discrim in a tio n , the consciousness impregnates every sentim ent fe lt and every sensation perceived, at the same tim e th a t the being lives and knows the universal diapason o f the absolute.

The m onk opens the d oor, and w ithdraw s slightly to allow us to pass. Bowed dow n, we cross the threshold and here we are, my com panion and I, he on the second step and I on the firs t o f this stone stairway w hich descends towards th a t w hich we know nothing and a w a it. . . the unforeseen. The m onk closes the d o o r behind us, the vigilant guardian, silent and discreet w atcher, he w ill keep guard outside the portal u n til our return. FOR US, T IM E IS NO LO N G ER , TH E W O R LD HAS BECOME S IL E N T . . . A T TH E "OPEN SES A M E " OF OUR IN N E R APPEAL, TH E CRYPT IS OPENED . . . A N D THE WISE M AN IS T H E R E . WHO REG ARDS US IN T E N T L Y .

A SECRET MEETING IN ROME

6

THE CARDINAL IN WHITE

The c ry p t is really a g ro tto . A t least it ought to be such fro m the beginning, at th a t long ago epoch where the postulant came to receive the lig h t in the fo rm dispensed at th a t tim e. One still perceives the openings w hich n o t long ago had an iron grating, b u t they have all been fille d in w ith the exception o f one. The door by w h ich we entered should itself be one o f the w indow s, w hich w ould explain its reduced dimensions.

We had to descend eleven steps, c u t in to the rock at certain spots, so rough, th a t it seemed to co n stitu te one more obstacle to overcome. B ut fro m the firs t steps, on glancing below to the rig h t o f the staircase in to the c ry p t, I have been struck by th e extraordinary sight w hich was offered to o u r eyes and the hesitation, q u ic k ly overcome by my

com panion, marked also his surprise . . .

The g ro tto is o n ly lighted by three torches supported by rings sealed in the wall — one to rc h at the end, another at the le ft and the last on the opposite side. In the m iddle of the c ry p t, w hich was seen to be circular, d ire c tly below the well supported arch, w hich we were near, is a rectangular block o f granite w orked by human hands and covered

th ro u g h o u t its length by a spotless clo th in the centre o f w hich a great cross o f metal glitters. To the le ft o f the cross, on this w ritin g table, on this altar, is placed a large wooden coffer and it is to th e rig h t th a t I see th a t w hich resembles a fo rk w ith three fla t teeth.

On the side opposite to us, p ro m in e n t w ith the w h ite c lo th , a red w ritin g pad and alongside a sword w ith an ornam ental grip placed h o riz o n ta lly at the very fo o t o f the cross. B ut all th a t IS N O T H IN G , scarcely a furnishing w hich m ight blend harm oniously w ith the arrangement o f this strange place w hich one w o u ld call a cavern, w hich is a g ro tto and its fu n c tio n invested w ith the sacred character o f a c ry p t — NOT A T A L L , because everything here appears to be n othing else than the background o f him , seated before the w ritin g desk w hich I prefer to call the A lta r, his arms resting on the arm chair w ith a rounded back, whose eyes never le ft us w hile we descended tow ards him .

HE IS T H E R E , P ALE , HIS H EAD A N D FACE S H A V E D , H IE R O P H A N T , and HIS IM M O B IL IT Y IS SUCH, HIS B E A R IN G SO N O B LE , T H A T ONE W O U LD H A V E S AID HE WAS A S TA TU E WERE IT NOT T H A T HIS EYES WERE SO A L IV E . Over the ample w h ite robe, a cross o f a red colour, near the heart, is a stigmata w hich designates the rank, the q u a lity o f him w ho wears it and whose collar o f interlaced rings supporting a seal reveal a fu n c tio n . . . N o t once during the course o f ou r interview did he m ention the title or the responsibilities he was able to assume.