Casta Meretrix
-
Well, I was reading some curious catholic authors and just found this name, Casta Meretrix. It is some sort of reference to the “Church” as a “whore that accepts the love of all man”. It is present in the writings of Saint Ambrose and there are some references to it in the work Hans Urs von Balthasar (and comparisons to the Whore of Babylon).
Does some one knows more about it? Maybe it is something interesting from the point of view of Thelema.
-
@Faus said
"Well, I was reading some curious catholic authors and just found this name, Casta Meretrix. It is some sort of reference to the “Church” as a “whore that accepts the love of all man”. It is present in the writings of Saint Ambrose and there are some references to it in the work Hans Urs von Balthasar (and comparisons to the Whore of Babylon).
Does some one knows more about it? Maybe it is something interesting from the point of view of Thelema."
I'd never heard of this, but it's certainly a concept compatible with our understanding of Babalon.
The Roman Church has long been considered The Bride - specifically the Bride of Christ, but more broadly the Malkuth expression. She is, therefore, Christ's bride who "takes in all who approach her." THe idea is that the Church (generally speaking) can turn no one away. This fits the old understanding of a prostitute (metetrix, in Rome), a women who turned no suitor away.
And, of course, if there was a historical Jesus, and if (as seems likely) he was married, then he was likely married to a woman with a reputation for being a whore.
In any case, casta means "chaste." The Church's "whoredom" was therefore considered totally chaste, in this term.
-
"And, of course, if there was a historical Jesus, and if (as seems likely) he was married, then he was likely married to a woman with a reputation for being a whore."
Yeah i can see that.. All of the Joshua figures were from women that had been described that way
-
@Jim Eshelman said
"I'd never heard of this, but it's certainly a concept compatible with our understanding of Babalon."
I hope that it can be of some use for your guys.
I thought that it is very surprising to see such concept existing inside the catholic theology, the Meretrix clearly indentified with the same archetypical root of the Church itself, Binah.
I’ve read around here that the same idea of "takes in all who approach her" was also connected with Zion.
@Jim Eshelman said
"The Roman Church has long been considered The Bride - specifically the Bride of Christ, but more broadly the Malkuth expression. She is, therefore, Christ's bride who "takes in all who approach her." THe idea is that the Church (generally speaking) can turn no one away. This fits the old understanding of a prostitute (metetrix, in Rome), a women who turned no suitor away."
"This Rahab—in type a harlot, in mystery the Church…did not refuse intercourse to the many men who came her way. The more lovers she has, the chaster she is: a spotless virgin without wrinkle, untouched by feelings of shame, public [plebeia] in love, a chaste prostitute [casta meretrix], an unfruitful widow, a fruitful virgin. Harlot, because thronged by many lovers, with all the enticements of love, but without the stain of transgression, for "he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her" (1 Cor 6,16). Unfruitful widow, because, if the husband is absent, she cannot bear children, but if the husband is there, she gives birth to this people, this great crowd. Fruitful virgin, who bore this multitude with the blessing of love and without the use of lust [In Luc 3, 23; PL 15, 1598]."
From here www.newtorah.org/Casta%20Meretrix.html
@Jim Eshelman said
"And, of course, if there was a historical Jesus, and if (as seems likely) he was married, then he was likely married to a woman with a reputation for being a whore."
What would a pious Christian think if he found out that his “god” is very similar to his ‘beast”?
Knowing this is enriching my understanding of this archetypes and how they behave in the mass-mind through the centuries.
Thanks Jim.