I had originally considered that this week's readings would draw from the Torments of Longinus, the second book within the Testament. Upon further reflection I have instead decided to draw from the third book within the Testament, The Rule of Golgotha. Golgotha 3 in its entirety is a tremendous source of information on this subject. I will draw a few short selections from it though and leave it to others to read more on their own.
Thus the Dark Father spake: that what you once were is not what you now are.
As a mortal is a sheep, so are the Damned wolves among them. That role
is defined by nature — wolves feed on their prey, but they are not cruel to
them. The role of predator is natural, even if the predator himself is not.
These words begin Golgotha 3. These words set the stage for what is said thereafter. It begins to offer us the mindset that we must adopt in regards to both ourselves and our prey. The statements that follow are each important, yet it is vital that we understand they spring from this statement.
We are not what we were. We are apart from mortals. That we feed upon them is natural and proper. We must not be cruel though, simply fulfilling our part in God's plan.
Man is like unto the angels with his faculties and compassion. As we were
once men, we have these qualities at hand in every undertaking. We can
show the rich their poverty, we can show the powerful their weakness, we
can show the healthy their decay, and we can show the pious their hypocrisy.
To all men we can show the misery and depredation of the physical
world, so that their souls may yearn more intensely for the kingdom that
may be theirs, through the grace of God.
When we choose our prey, part of our obligation is to offer a reminder of the eternity ahead in exchange for the ephemeral present that we take away. Our predation is not blind, but calculated. Our prey should be chosen with care and the nature of our approach to each fitted to remind them of the temporary nature of this world and of the glory that lays before them if they are but willing to seize it.
You shall not feed on children, for a child may sin but they are sins of ignorance,
not of willful submission to evil. A child must be allowed to grow
to the age of maturity so that his sins will be his own and his responsibility
shall be full.
This is the first of the bans that are laid out in this chapter. It is a logical outgrowth of the purpose of our predation as is the next ban, that against feeding upon the simple or mad. If our predation is to steer our prey to salvation, we can not feed upon those who can not learn from our ministration. Our feeding, while necessary for ourselves, is about the future prospect of our prey and to waive that in feeding upon one who is by their nature ignorant or unknowing, we serve nothing but ourselves. That is not our place.
Thank the Lord your God when you feed, and ask for his blessing on the Vitae
claim to fulfill your anointed purpose.
Feed justly, and with discretion. Feed for hunger and feed for joy. Remember
always you are the hunter and devourer of mankind.
These are the closing words of Golgotha 3. We must always recall, even in the ecstasy of feeding, that we serve a higher purpose. At our best we can but hope to glorify God. The vitae we take is a blessing that allows us to carry on and a task that must always be part of the great duty that rests with each of us. Let us be thankful for that blessing and diligent in our administration of our mandate.
Sum Sanctus,
Simon Patterson
Augustus Inquisitor de Lacus Magni
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