Firmitas
Firmitas
Tenacity of purpose.
This virtue, is a virtue of being unshakable. A person with firmitas in his heart can endure just about any hardship, any loss, and any inconvienience to get what he desires. Even more impressive is that the person with a firm heart won’t be tempted to leave his purpose for any reward either.
Firmitas is best explained by the story of the Oddessy. Oddesius was perpared to lose everything to get home. No danger was too great — the man was going home. Even when a minor godess tried to woo him, Odessius would except nothing else but his own home.
Today, we’re used to creature comforts. We want 150 channels of cable, a fast computer, and air conditioning set at 65′F. Take any of our “stuff” away, and we complain. I mean why should we have to put up with basic cable just so that we can get educated. What, give up girl’s night out to study? Never. Yet unless you pass through the difficulties, you can’t win the reward. And as far as standing up for what you believe in — we only do so in the safe way. Nothing will be lost, no risk is taken, and it’s not going to be hard work.
But really, I don’t think you can get much of value without in some way sticking your neck out. If we’d never taken risks, we’d still live in caves. We’d live off the land because farming was too risky, we wouldn’t treat disease the way we would today — developing it took risks too. Name any modern invention and there are 1000 risks taken, and 100,000 hours of hard work behind it.
So have Firmitas, omnes. It’s really the only way to build and keep a civilization.
Dignitas
Dignitas
“Dignity” A sense of self-worth, personal pride
Dignity is as the definition says a sense of self worth. Now mind you this is not the kind of self worship that we see in modern society, in which you are it on a stick. It’s the self worth that says “I am a child of the Gods, just like everyone is, and I deserve respect”. Now I do differ from the ancients in that I don’t think you can have healthy dignitas if you can’t recognize that others have the same dignitas for the same reasons, namely that the Gods want us here.
In Roman mythology, we are all considered to be decended from the stones thrown by Duecalon and Phyrra after the Flood. According to the myth, the Gods told Phyrra to “throw the bones of their mother” (rocks) behind them, and this is where the modern batch of humans came from. Considering that the gods ordered our creation post-flood, we should consider ourselves worthy of respect. Another thing about this myth is that we all have the same origin. No matter your race, nationality or creed, you are lapides men of stone.
Stone is a hard substance, not prone to breaking easily. It is formed in heat and pressure. I think personally that’s how we work best — our characters are formed by heat and pressure until we become exactly what we’re supposed to be. A soft life, in my mind tends to produce soft people who won’t be able to handle real hardship. But being able to handle yourself and live up to your own worth is the essence of dignitas. Dignitas is the virtue of living up to your self worth, demanding that you act in a manner worthy of your ancestory and you spiritual ancestory.
Clementia
Clementia
“Mercy” Mildness and gentleness.
Mercy is a popular virtue, at least on paper. Everybody wants to be Merciful, gentle and forgiving. At least until someone hurts you or yours. Then it’s time for revenge.
Yet without Clementia, most of us would end up on someone’s “list” either for saying or doing something stupid. Not always intentially hurting others. Yet someone was wronged and they want to punish the offenders. Now to get something straight before we continue, Clementia doesn’t mean that the law cannot punish someone for violating a law, that’s chaos, and no society can survive the chaos of allowing laws to be continually broken without doing something about it. What Clementia asks is that we don’t take the law into our own hands and injure those who have hurt us.
Another thing that Clementia asks on a society is that it at least consider the position of the criminal in any crime. Sometimes crimes are commited because the person was coerced into doing the deed. Sometimes out of fear or deperation. To simply kill because they acted in self preservation is not Clementia. Now if you commit a crime for fun, money or revenge, you aren’t entitled to Clementia. It isn’t a “get out of jail free card”, just a reason that the courts should look at the punishments it gives out.
Comitas
“Humour” Ease of manner, courtesy, openness, and friendliness.
This is one of the great things that the ancients got absolutely right. We tend to think that *I* am what matters, that it’s all based on the individual, personal preferences. It’s not really, no matter how much you may wish it were so. You are a part of a family, a city, a state, and a nation. You have to live in such a way that you get along with other members of each group. That might mean biting your tongue rather than saying something that will do nothing more than upsetting others. Telling all, while it may be “honest”, is not always the best answer, because at times the truth can be hurtful with no possibility to do any good whatsoever.
The overemphasis on Individualism came from the Protestant Reformation. The basic idea was that a man was responsible for his own salvation (via Christianity) and that he could read the scriptures for himself (Christian Scriptures, obviously). Now while it started as a good thing — you can interpret the world for yourself, and in fact, IMO the Gods demand it — it has gone way too far in so many arenas that it has become unrecognizable. What the Reformation didn’t mean was “I’ll do whatever I want, whenever I want to, and I’ll shove it right under your nose no matter what you think about it”. They wanted you to form your own conscience within the community, and to use that conscience to make society better. It isn’t an invitation to force things on others. I personally agree with gay marriage, however, I would most certainly not want the power of the state or the lawsuit to force Catholics (who, for religious reasons oppose gay marriage) to perform Gay Marriage Masses. Fortunately, it seems that that isn’t the case. But forcing others to agree with your interpretation of the world denies them their right of conscience. I have the right to express my opinions, and the right to say that you’re wrong, but not to force things. Revolutions, especially violent ones are far too disruptive to society.
Authoritas
“Spiritual Authority” The sense of one’s social standing, built up through experience, Pietas, and Industria.
This virtue is one of the ones that I personally think is somewhat missing in American society at large. We want without ever earning or having any right to the power and authority that we try to take on ourselves.
It’s human nature that we all want to be “chiefs” as it were. In paganisms, it would probably be the High-Priest(ess). Chiefs get all the authority to do whatever they want. You probably work for a “chief” — your boss who gets to decide what you’ll do during the day. So people naturally want to be the “chief” in some area or another. But a “chief” with no knowledge or experience can get in way over their head.
That’s why the Romans believed in Authoratas being connected to to things — the virtue of Industria (hard work), and the virtue of Pietas (Loyalty, Dutifulness). Without working hard to achieve the right to “chiefdom”, in whatever sphere of life, you won’t be able to carry out the office as well as someone who has. This is why most professions require a college degree — it would be bad for society as a whole if someone could simply claim the title of doctor, lawyer, plumbler, etc. without knowing what they’re doing. Of course simple head knowledge is not enough. You have to be loyal and dutiful to your community, and to the Dii and the Numina. You don’t live in a vacuum. Unless you’re a hermit, you live in or near a city, you have family, friends, co-workers, and so on that you live near. If you want to be a leader of people, work for their best interests. Leadership is not the place to indulge in narcisism and personal whim. You have to be able to serve your people, to get along with friends and family, and to respresent your “tribe” (however you might define it) with honor and dignity.
Virtues
Virtues are the ethical bounds of Roman Paganism. Every subject of the Roman Empire was expected to show these virtues in their lives. As time passes, I hope to be able to deal with each virtue in more detail, but for now, I will simply list them.
“Spiritual Authority” The sense of one’s social standing, built up through experience, Pietas, and Industria.
Comitas
“Humour” Ease of manner, courtesy, openness, and friendliness.
Clementia
“Mercy” Mildness and gentleness.
Dignitas
“Dignity” A sense of self-worth, personal pride.
Firmitas
“Tenacity” Strength of mind, the ability to stick to one’s purpose.
Frugalitas
“Frugalness” Economy and simplicity of style, without being miserly.
Gravitas
“Gravity” A sense of the importance of the matter at hand, responsibility and earnestness.
Honestas
“Respectibility” The image that one presents as a respectable member of society.
Humanitas
“Humanity” Refinement, civilization, learning, and being cultured.
Industria
“Industriousness” Hard work.
Pietas
“Dutifulness” More than religious piety; a respect for the natural order socially, politically, and religiously. Includes the ideas of patriotism and devotion to others.
Prudentia
“Prudence” Foresight, wisdom, and personal discretion.
Salubritas
“Wholesomeness” Health and cleanliness.
Severitas
“Sternness” Gravity, self-control.
Veritas
“Truthfulness” Honesty in dealing with others.
Public Virtues
Abundantia
“Abundance, Plenty” The ideal of there being enough food and prosperity for all segments of society.
Aequitas
“Equity” Fair dealing both within government and among the people.
Bonus Eventus
“Good fortune” Rememberance of important positive events.
Clementia
“Clemency” Mercy, shown to other nations.
Concordia
“Concord” Harmony among the Roman people, and also between Rome and other nations.
Felicitas
“Happiness, prosperity” A celebration of the best aspects of Roman society.
Fides
“Confidence” Good faith in all commercial and governmental dealings.
Fortuna
“Fortune” An acknowledgement of positive events.
Genius
“Spirit of Rome” Acknowledgement of the combined spirit of Rome, and its people.
Hilaritas
“Mirth, rejoicing” An expression of happy times.
Iustitia
“Justice” As expressed by sensible laws and governance.
Laetitia
“Joy, Gladness” The celebration of thanksgiving, often of the resolution of crisis.
Liberalitas
“Liberality” Generous giving.
Libertas
“Freedom” A virtue which has been subsequently aspired to by all cultures.
Nobilitas
“Noblility” Noble action within the public sphere.
Ops
“Wealth” Acknowledgement of the prosperity of the Roman world.
Patientia
“Endurance, Patience” The ability to weather storms and crisis.
Pax
“Peace” A celebration of peace among society and between nations.
Pietas
“Piety, Dutifulness” People paying honor to the gods.
Providentia
“Providence, Fortethought” The ability of Roman society to survive trials and manifest a greater destiny.
Pudicita
“Modesty, Chastity.” A public expression which belies the accusation of “moral corruptness” in ancient Rome.
Salus
“Safety” Concern for public health and wellfare.
Securitas
“Confidence, Security” Brought by peace and efficient governance.
Spes
“Hope” Especially during times of difficulty.
Uberitas
“Fertility” Particularly concerning agriculture.
Virtus
“Courage” Especially of leaders within society and government.
I put the public virtues in the same post as the private virtues for a reason: As a fairly small “tribe” among Pagan Religions, any dealings will by their nature reflect on the individual, but on the Religio as a whole. If I’m a jerk to non-Romans, it will harm the rest of us. This isn’t too far off of how most ancients saw things — in most cases, the actions of the individual were believed to reflect not only on him but on his family. Individualism on the scale of the modern world would have been strange to them.
Hello world!
Hello World, or so the saying goes. I’m Caeia Iulia Regilia, a Roman Pagan revivalist. I’m going to use this blog to explain a bit of Paganism from a Revivalist perspective.
First off, you may be wondering what a Revivalist is. To put the matter simply, Revivalism is mostly interested in making their path accessable to outsiders. We try to be reasonably historically accurate, but the truth is that we live in a modern world almost 2000 years removed from the last native followers of any Paganist Religion. We can’t simply undo those years, the cultural changes, or the lack of institutions by wishful thinking.
For example, there is no infrastructure to allow for large processions through a major city street on major feast days (something common in the Greco-Roman world), so it seems that the best solution is to either process through a temple or a park, or about a shrine. The old methods of divination are not well understood, so more modern methods such as Runes, Tarot cards, or scrying should be perfectly acceptable.
That doesn’t mean throwing everything out, however. We still believe the Old Stories. We read the epics of our chosen culture, and try to live by the ethics taught by these stories. We aren’t Wiccans, we pray to the Gods, we sponde, sacrifice, and pray to the Gods. Magicks are simply not a major part of what we do. Wicca is something different in my mind then ancient Pganisms, mostly a revival of Pan-Pagan spirit in a Christianized era.
