Collegium Fraternitatis: The House of the Holy Spirit
the mobile Temple or House of the Rosicrucian Fraternity
The Rosicrucian Order as a moving, living organism. The vehicle of divine wisdom in the world
The building is the Temple of the Fraternity.
It is solid like a fortress, yet mounted on wheels, showing:
- mobility
- invisibility
- spiritual adaptability
- the idea that the True Temple moves where the Spirit moves
The door bears mottos such as IN TE DIGNUM (“In thee is worthiness”) and JESUS NOBIS OMNIA (“Jesus is all things to us”).
The upper dome is the “Tower of Illumination.”
- nous, illuminated intellect
- the inner light of wisdom
- the spiritual Sun
- access to the higher worlds
The figures on the four corners:
- Guardians of the Four Directions
- Angels of the Elements
- Messengers of the Invisible College
Each one wields a sword and shield, implying:
- protection of the Mysteries
- discernment
- the necessity of moral purity
They echo the four cherubim of Ezekiel and the four fixed signs of the zodiac in esoteric astrology.
The Mottoes
Collegium Fraternitatis
“College of the Fraternity”
FAMA
A direct reference to the Fama Fraternitatis manifesto.
S S S
Spiritus Sanctus Sapientiae (Holy Spirit of Wisdom) or Sanctum Secretum Sapientiae (Sacred Secret of Wisdom).
The rays, stars, and constellations
These represent the Astrotheurgical dimension of the Rosicrucian worldview:
- influence of divine intelligences
- celestial harmony
- the belief that wisdom is written in the stars
The upper clouds contain Hebrew divine names such as יהוה (YHWH)
The Landscape Around the Temple
This is a map of the human condition and the spiritual path.
The man drawing water from a well - Symbolizes seeking truth at the source.
The man with the anchor - Represents hope, faith, and stability
The crossing bridges - Show the transition from ignorance to initiation.
The isolated houses on hills - Refer to retreat, contemplation, and Hermetic solitude.
The Wheels of the House
- the Order is not fixed in one city or institution
- true initiation moves with the seeker
- the Brotherhood is “in the world but not of the world”
The Hidden Doors, Windows, and Apertures
- inner chambers of meditation
- degrees of initiation
- graded knowledge
- the invisible work of the Adepti
Many versions show alchemical symbols in the windows—salt, mercury, sulphur.