Arcane Arcadia
(After reading The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail
by N. Baigent, R. Leigh and H. Lincoln)
I.
“I, tego arcana dei: et in
Arcadia ego“. Read what this means:
” Begone!. For I hold the secrets of God
And I am resident in Paradise”.
II.
“I, tego arcana dei” , which can also
Translate: “Go!. I keep God’s secrets!”, implicitly
Expresses words of warning — to those heretics
Given to undermining Christian faith in hopes
Of profiting from its demise — to cease their schemes.
Abandon those who Christ’s divinity deny —
Relying on our fascination with intrigue
Creating steps by which they mean to raise themselves
Above moral constraints — for they are fraudulent!.
No benefit can come to those who range their souls
Against God’s Divine Writ and holy avatar.
Deny the Devil’s stratagems. Before they dare
Evoke the wrath of God, true Christian hearts will say,
In humble faith: “I, tego arcana dei!”
III.
“Et in arcadia ego“, which can be read
To mean: “My habitation is in Paradise”,
Incites wild speculations and intrigues which drive
Nails through the body of received Christian beliefs.
Avoid the heresy that subtly seeks to place
Reputed Merovingian priest-kings — who blandly
Claim descent direct from Jesus Christ himself — where
Apostolic precedence has enthroned the Pope.
Do not give credence to that scandalous design.
Instead, adhere to the true teachings of the Church
And steadfastly reject this baseless calumny.
Eject from your uncertain minds all questionings.
God still is in His Heaven, with His holy Son,
Observing everything you think and say and do.
IV.
In God’s name you must struggle to reject the wrong
The Devil seeks to make you do in ignorance;
Evil is all about you. Trust your faith. Let
God, not Satan, tell you what to do. There is no
Other way to earn God’s love and get to Paradise.
A broad and pleasant-seeming pathway often leads
Right to the open gates of Hell which, once entered,
Close behind you for eternity. Choose, instead
A narrow, uninviting, rock-strewn path that has
No charming vistas to distract you. It will lead,
After much trouble, to the strait gate of Heaven.
Do not despair, for God will be beside with you as
Each step you take brings you closer to Paradise
In less time than you might suppose is possible.
Ease. pleasure, licence, wealth the Devil promises
Those who will follow him. He will not keep his word
In this sign (†) trust; it will defeat temptation’s lure.
Nothing can defeat it’s potent protective power!.
Abolish selfish hopes that perfect harmony
Remains attainable in this corrupted world.
Creation’s not intended for material
Advantage, but as preparation for a life —
Devoted to God’s worship after death — that is
Ineffable in its eternal purity
And freedom from the cares we must endure on Earth.
Except we firmly hold to our God-given faith,
Giving no credence to the Devil’s subtle schemes,
Our sufferings on Earth will all have been in vain.
