page_title: Martinism
section_title: Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin
hierarchical_section_title: Martinism / Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin
caption_attribution_description: English: 'Christi Testamenta' by Jakob Böhme illustrates a heart superimposed on a cross, as well as veins and other heart-shaped forms also representing the Christian Trinity.
context_page_description: Martinism is a form of Christian mysticism and esoteric Christianity concerned with the fall of the first man, his state of material privation from his divine source, and the process of his return, called 'Reintegration' or illumination.
  As a mystical tradition, it was first transmitted through a masonic high-degree system established around 1740 in France by Martinez de Pasqually, and later propagated in different forms by his two students Louis Claude de Saint-Martin and Jean-Baptiste Willermoz.
  The term Martinism applies to both this particular doctrine and the teachings of the reorganized "Martinist Order" founded in 1886 by Augustin Chaboseau and Gérard Encausse. It was not used at the tradition's inception in the 18th century. This confusing disambiguation has been a problem since the late 18th century, where the term Martinism was already used interchangeably between the teachings of Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin and Martinez de Pasqually, and the works of the first being attributed to the latter. Regular transmission of Martinism to Augustin Chaboseau and Gérard Encausse still has to be documented.
context_section_description: Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin was born in 1743 in Amboise, France, and died in 1803. He was originally a barrister before taking a commission in the army at Bordeaux. Saint-Martin was initiated into the Elus-Cohens in 1768 and was active in the organization for at least six years. Saint-Martin was initiated into the Reaux-Croix, the highest degree of the Order, and in 1770 became de Pasqually's secretary.
  Saint-Martin became increasingly dissatisfied with the Elus-Cohens' use of theurgic ritual, feeling that it was too sophisticated for the desired end. Instead, he favoured inward contemplation, or what he called "The Way of the Heart". Nevertheless, Saint-Martin continued to acknowledge Martinez de Pasqually's influence on his own system of thought. In addition, Saint-Martin drew much inspiration from the work of Jakob Böhme.
  In 1777, after failing to convince the Elus-Cohens to adopt a more contemplative practice, he cut back his involvement in the Order. He ceased all involvement in 1790.
  Saint-Martin outlined his philosophy in several books, using the nom de plume of "The Unknown Philosopher". These include:
  Of Errors and Truth, 1775
  Man, His True Nature & Ministry
  Aphorisms and Maxims.
  The Spiritual Ministry of Man.
  Ten Prayers.
  The Red Book.
  Theosophic Correspondence.
  Natural Table of the Correspondences between God, Man and the Universe, 1782
  There has been some controversy over whether Saint-Martin himself ever founded a formalised Order of Martinists. For example, 20th-century Martinist author Robert Ambelain initially claimed that Saint-Martin founded an order called the "Society of Initiates", but within a few years he became disillusioned with the concept and stated that the Society of Initiates never existed. Others allege that Saint-Martin became involved in a pre-existing society called the "Order of Unknown Philosophers". It seems most probable, however, that although Saint-Martin did initiate disciples after a fashion, this was done on an informal basis; Martinism did not exist as an order per se until the efforts of Papus and Chaboseau (see below).
caption: 'Christi Testamenta' by Jakob Böhme, which may represents "way of the heart".
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