he Holy Spirit.
They were set free by the imposition of hands, the secret of which
had been committed to the true Church by the disciples of Jesus.

This Church had its rulers, the Bishops, and its members who are
called "the Perfected," "the Consoled," and "the Believers."

We need not dwell upon the episcopate of the Catharan hierarchy.
Suffice it to say that the Bishop was always surrounded by three
dignitaries, the _Filius Major_, the _Filius Minor_, and the Deacon.
The Bishop had charge of the most important religious ceremonies: the
imposition of hands for the initiation or _consolamentum_, the
breaking of bread which replaced the Eucharist, and the liturgical
prayers such as the recitation of the Lord's Prayer. When he was
absent, the _Filius Major_, the _Filius Minor_, or the Deacon took
his place. It was seldom, however, that these dignitaries traveled
alone; the Bishop was always accompanied by his Deacon, who served as
his _socius_.

One joined the Church by promising (the _Convenenza_) to renounce the
Catholic faith, and to receive the Catharan initiation (the
_consolamentum_), at least at the hour of death. This was the first
step on the road to perfection. Those who agreed to make it were
called "the Believers." Their obligations were few. They were not
bound to observe the severe Catharan fasts, which we will mention
later on. They could live in the world like other mortals, and were
even allowed to eat meat and to marry. Their chief duty was "to
venerate" "the Perfected," each time they entered their presence.
They genuflected, and prostrated themselves three times, saying each
time as they rose, "Give us your blessing;" the third time they
added: "Good Christians, give us God's blessing and yours; pray God
that He preserve us from an evil death, and bring us to a good end!"
The Perfected replied: "Receive God's blessing and ours; may God
bless you, preserve you from an evil death, and bring you to a good
end." If these heretics were asked why they made others venerate them
in this manner, they replied that the Holy Spirit dwelling within
them gave them the right to such homage. The Believers were always
required to pay this extraordinary mark of respect. In fact it was a
_sine qua non_ of their being admitted to the _Convenenza._

The _Convenenza_ was not merely an external bond, uniting "the
Believers" and "the Perfected," but it was also an earnest of eternal
salvation. It assured the future dest