The Extended Lord’s Prayer of Abbé Julio (or Ernest Houssay, 1844 – 1912)

The last few weeks have seen me talking in several States, with the result that this is the first time I’ve been in front of my home computer since before the end of May!

This time I want to bring you an inspiring prayer based on the Lord’s Prayer, written by Abbé Julio and founding the first of his three monumental books of prayers, this one being the first: “Grand secrets merveilleux pour aider à la guérison de toutes les maladies physiques et morales”, or Great and Marvelous Secrets to Aid in the Healing of All Physical and Moral Ailments, published in 1907. These three amazing books are long (each over 600 pages), and have never been translated into English (which might give you a hint of a future project of mine…). Abbé Julio was a fascinating man, drawn form the same era which gave us Papus, Sédir, Guenon, Doinel, Maître Philippe and many other fin-de-siècle esoterically-minded founders of Orders in France. Julio spent much of his life at loggerheads with the Room Catholic Church, who disapproved of his promulgation of – to them – superstitious ‘nonsense’, while he accused them or denying their own spiritual heritage, since al. his prayers were drawn from accepted Catholic prayerbooks, even if they were of great antiquity and no longer used or practiced. A particular landmark of his rituals was the use of talismans drawn on parchment, and also distance healing. However, he never encouraged people to stray from the Church, even if its priests were but a weak and corrupt shadow of the great church leaders of old. He particularly fulminated against the ‘modern’ priest’s attitude that most prayers and blessing were little more than superstition, and argued that if more priests learned to bless and pray with sincerity, miracles and healings would be a natural part of the Church, which should be an impregnable fortress against agnosticism and atheism, rather than trying to meet them halfway. Being shunned by the establishment, he was eventually consecrated bishop by +Paolo Miraglia, successor to +Joseph-René Vilatte, and established his own ministry, predominantly aimed at healing (and hence my strong interest in the important character).

Out of interest, the design below, which he would trace on parchment as a powerful talisman, was criticized by Cardinal Richard, Archbishop of Paris, who said: “But it’s the Freemason’s triangle!” Julio replied: “You forget, Your Eminence, those fanatical sectarians (sic!), aping our religion which they seek to destroy, have taken it from our rites and signs: we are only taking back what belongs to us. The triangle in the Church is the image of the Holy Trinity, and I see it everywhere on our altars surrounded by a glory. Do you see the trowel and gavel there, the tools of those false builders who are but demolishers of all societies? Do you need glasses to see the three crosses and understand what they signify? When you bless your kneeling faithful, do you not, with the majesty which identifies you, make three great signs of the cross, saying what you can read highlighted around this medal: In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti?” The good Cardinal replied like Pandora: “Monsieur Abbot, you are right.” (I would hasten to add that he spoke from ignorance rather than hatred – he happily mentions groups as broad as mesmerists and even Martinists are doing the great work of healing alongside his Church! We can also take from this extract that the good Abbot didn’t entertain fools gladly – even Cardinals!)

Here, then, is his meditation on the Lord’s Prayer, which he suggests can be used as a morning prayer.

“This beautiful and poetic Pater and paraphrase can be said as a Morning Prayer when one has time; but if, because of your occupation or the environment in which you live, you have neither the time nor the ability to do so, do not torment your soul: you can settle for a sign of the cross or even quite simply a single outburst of your heart towards God. Doing what you must do is the first of all duties, and a good deed is the best prayer.…

“It is evident that we can abbreviate, because it is not so much quantity as quality that we should be seeking. And we do not prescribe, we only advise.

“The omission of a prayer has never been a sin: that is just an invention by the priests, like so many others.

“When you are suffering, when you are in need, the request or the prayer springs forth of its own accord from your chest, and, like the blind beggar, you will know how to cry out in a loud voice: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And this, despite the strange opposition of the Apostles! You don’t know why? Because they wanted to prevent God from granting the prayers they had not authorized, on the pretext that it might deafen Him.

“Oh, such wonderful zeal! and such a nasty job they did… and still do!

“My friends, let us pray, let us cry out to God, without caring about those who try to enforce prayer tarifs.”

Abbé Julio

Medal of “Universal Fraternity” for the protection of the house and family, designed by Abbé Julio

Here is the Meditation on the Lord’s Prayer: Abbe Julio – The Lord’s Prayer