This is the third part of The Novice story. The copyright statement at the end still applies.
Comments or questions are welcome at email address cleftref@btinernet.com .
Thanks for the response so far - mostly positive although one reader thought it was a good alternative to a sleeping pill! ;)
THE NOVICE - Part Three
The Abbot walked to the door to answer the knock, Paul wondered why he had not simply said come in and then realised that perhaps Ignatius knew whom it was and that they might have difficulty in opening it themselves at the other side.
And so it transpired, for when the door opened Paul could see that it was Brother Columba, Master of Novices, dressed this time in the same light pink habit as the Abbot and carrying a tray. On the tray was a silver pot and mugs with a smaller jug containing milk and a bowl that contained sugar. Columba entered without a word, carrying the tray immediately over to the Abbot's desk and laying it upon it, being careful not to knock any of the computer equipment that was already on it.
"Welcome brother Columba," the Abbot said smiling, "take the chair next to Paul and I'll sit on the one behind my desk." He looked at the same time at Paul, nodding in the direction of the tray. Paul was quick on the uptake.
"You want me to be mother?"
"Please."
"How do you take it Ignatius? " Paul remembered to be informal as he had been enjoined to be earlier.
"Black please, no sugar."
"And you Columba?"
"White and three sugars please."
Paul quickly poured and distributed the coffee as requested, the one he poured for himself was the same as the Abbot - black no sugar. The two men thanked him.
From a drawer in his desk the Abbot produced a biscuit barrel and invited them to help themselves. Columba took one and dunked it in his coffee before transferring it to his mouth.
"We need to talk a little more about your Holy Welcome Paul," Columba stated after swallowing the soggy portion of biscuit.
The ceremony will take place at midnight, your first full day as a Novice in our order - today you are still a "civilian" so to speak," a smile at the military analogy came to both Paul's and the Abbot's lips.
"You will be given a copy of the rite to study so you will be aware about what will happen and how it fits together and what part you will be taking in it and what parts others will play," Columba continued.
"Where and when can I study this rite?"
You will have three hours to study in, during which time you will be left entirely to yourself," the Abbot responded. "Shortly you will be taken to a single monastic cell and you will be given a meal. The cell has a small en-suite shower running off it so you make the necessary preparations that the rubric of the rite directs. Along with the copy of the rite, you will be given a booklet about the monastery, which will explain the basic routines in more detail, and also where everything is located. Columba will come and see you after that time and check that you are prepared and to see if you have any questions - don't be afraid to ask anything you don't understand or are not sure about. When the rite is over and you have been welcomed you will, be conducted to the dormitory cell that you will share with the other novices, the rest of your clothes are already there."
"Won't I see it before then."
"No. We think it's better that you concentrate your mind on the ritual and your preparation. Going around and exploring or meeting and introducing yourself to the brothers would be a distraction we have found from past experience."
"So I won't see any more of the brothers until then?"
"We have found it best this way. So far you have only met four of us - myself, Aidan, Cuthbert and Columba here and we have all been on the Abbey council."
"According my reckoning, that leaves another three...."
"It does. You will meet the others when we come to conduct you into the chapel," Columba stated. "I will give you their names, however, they are Brothers Thomas, Pius and Kentigern."
Thomas, Pius and Kentigern, Paul attempted to commit them to his memory but knew he had yet to fit the names with the faces.
"We don't expect you to get every name and face of every brother right to begin with," the Abbot continued. "There are 52 full brothers, including ourselves, and also your three brother novices. You will be given sheets with the photographs and names of all the brothers on them so you can begin to learn them and familiarise yourself within them tomorrow. You will memorise the Council members' names and faces and also those of the Novices first, as you will see more of us and of them in your first week than any others. During your work assignments you will find acquainting yourself with other brothers easier."
"And once you have the faces right," added the Abbot, "you will commence the other ways of recognition."
"The other ways?", enquired Paul, mystified.
"Yes. I can recognise every brother by their cock and that is not only by sight," Ignatius volunteered with a slightly wicked grin.
Thought quickly ran through Paul's mind as to what the Abbot meant. He has sucked them all, tasted them, touched them all and probably been fucked by them all....
And tasted their sacred essence...
And yet he would not be unique in this for that was the nature of the Brotherhood! Paul realised that he had much to learn and experience something of a magnitude beyond his previous experience. Naturally he had had sex with many men, one on one, threesomes and some group experience (his record was five men besides himself), but this brotherhood would be somewhat greater in intensity and this would also be spiritually inspired. Not all his previous encounters had been.
Cigarettes were offered round at this point. Somehow they seemed to complement the coffee and helped Paul relax a little more.
"Well before Columba takes you off the to your preparation cell, I'll just play you that Wagner chorus whilst we smoke," the Abbot said.
He rose and walked over to the stereo that was on the shelf to the left of the desk and pressed a button on it. The music started a few seconds later.
The sound of trumpets sounding a fanfare broke out from the speakers, Paul noticed that there were four of them, one in each corner and that this made the sound fill the room. No wonder Ignatius had heard him when he first knocked.
The strings followed the fanfare, it was a jolly, almost bouncy tune with various counter themes interposed and contrasted and there was a background of drums. The theme developed into a march for a moment before returning to variations on the first theme and the trumpets broke out again as the chorus of voices took up the main theme, firstly male voices (the Knights the Abbot quickly explained) and then female voices (their ladies). It was in German and Paul had no understanding of the words, but for the appreciation of the music that was secondary. Before he knew it, it speeded up to the conclusion that he had already heard.
"That was lovely, thanks," Paul said.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," the Abbot replied with a satisfied smile. Columba stayed silent, perhaps he had heard it many times already, perhaps it was played when every novice had their first meeting with Abbot Ignatius Paul mused. Or perhaps it wasn't his favourite type of music?
"We often include the playing of music in our brotherly love making here. As a background sound it can enhance the ambience of the occasion," Columba volunteered. "It isn't always opera choruses..." Columba's little way of making a gentle protest perhaps?
"I and a boyfriend once who liked "Oxygene" so we used to have sex to that," the Abbot added.
So there was a contrast of tastes then...
"Enough of music for the moment, it's time you started your preparation Paul."
With these words Ignatius rose, as also did Columba. Paul was quick on the uptake and rose also.
Ignatius extended his ring and Paul bent over to kiss it.
"Use this time well Paul, think through things in your heart and your mind," he advised. "Think yet again of the vocation you are committing yourself to, or rather commencing to commit yourself to. Think yet again of your motives, ensure that you are not only motivated by your passions and desires, but also out of love for God, our Lover Jesus, and your fellow men and brothers."
"I will Ignatius."
Columba led him out of the Abbot's office and closed the door behind them.
"The brothers will be gathering in the refectory for the evening meal," said Columba as he led him down a passage, which opened onto some steps leading downwards. "We shouldn't bump into any of them going this way."
They reached the ground floor and Columba led Paul round what still seemed to him a maze of passages until they came to the entrance to the chapel. As Columba had predicted, there was nobody around. Paul barely had time to take in the ornate doors before he was led onward up another corridor and into what was obviously his preparation cell.
It was a small room, simply furnished. Paul cast his eyes around at the single bed covered in a light pink duvet and matching pillows. There was a wooden desk and a chair, upon which there was a tray and on the tray a plate, covered in a metal warmer, waiting to be removed. A knife, fork and spoon wrapped in a napkin, a mug and a metal jar from which the aroma of coffee rose were also in evidence. On a smaller bedside table there some materials, one appeared to be a Bible, another one a booklet and there appeared to be some other papers also. A small travelling alarm clock was also there indicating the hour was just after 8pm. Where has the time gone?, Paul mused to himself.
He noticed also the small prayer stool, the pre-dieu, located in front of a small crucifix, the Christ figure was naked but not erect, not a Cruciphallofix.
On the wall to the left Paul could make out an entrance, which led into the toilet and shower area. Even without looking he had no doubt that everything he needed would already be laid out inside.
"I suggest you eat and drink first and then read," Columba advised. "You needn't do the physical preparations until around 10-30 to elevenish. I will come to answer any questions and to check you are ready just after then.
"Oh and if you want to smoke, you will find what you need in the draw of the bedside table."
"Thanks."
"No problem. Anyway, I have to eat myself in the Refectory with the brothers and the novices. When you have finished just leave the tray outside the door, nobody will disturb you until I return."
"OK thanks Columba."
Columba smiled, turned and left the cell, closing the door behind him.
For the first time since he got off the train, Paul was alone.
He was aware all of a sudden how hungry he was. He lifted the cover off the plate to be rewarded by the sight of sweet and sour chicken in batter on a bed of fried rice, it smelt delicious and he guessed Cuthbert must have prepared it. It certainly tasted better than anything he had experienced from a Chinese takeaway. He ate hungrily, his first cooked food since he had set out very early that morning, interspersing chewing and swallowing with sips of coffee. Within five minutes the plate was clean and there was only a carton of strawberry yoghurt remaining to be consumed. This too was soon empty. Paul had the tray outside the door shortly after; retaining the mug and the coffeepot, as there was still plenty left and it would be a long night.
Paul soon found the cigarettes where Columba had indicated, along with a lighter and an ashtray in the same location. He lit one and inhaled, studying the written materials. Which one should I look at first?" He wondered to himself.
The booklet entitled The Rite of Holy Welcome seemed to be the most logical choice. Paul lay down upon the bed and opened it.
"The Rite of Holy Welcome
"A summary by Fr Abbot Ignatius Semenswallorus, Abbey of St Priapus Rites of initiation are common to all human societies. They mark the passage of the individual from one state of life to another, a change leading onto a new path of discovery. It is common that this is done in community or in congregation with others joining in and celebrating this change of condition and welcoming into their midst a new person into their community or society. In the outside world this is commonly done in such rites as baptism, marriage, and confirmation. In monastic communities this is done as a sign of a person wishing to enter into the Noviciate, to offer themselves to the community and the service and worship of God. It is a moment of making promises and commitments that are only temporarily binding, awaiting later fulfilment and full commitment should both the community and the individual agree that this is indeed their vocation. It is a time of testing and refining, seeking the mind of the Lord for that individual. It is not entered into lightly or without thought and most certainly the motivation must be right, that it is not purely for individual gratification but that it is truly out of love and service.
"In the Abbey we mark this passage in The Rite of Holy Welcome. It is a recognition that an individual's journey is pointing in this particular direction and it is a commitment of that individual and of the community of one to another. In the Rite, the individual surrenders his former life to a new communal way of living, he surrenders his love to all, and his body to all, his service to all and return received that back from the community... "As you give so shall you receive."
Paul took another drag on his cigarette and carried on reading.
"In the rite a new brother is welcomed for the first time by the whole community of the Abbey. It is a time when strangers start to become friends and brothers and also lovers, believing that in doing so we obey the commandments and teachings of Jesus. It is a starting point, not a fulfilment, it is a pledge and token where certain individuals will represent the whole but this is before the brotherhood and with their consent and approval. All do have their part to play in the rite in some form or another. Individual greetings will indeed be exchanged and the energising life force will be offered and shared."
"Guess that means a sharing of Cum," Paul muttered and inhaled again, dropping the ash on the cigarette's tip into the ashtray.
"The applicant for the Noviciate has already been weighed and screened before they come to this point so when they read this document they have a good understanding of what is to follow, little should come as a shock except perhaps in the intensity or the magnitude of the occasion.
"Much of the ritual is in action rather than in words but words are required also to set things into their perspective, to invite responses, to make the promises required for the Noviciate. Words are also need as expression of praise and of joy at special moments which occur in the ritual, linking the spiritual with the physical as a sacred whole, reuniting that which was long estranged and separated into its proper place.
"The Rite begins with the Welcomer and assistants leading the Welcomee into the chapel. All but the Welcomee are wearing the formal robes of the order and all but the Welcomer and assistants hooded at this point.
"The Welcomee shall be barefoot, wearing only a garment around his loins of white, the colour of purity, and a white cloak around his shoulders. He will have prepared himself following the separate instructions pertaining to this."
Paul glanced over and saw the sheet bearing the title "Rubric of Preparation", he decided, however, to read that later.
"The procession moves up the aisle of the chapel to the Altar which is free standing and unadorned although the top is padded and there are various items for kneeling upon around it. Behind the Altar are lit candles and the Cruciphallofix, the figure of the naked and erect Christ, to bless, sanctify and to witness the proceedings. All is done in his sight without shame."
A reiteration of that truth, nothing needed to be done in a corner or to be hidden from the sight of God. An acceptance and affirmation of all that he made his gay sons and his and their delight in expressing the love of their hearts through the lust of their bodies. For centuries, lust in any form had been denied and demonised and condemned, the body to be hidden in shame and considered nothing but a vehicle of sin. Sex had only been begrudgingly allowed for purposes of procreation and yet only one or two sperm, out of billions, were necessary for this. The appalling waste of the rest had been condoned through wet dreams; the creative and energising force denied any place. It had often been left to pagans to hold forth the light of the truth, to affirm and celebrate the life force produced by men, to affirm the connection of the cock and the balls with the sacredness of the Divine. That Jesus had done this had been denied and censored, his sexual humanity neutered, the use and enjoyment of his sexuality considered to be blasphemous. The sexual drive in his followers to be fought and denied as unnatural and wicked, to create sexual neuroses and self-loathing on a massive scale. And yet through these centuries a few brave souls had seen the light shine out of that darkness but had not been able to find an audience for them to preach to, to find fellow minds in large numbers that could challenge the twisting and perversion of the gospel of freedom and of love. Only now, in these modern times of technology had it been possible. Paul rejoiced to live in such times.
"During the processional, the assembled brothers may sing a hymn. Arriving at the altar the Welcomer bends to kiss and reverence the Altar, followed by the assistants. They turn to face the Welcomee and the assembled Brethren.
"The Welcomer makes the sign of the ordinary cross, using such words to open as he sees fit. All may respond with the same sign.
"The Welcomer addresses the Welcomee, again using such words as he sees fit. He invites him to respond to certain questions that the Welcomee may affirm again his attentions in the presence of the Brethren.
"The answers given, the Welcomee is asked if he is willing to be naked before God and his Brethren in token of his responses. If the Welcomee affirms this, the assistants remove the white cloak from his shoulders, only the garment remaining around his loins.
"The Welcomee is invited to turn and face the Brethren and they are asked to indicate their acceptance of this willingness by removing their hoods, for the first time their faces being visible.
"The Welcomee is then invited to turn around once again.
"The Welcomee is then asked if he is prepared to ungird his loins so that no secrets may be hidden, either secrets of the body or of the heart. If the Welcomee affirms this, the assistants remove the white garment from his loins and he is naked before them. In response the Welcomer and assistants remove their robes, which are removed out of the way, and they stand wearing only a white garment round their loins.
"Again the Welcomee is invited to turn to face the Brethren who also remove their robes and stand only in their white garments.
All but the Welcomee greet him with shouts of "Ecce Homo"."
"Ecce Homo" - "Behold the Man", a phrase Paul had already heard once that day when Aidan had prised his Y fronts off him before they had showered. Somehow Paul suspected this phrase had a double edge to it - that he was being presented not only as a naked man but a naked homosexual man, that they were being invited to feast upon him with their eyes, to contemplate all that his body could offer them. Would he be self-conscious at that point, would his cock rise in erection or not and would their cocks rise beneath the garments or not? Perhaps it did not matter, the nakedness being the expression of what he would be agreeing to and that he was offering himself in nakedness before his brothers and his God. Paul stubbed the cigarette out in the ashtray and continued to read.
"The Welcomee turns and kneels upon a padded stool before the Welcomer and his assistants. He is asked a further set of questions regarding his willingness to give his body in service of God and of the brotherhood. When he has answered all of them in the affirmative the Welcomer and his assistants they their hands upon his head and invoke God's blessing upon him.
"After this, the Welcomee stands and another hymn or psalm is sung as he proceeds to remove the garments of the Welcomer and they give each other a holy kiss, bodies pressed together. They then make the sign of the phallic cross upon each other's bodies. The Welcomer then stands aside whilst this is also done in turn with each assistant. He gives the name of each person as the Welcomee removes the garment. The Welcomer then invites the Brethren to come forward in order of seniority for this to be repeated until all have been so greeted."
Paul gasped - if he weren't hard before all that started he certainly would be shortly after! How long would it all take? Not that it really matters, he thought to himself. The intimacy and the discovery that this would engender would be a special time. It would be an introduction and a promise to each brother of love and of service that would await future completion. Paul decided that another cigarette was in order as he continued, aware that his cock was swelling even at the thought.
"Another hymn is sung by the naked brethren who form themselves in a semicircle around the Welcomee and the Welcomer and assistants. The Welcomee kneels once again in front of the Welcomer.
"The Welcomer enquires if the Welcomee is now prepared to partake of the full communion of Welcum, to receive and to share of Holy Cum, the Phallic Nectar and life force from God through the cocks of the brethren as a sign and token of his Noviciate. Upon his acceptance he is invited to lay himself over the altar, legs apart and arms spread. The Welcomer and two assistants move around to the back of the altar and the Welcomer offers the Welcomee his erect cock for oral worship. Whilst the Welcomee is thus offering this oral service, a nominated assistant enters the Welcomee from behind and a period of Holy Sucking and Fucking begins. The Welcomer eventually ejaculates his Holy Semen into the mouth of the Welcomee, which is consumed with joy and to the loud acclaim of the Brethren. The assistant eventually also ejaculates the divine gift into the Welcomee's anus*, again to the loud acclaim of the brethren.
"(Note * it has been agreed beforehand whether or not this should be done whilst a condom is worn, if health checks permit and the Welcomee is agreeable, it may be performed without a condom. If a condom is preferred it is not a problem for the Rite, as ejaculation will still have occurred in the Holy Orifice and the Holy Cum inside can be reclaimed for use by turning the condom inside out after withdrawal.)"
Paul's cock was solid at reading this and he could feel a damp patch forming on the pouch of the jock. He would be sucking at the same time as being fucked, an ecstatic erotic sensual experience combined with love. The comment explained why he had been requested to have blood tests several months before with a second set of tests a couple of weeks prior to his reception and why he had been enjoined to wear a condom for any sex he had indulged in over that period of time. Paul had complied faithfully and the results of his test had been negative. He realised that at the Abbey the ideal of naked anal sex, Bareback, was the ideal, but it was left to individual choice. The condom was there if requested or needed. He decided that he would probably opt, at least this special occasion, for the intimacy, the trusting surrender, of his guts being flooded freely at the moment of Holy Ejaculation, as his mouth and throat would gladly receive the milky torrent from the cock he would be sucking, a special communion and oneness, the energising life force infusing his whole being.
"After this, the Welcomee is invited to lie upon the altar of sacrifice upon his back with arms relaxed at his side. The rest of the Brethren gather around, as many as can conveniently fit around the altar and begin to masturbate each other. As they orgasm and ejaculate over the Welcomee's body they lean down and consume the Holy Nectar, preferably that of another brother where this is possible, before vacating their place to allow another to take it.
"When all have so done, the Welcomee will have experienced a cum baptism, a sign of his entrance into his new life in the Brotherhood."
Paul found himself chain-smoking, out of sheer excitement more than anything else. That his body should be used as an Altar in such a manner was beyond his wildest dreams, beyond his waking imagination up to this point in time.
"The Welcomee remains lying upon the Altar. He should be in a heightened aroused and ecstatic state."
An understatement if there ever was one, mused Paul to himself.
"One brother will come forward, selected by the Welcomer, to engage in oral worship on the Welcomee to completion and will receive the Holy Seed and ingest it on behalf of the Brotherhood. Again as this Holy Ejaculation occurs the whole Brethren will shout for joy."
So Paul would get his orgasm, the last orgasm of all, he who would be last shall be first. All in his honour and yet for his sake, all designed to maximise the gravity and magnitude of what he was undertaking, the completion of the circle, the first to receive of that Holy Nectar and the last to pass it on. And after it the circle would continue, the circular sharing, that all might partake in the giving and receiving. The showing of the love of Christ to his disciples and through them to the World, a witness to the divine love and life force bringing peace contentment and harmony instead of strife, hatred and selfishness. A new sacrificial tradition where the physical was in harmony with the spiritual, where lust and love were truly harmonised, the one sanctifying the other.
"The Welcomee is assisted to arise from the Altar and kneels once again before the Welcomer and assistants. The Welcomer greets him for the first time as a Novice Brother and asks him by which name he wishes to be known."
That set Paul's mind racing - for some reason he had failed to make the connection - Ignatius, Aidan, Cuthbert, Columba, the names of those he had met and those of whom he had been told about - Thomas, Pius, Kentigern, and what was the name of the one who had been named as the bell ringer as he was rowed across the lake?....oh yes - Augustine! It was unlikely that they were the names they had been given, they were names they had themselves chosen - the names of Saints! A common monastic practice, a practice also when popes were elected. He would have think and quickly! He knew of course that Paul was the name of a Saint, and no doubt he could keep it if he so desired, but perhaps it would be better if he took a new name to signify and mark his new life. He decided that he would pray and meditate on it further before making his decision for once made it could not be changed, at least not easily.
"Once the Welcomee has given the name it will be entered into the Abbey records against his full name and that name will, if he permits, be accessible to the Brethren, if not the Abbot and the council hold it confidentially.
"The Welcomer then invites the Welcomee to accept the tokens of his Noviciate. He is not tonsured at this stage, this is reserved for when the Noviciate is completed and the final vows are taken."
The tokens were not explained. Paul had a sneaking suspicion that he could identify them from observing his fellow novices, but whatever they were he must meekly and respectfully accept them.
"The tokens having been accepted, the Welcomee turns to face the brethren and the assembled brethren all greet him and welcome him with shouts of acclamation, welcome and love.
"The rite ends with another hymn, a doxology and a blessing. The brethren depart from the chapel, the Welcomer, assistants, and Welcomee leading the way.
"It is customary to repair to the Refectory for refreshments before the brethren depart for bed."
When Paul finished reading the rite, he was tingling all over with erotic energy. His cock was rigid, as were his nipples, his anus also throbbed with anticipation and his heart rate was noticeably raised.
The coffee was all gone Paul noticed with chagrin. He felt thirsty so he took the empty mug and filled it with some water from the tap in the toilet and shower area. The clock on the table displayed the time as 8.45 p.m. - Some time to go yet then.
Paul decided to glance through the other papers. The was one showing the layout of the island and the Abbey but somehow he felt that this was the last of his concerns at that point in time, there would be plenty of time to learn to find his way around later. There was a paper giving a short history of the Brotherhood of St Priapus, but he had already seen it on the Internet and he expected that there would be lectures about it from Columba or others in due course. There was a paper detailing the preparations of a Welcomee for the rite, the Rubric of Preparation, which demanded more immediate attention. He lit another cigarette as he started to read the brief and simple instructions.
"It is recommended that the Welcomee first reads the booklet concerning the Rite of Holy Welcome and familiarises himself with the structure of the Service.
"It is then recommended that the Welcomee prays, relaxes or meditates for an hour, in any combination he wishes. The alarm is set for 10 p.m. and will sound to inform him that he may now commence to prepare himself physically for the rite."
Paul thought he might lie down and put his feet up and close his eyes for at least a few minutes, not to sleep but to relax and rest himself for the Rite. It had been a long day after all.
"All physical needs of urination and/or defecation should be undertaken first so they will not interfere with the performance of the Rite in any way."
That was logical, Paul found himself agreeing.
"It is suggested that a douche be used to ensure that the lower bowel is clean and free for use as a temple to receive Holy Cock and its outpouring of Holy Cum.
"The Welcomee should shower, soaping himself thoroughly all over, giving especial attention to the genital and anal regions and wash his hair using the shampoo and conditioner provided.
"Following the shower he should towel himself dry."
All completely logical, Paul thought again.
"He should shave himself using his preferred method of wet shaving or of electric and apply an after shave lotion.
"He should also clean his teeth thoroughly and rinse and gargle with mouthwash."
Cleanliness was obviously considered very much next to godliness.
"He should comb his hair in its usual style and allow it to dry naturally. Following this he should vest himself with the clean holy white garment around his loins and then place the white cloak around his shoulders.
"It is recommended that he then spend the remaining time before the Rite in prayer and Bible Study and also reminding himself of the salient points in the Rite. He should formulate any questions he may have to ask of the Master of Novices when he returns."
So that was all the major information he felt he needed to know. Paul stubbed the exhausted cigarette out into the ashtray and laid back gratefully upon the bed, feeling the welcoming embrace of the pillow upon the back of his head and his neck. He closed his eyes and without even realising it, drifted off into sleep.
To be continued....
This story is authored by cleftref, Moderator of http://groups.yahoo.com/group/christian_cock . It may be copied shared and disseminated freely but the acknowledgement of source should remain with the document at all times. Please note that all spelling is UK English and may vary to that employed in other countries.