Attending the Gnostic Mass

The Gnostic Mass was written by Aleister Crowley in 1913 and is the central public and private ceremony of O.T.O.

Gnostic Masses are held regularly at many O.T.O. bodies. They are performed under the auspices of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, the Gnostic Catholic Church, which is the ecclesiastical arm of O.T.O. A copy of the text of the ritual is available with annotations online.

What will it be like?

The Gnostic Mass is similar in structure to the Mass of the Eastern Orthodox Church. However, the comparison ends there, as the Gnostic Mass is a celebration of the principles of Thelema. It is quite a formal ritual but also a very beautiful one.

During the ritual there will be incense burning, this will usually be Frankincense or Abramelin. If you have any sensitivity to incense or any breathing difficulties, please let the local body that you are attending know in advance. If at any point during the ritual you find yourself in any difficulty, please alert one of the robed members of the church and/or leave the room immediately. Please do not suffer in silence.

What will I have to do?

The Gnostic Mass is a group participatory ritual and you are therefore expected to participate fully if you wish to attend. There are a few things to be read out, for which you will be provided a missal to read from, and a few gestures to perform with the rest of the congregation.

Before the Mass starts, the Deacon, who will be wearing white and yellow, will explain to everyone how to perform the gestures in the ritual. The Deacon is the person to look to throughout to show you what to do next. If you get lost at all, watch the Deacon or copy another person in a white robe as they are the confirmed members of the church who will have done it before. And do not worry, everyone was new to the ritual once!

There are some portions that require the congregation to stand up and sit down. If you have any difficulties in standing for long periods or moving from a standing to sitting position, please do what you feel comfortable with and do not feel that you must cause yourself discomfort in order to participate. There is also a section that requires the congregation to kneel with their hands above their heads. This is usually a little uncomfortable for many people but if it is causing you significant pain then please return to your seat. If you are unable to kneel for any reason then it is perfectly acceptable for you to remain seated.

Towards the end of the ritual, all attendees will be expected to take Communion unless the Mass is being performed for a Wedding, Baptism, or Confirmation.

What will I have to say?

All of the wording for the Congregation will be detailed in the missal that you will be issued with before entering the temple. You will be asked to read out the Creed of the church and participate in the Anthem. If you have any questions or concerns about this then please ask before entering the temple.

What is Communion?

Taking Communion in the Gnostic Mass enables the energy that has been created throughout the ritual to be distributed amongst the Congregation. To do this you will be expected to drink a small glass of wine and eat a Cake of Light.

If you do not drink alcohol for any reason, please indicate this to the Deacon before the ritual begins who will ensure there is an alternative present for you.

The Cakes of Light contain the following six ingredients:

  1. Meal (any ground edible grain, often wheat)
  2. Honey
  3. Leavings of red wine
  4. Oil of Abramelin (a blend of cinnamon, myrrh, galangal and olive oils)
  5. Olive oil
  6. One of the following:
    • Livestock blood obtained legally from a butcher shop or a farm
    • Ash from Cakes of Light made according to any reasonable interpretation of CCXX III:23 and which have been burned in accordance with CCXX III:25.

If you are unable to eat any of these ingredients, please inform the Deacon before entering the temple. Please be aware that pregnant women should not take Communion as Oil of Abramelin may have an abortive effect.

How long will it be?

The Mass will last about one hour.

What should I wear?

There are no specific requirements of dress for those attending the mass before they have been Baptised and Confirmed. In order to receive Confirmation, a white robe must be worn and we request that all confirmed members wear a white robe to Masses from then on. Please do not wear a white robe if you have not received the sacrament of Confirmation.

Generally, it is a good idea to wear something that you are comfortable in and not too restrictive so that you are able to concentrate on the ritual.

How can I become a confirmed member of the church?

You do not have to be a full member of the church in order to attend the Gnostic Mass. If you would like to become a member, this is done through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. These sacraments are performed as part of special Gnostic Masses, and are open to non-O.T.O. initiates.

To be baptised you just need to find two confirmed members of the Church to sponsor you, there are no other special requirements. To be confirmed you must have been baptised into the E.G.C, have memorised the Gnostic Creed, and bring a white robe with you. If you would like more information about either of these sacraments please contact one of the officers of your local body of O.T.O.

What should I bring?

It is not required that you bring anything with you. There may be occasions where the group is sharing food that they have brought, though you are certainly not required to do so, and you should be informed of this in advance. If you have been invited to an event where feasting has been specified, please do inform others of any food allergies or specific dietary requirements you may have.

Please note that sharp blades are absolutely not allowed at any O.T.O. event including the Gnostic Mass so please do not bring anything like this to any event. This is also the case for any other illegal items, particularly illegal drugs.

We also do not allow anyone under the age of 18 at any of our meetings or events.

Can I bring someone with me?

Gnostic Masses are usually open to all adults who wish to attend, by invitation from the local body. If you wish to attend, you may contact the local body that is hosting the event to request an invitation. Guests are always very welcome, though please contact the Local Body before bringing anyone else along.

Who should I ask if I have more questions?

You can contact the Local Body by email.

At a Gnostic Mass, you can normally recognise the confirmed members of the church by their white robes. If you have any questions, concerns, or need to know where the toilet is on the day, please ask any one of them.