Codex of Rites

Anointment of the Faithful

In Thalassian culture, the Quel’dorei aspire to be high and righteous, like that of the sun. So when the Knights of the Silver Hand and associate Warriors venture outside the safety of home - they are anointed to be successful, strong and powerful like that of the Sun (or Belore.)

• If the Rite of Anointing is to be done following the liturgy, a bowl is prepared on the altar with blessed energies or waters from the Sunwell. (If beyond Quel’Danas blessed Oils would be of substitute.)
• The oil may then be divided into several other bowls and given to Priests and above for anointing.
• Each minister then anoints the brow of the lay person using these or similar words:

"Through this holy anointing may the Light purify your thoughts, actions and being as a whole. Aspire and succeed, Anar'alah Belore, May it be so. ”

Rite of Penance

1. In the Church of the Holy Light, Confession is only done by a member of the Priesthood and through special exceptions, a Knight of the Silver Hand. Clergy given the training to give confession must take the role of a Confessor seriously, giving no judgement aside from the benefit of the penitent.

a. Only a Bishop or High-Priest can train Knights to give Confession, with the permission of the Sovereign or Auxiliary Bishop.

i. These Knights would then be given the title Confessor

b. An active roster of Confessors must be kept up to date.

2. Steps:

a. The Confessor begins the rite of Penance (or Confession) with an opening statement:

i. “You have entered sanctuary, to shed off the taint of the world. Understand that all of our bodies are sanctuaries while our hearts are it’s altar. Know that our actions and thoughts can taint that which is sacred.. If you truly wish for peace and redemption, then bring all things to that same altar. This which includes your most hidden iniquities. Confess your sins and allow them to fade away through the deep abyss of the Light’s acceptance and love.”

ii. The penitent then offers his or her confession. With each sin, the Confessor should listen and pay special attention to the degree in which each sin have been committed. In doing so, the Confessor should question the penitent if necessary.

iii. Following the confession, the Confessor assigns a penance to the penitent intended to be a means to offer amends for the offenses occurred. The penance should be fitting for the sin acted upon.

vi. Once the penance have been acknowledged, the Confessor would then absolve the penitent by anointing the brow with blessed oil or Sunwell waters and saying:

“I absolve you of your iniquity; to sin you are a slave no longer… Let not the taint of the world corrupt our humble sanctuaries. Go my child, and sin no more. ”

Rite of Purification

1. If a member the faithful has abused that of the arcane (or even Fel corruption), the Clergy are tasked with purge and balance of the elf. a. The triangular box in the rite are to entrap the person and insure their safety as well as the Clergy’s.

2. Steps:

a. Chains sequenced out of Holy energy would be drafted and used to subdue the partisan of the ritual. Wrapping and bounding their limbs to together into the floor.

b. Three members of the Clergy would gather around the elf in a triangle, waving their hands as they created a box out of Light energy that would go several dozens of feet high.

c. The leading Clergyman would then begin the ritual with a prayer, waving his free hand that isn’t channeling the box, creating a spiral of Light that would envelope It’s target.

“O’ Holy Light, envelope this faithful and bless them with your gracious rays. Forgive them of their faults and lend your aid in their dire need.”

d. The next Clergyman would also wave his hand, creating a spiral of Light that would envelope and seep into the skin of the target. The Light would find the source of “corruption” that was taking hold of the victim. Saying a prayer as he was channeling such energies.

“Praise be the Holy Light, may your gracious rays take hold of the shadows that wish to take hold of this elf. Cast away that which conflicts with us, allowing the faithful to drift to you, O’ Holy Light.”

e. The Last Clergyman would then create the last spiral of Light that would then shoot into the chest of the elf. Grasping and clenching onto that which lies inside the sanctuary. The Light would then pull forcefully at the corruption, as it slowly tears from the body of it’s host. While they would be shouting said prayer.

“O’ Holy Light, protect our faithful against the evil and wicked. Cast away the demons which attempt to take hold of us. Give us your wisdom and strength to combat these forces.”

f. Once the corruption would be tethered by all three spirals of holy light, the priests could then drastically change the size of the triangular box. Moving it specifically around that which was the corruption.

g. The Lead Clergyman would then clench his fists as he said:

“I cast thee away, in the name of the Holy Light! Begone servant of the wicked!”

h. The last two would also clench their fists and all three would say “May it be so” as the box would spin and purge away the corruption and the end result would be a mist of Light fading away.

Rite of Consecration

1. The consecrating Bishop or High Priest addresses the people, saying:

"In the Light, we gather to empower this man(woman) who has been chosen by the Light. In its grace, he(she) will be made anew. In its power, he(she) shall educate the masses. In its strength, he(she) shall combat the shadow. And, in its wisdom, he(she) shall lead his(her) brethren to the eternal rewards of paradise."

2. The consecrating bishop then calls for the priests present to show their support:

“My brother and sister priests, if you deem this man(woman) worthy, place your blessings upon him(her).”

3. A priest comes forward and places a blue stole over the neck of the candidate. Then the same or another priest anoints the brow of the candidate and says:

"By the grace of the Light, may your brethren be healed."

4. Then the Bishop or High Priest calls for the paladins present to show their support.

"Knights of the Light, if you deem this man(woman) worthy, place your blessings upon him(her)."

5. A paladin comes forward and places the mantle upon the shoulders of the candidate. Then the same or another paladin places a golden hammer at the candidate's feet, saying:

"By the strength of the Light, may your enemies be undone."

6. The consecrating Bishop or High Priest calls for the support of the assembly, saying:

"Rise and be recognized."

7. The candidate stands and is applauded by those present.

8. The consecrating Bishop or High Priest then questions the candidate, saying:

"My son(daughter), before you proceed to the paladin order, declare before the people your intention to undertake the office... Do you vow to uphold the honor and codes of the Silver Hand?"

Response: "I do."

9. The consecrating Bishop or High Priest would then relay the next question, saying:

"Do you vow to walk in the grace of the Light and spread its wisdom to your fellow man?"

Response: "I do."

10. The consecrating Bishop or High Priest would then relay the next question, saying:

"Do you vow to vanquish evil wherever it be found, and protect the weak and innocent with your very life?"

Response: "By my blood and honor, I do."

11. The consecrating bishop then calls on those present to pour out the gift of the Light upon the candidate:

"Brothers and sisters, you who have gathered here to bear witness, raise your hands and let the Light illuminate this man(woman)."

12. Those present extend their own power of the Light into the candidate. The consecrating bishop tells the paladin to rise.

"Aranal, [name]. Welcome to the order of the Silver Hand."

i. (Use the word “Rise” if you’re consecrating in Stormwind.)

13. As has been demonstrated among the other orders of the Silver Hand, it is customary for all seated Knights, Aspirants and Squires to then "dog-pile" the newly-anointed Knight in good faith. After a moment of shenanigans, this is called to a cease. The one who squired this new knight shall step forward, and regale the crowd with a story of the once-squire's journeys to Knighthood, and their feelings about the day of glory for their former student. The one who squired this knew knight shall then bestow upon them a postnomial (an adjective or trait after one's name) that is believed to be fitting for that Knight.

Rite of Ordination

1.The ordaining Bishop or High Priest questions the candidate by saying:

"My son(daughter), before you proceed to the order of the presbyterate, declare before the people your intention to undertake the office. Are you resolved, with the help of the Holy Light, to discharge without fail the office of the priesthood in the presbyteral order as a conscientious fellow worker with the bishops in caring for the people of the world?"

Response: "I am."

2.The ordaining Bishop or High Priest would continue in question, saying:

"Are you resolved to celebrate the mysteries of the Light faithfully and religiously as the Church has handed them down to us for the glory of the Light and the sanctification of its people?"

Response: "I am."

3. The ordaining Bishop or High Priest would continue in question, saying:

"Are you resolved to exercise the ministry of preaching worthily and wisely, teaching and explaining our faith?"

Response: "I am."

4. The ordaining Bishop or High Priest would continue in question, saying:

"Are you resolved to consecrate your life to the Light for the sanctification of its people, and to unite yourself more closely to every day to the most holy Light who shines upon us willingly at all times of our lives?"

Response: "I am, with the help of the Light."

5. The candidate and the ordaining bishop or High Priest join hands and the they question the candidate, saying:

"Do you promise respect and obedience to me(your ordinary) and his(her) successors?"

Response:"I do."

6. The ordaining Bishop or High Priest then calls on those present to pour out the gift of the light upon the candidate:

"Brothers and sisters, you who have gathered here to bear witness, raise your hands and let the Light illuminate this man(woman)."

7. Those present extend their own power of the Light into the ordinand. Then, a Priest who has been beneficial in the formation of the ordinand comes forward to vest the ordinand in the ceremonial garments of the priest. The ordinand then kneels as the ordaining Bishop or High Priest prays:

"Hear us, most holy Light and pour out on this servant of yours the blessing of the virtues and the grace and power of the priesthood. In your sight we offer this man(woman) for ordination: support him(her) with your unfailing compassion."

All: "May it be so."

8. The ordaining bishop then tells the ordained to rise.

"Aranal, [name], Priest of the Holy Light."

i. (Use the word Rise if in Stormwind)

Rite of Blessing of Oil

The rite of Blessing of Oil exists in two parts. First, there is the exorcism of the oil and then the proper blessing.

The Exorcism:

1. The Priest would wave their hand over a prepared bowl of oil, Light funneling from their palm as it entered into the oil, speaking as they do so.

“I cast out the Shadow from you, in the name of the Holy Light. May you be purified oil, empowered to consecrate all upon which you are used.”

The Blessing:

2. The Priest would then wave over the exorcised bowl of oil, circling around it as the Light fogged over the oil. Speaking a blessing to the purified oil.

“O’ Holy Light, who for the consecration of your faithful, deigned that the fruit of the olive may anoint your servants, graciously pour forth your blessing upon this oil. that it may be used to sanctify all that it anoints."

Rite of Blessing of Water

The rite of Blessing of Water exists in two parts. First, there is the exorcism of the water and then the proper blessing.

The Exorcism:

1. The Priest would wave their hand over a prepared bowl of oil, Light funneling from their palm as it entered into the oil, speaking as they do so.

"Thou creature water, I cast out the shadow from you in the name of the Light. May you be purified water, empowered to drive after all power of darkness, in fact, to root out and banish all shadow from the world."

The Blessing:

2. The Priest would then wave over the exorcised bowl of water, circling around it as the Light fogged over the water. Speaking a blessing to the purified water.

"O Light, who for man's welfare established the most wonderful power to cleanse in the substance of water, harken to our prayer, and pour forth your blessing on this water. May all that is sprinkled with this water be purified from every taint of darkness."

Vows of Confirmation

a. A member of the Grand Alliance who wishes to take the path of the Silver Hand must take up these vows before a Knight of the Silver Hand and a cleric of the Diocese who will swing the thurible. (Thurible is a chamber of holy incense on a chain) Only a Knight may bestow these vows, and if a cleric is not available, the Knight may also administer the thurible.

b. They who wish to take up the path of the Silver Hand must kneel before the steps to the altar, and the presiding Knight will stand before the Altar with the garments of Aspirancy upon it to be blessed.

c. Before beginning, the presiding Knight will ask the kneeling party for their full name as the Light knows it, and questions them on if their vows shall be of honesty and merit. If so, they are blessed with the incense of the thurible and the vows begin, the Knight asking:

1. Do you uphold that the Light is the one, true form of good in this universe, forever and for all time?

1. Do you denounce the shadow and its evils?

1. Do you condemn those who would harbour its wickedness against the good and innocent of faith?

1. Do you uphold the Three Virtues; Respect, Tenacity and Compassion, as professed by the late Archbishop Alonsus Faol, to be the primary doctrine of your faith?

1. Do you grant recognition of the orthodox faith of the Church of the Holy Light, and bear witness to the mortal, spiritual guidance of the Council of Bishops and its vocational offices?

1. Thence, do you submit yourself to answer to the Diocese of Quel'Danas, to adhere to the scripture of the Sunwell, and live according to its merits?

1. Do you wholly support the Order of the Silver Hand as the one, true order of paladins alongside the Church, under Kingdom and the Light itself?

1. And do you respect the offices therein?

d. Upon completion of these vows, the kneeling party is anointed with holy oil upon the brow in the shape of the Sigil of Faol, and stated to be absolved of past affiliation and sin.

e. They are to rise and utter the motto of the Thalassian Chapter: Sic Semper Tyrannis. This is also explained on its importance.

f. The mace and habit (blue cloth robe, cowl, order tabard) are given over after they stand. They are instructed to wear this when studying the path to Aspirancy, which can be accessed through the Archivium.