Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin's thought is still very much alive today, enlightening all those on the path to awakening.
In this space, Martinists of the 21st century offer to share with you the essentials of their inspired thinking.
« The name came out of life and gave birth to the word. Let life, name and word urge the human soul to walk its path and turn its steps towards the end and towards the work ».
(from Man of Desire)
Life precedes everything; it is the primary source. From this life comes the Creator Word, that is, the Name. This Word, in turn, enables expression through the word, an active and vibrant force. Through it, meaning is revealed and the universe is shaped and transformed.
This enigmatic reflection may evoke the beginning of John's Gospel. However, when John says: « In the beginning was the Word », he is emphasising that the creative act of the universe is based on the Word, the word, the sound. Now, this idea differs from that expressed by our venerated Master Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin. He invites us to consider another interpretation of the ternary: Name - Life - Word.
The founding image is based on the tetragrammaton « IOD HE VAV HE », the unpronounceable Name of God.
Thanks to the divine fire, « SHIN », God allowed his incarnation and gave life to « IOD HE SHIN VAV HE », now expressing the living presence of God through his son, Yeshua.
« And the Word was made flesh » (John 1-14).
From now on, the word makes it possible to express and pronounce the name of God on earth, incarnate in Jesus: « IOD HE SHIN VAV HE ».
« And my Father who sent me has testified about me. You have never heard his voice, nor seen anything that represents him ». (John 5-37).
Jesus, the living testimony of God on earth, is therefore the path to follow to rise up to Him:
« Jesus said to him, ’I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me ». (John 14-6).
Life, name and word are all synonyms for Jesus. This meaning emerges clearly in the words of our Venerated Master: « May Jesus urge us to walk in his way towards the end and towards the work (reintegration) ».
The word ‘urge’ evokes a necessity, a spiritual obligation. Once committed to the initiatory path by our free will, it becomes an inner demand. The sincere seeker is gradually absorbed and penetrated by his quest, which then becomes a profound necessity, the true essence of his existence.
It is this inner disposition that our Venerated Master wishes for us: that the search for God becomes for us the Great Adventure of our lives.
In this way, life, the Creator Word and the Word guide the human soul along its path, giving it meaning and helping it to accomplish its mission in harmony with the spiritual forces that accompany it.
The Edouard Schuré group, Strasbourg college.
July 2025
"My soul has read a testimony of its immortality in the criminal justice of
men. This justice satisfies only the social world, whose order the criminal has violated,
but if he has also violated the higher order and invisible justice, can it be satisfied by seeing him suffer and die in his body?" (From The Man of Desire, Song 208).
My soul understands that it is not only bound to matter, and it is through a tragic act that it discovers its immortality. Even after death, it continues to live, to rise. Human justice condemns crimes, but for the soul, the perspective is different: it sees beyond earthly laws. It progresses, begins again, and seeks to free itself. In the spiritual world, death does not exist; faith persists in each of us. Like Christ, killed by man but whose message is eternal, the soul traces its own path. Judgment belongs to men, but seen from above, all is forgiven. The soul must go through all the stages of life in order to evolve. We are here to move forward, and despite the mistakes we have made before getting here, we have already evolved considerably. Human logic does not follow that of the soul, which alone can judge itself. On the other side, there is no condemnation. There is a great force, a universal soul, of which we are a part. We must constantly improve ourselves, go through all experiences, emerge from turmoil, and elevate our souls. Every pain inflicted, every malicious act leaves a mark on us. So let us try to be the best version of ourselves and spread beauty and goodness on Earth, for this is how we progress through our successive lives, according to the law of karma: every action comes back to us like a boomerang.
Group Helios, Saint-Gervais
September 2025
After a summer break, we resume our study of the thoughts of Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin by our Martinist Sisters and Brothers of the 21st century. Have a good meditation !
THERE IS A TIME TO RECEIVE FAVORS, THERE IS A TIME TO HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE: THERE MUST BE ONE TO PRESIDE OVER THEIR DISTRIBUTION.”
Excerpt from L'Homme de Désir, song no. 8
This reminds me of a quote from Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher: “My God, give me the courage to change the things I can change, the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, and the wisdom to distinguish between the two.”
As a Martinist, I receive teachings that change me profoundly, creating a new understanding. My heart opens to the Divine to welcome it. This can be challenging work, especially in our times when we are constantly confronted with evil and noise. It is not always easy to achieve silence in order to find peace. It is through prayer and contemplation that I achieve this.
This teaching is transmitted to me today because I have asked for it, but I believe it is also my duty to pass it on, not as an Unknown Servant, but simply as a man or woman in everyday life.
Group Sursum Corda, Nice
October/November 2025
THOSE WHO THINK ABOUT DEATH HAVE ONLY FEAR. THOSE WHO THINK ABOUT LIFE HAVE LOVE (from Posthumous Works)
Thinking about death means locking yourself in fear and anxiety. When misdirected, fear paralyses us and cuts us off from the light. It traps us in the illusion of finitude. Conversely, thinking about life means opening ourselves up to love, growth and sharing. Even in times of hardship, a spark of love is enough to connect us to the fundamental vibration of the universe.
For Saint-Martin, death is not an end but an illusion born of the fall of man. It reflects a distancing from the divine light, a veil over consciousness. Those who recognise the divine principle within themselves never die, for they remain united with universal love, a creative and eternal force. True initiation consists in “dying to the old man”, that is, to the limited self, in order to be reborn to spiritual life.
Thus, earthly life must be understood as a school, a path of purification and return to the source. It invites us to move from the world of appearances, where everything seems to end, to the world of the spirit, where everything is life. Man is born to regenerate himself and rediscover the lost divine image.
To choose life is to choose love. It is to understand that the energy of life and the energy of love are one and the same vital force. The Scriptures remind us: ‘That which was in him was life, and life was the light of men.’ Nothing dies, everything is alive.
Cercle Saint Christophe de Salon de Provence
See you soon… in December!
“MEN CAN SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER IN THEIR JOURNEY TO GOD; BUT ONCE THEY ARE THERE, EACH ONE NEEDS ONLY GOD AND HIMSELF.”
From The New Man
This thought from Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin emphasizes that men can accompany and support each other in their spiritual quest. However, the ultimate union with God remains an inner, intimate, and solitary experience, where the soul no longer needs any guide.
It can be represented as a scene: travelers advance together in the darkness, sharing the fragile light of their lanterns. But when they reach the threshold of the sanctuary, each must cross the threshold alone, stripped of everything, facing the light.
The Renan Vilmart group from Laon Colleg
