Jesus Voodoo Shrine

This might sound like an unlikely title for a piece like this, but those of you who are familiar with Latin American "witchcraft" or "magic" should know that everything is actually couched, to one degree or another, in Catholic culture, and that the saints are extremely important. For instance, in Santeria, the "supreme god" is Olofi, who is shown as the crucified Jesus, meaning that Jesus, then, is identified as Olofi, in the type of suncretism that is practiced. But there is more to this than that. Christianity was originally a very animist sort of religion which was remarkably similar to other animist sects in a whole lot of ways, and magic was a big part of the mix.

To that, you can add the types of magic, healing, and divination that is practiced in Mexico which is known generally as curanderismo, and in that, prayers such as the Our Father and the Hail Mary, along with the Creed and the Magnificat, are very much a part of the practice. Not only that, the people who are actually practicing rituals and such that far outdate Christianity completely consider themselves to be devout Catholics, and they don't want to hear about their roots in the likes of the Cult of Isis, in Aztec religion, or anything of the sort. But right in the middle of it is the "head saint" - Jesus. Now, some of the prayers are maybe a little strange and hard to understand, but what follows is part of the actual prayers of a Mexican Curandero, which he uses in order to remove hexes from his pacients, and you will note all of the references to the "head saint" in that.

By the way, I could have picked any saints to put behind Jesus in the shrine there - but, as it happens, I picked some of the ones that are popular in Haitian Voodoo.

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Part of the prayers of a curandero

(my translation - which could use some revision, I know)

Good Spirit which hates and preserves the jealousy of the hate all benevolence, all sentiment contrary to charity, for these are many other doors open to the spirit of evil with my pains the Holy Sacraments to the House of Jerusalem, Amen.

Saint Anthony, on a good path that in thy hands and those of the child that praying a prayer that the pilgrim prayed when Jesus Christ came five in the divine altar flowing drops of blood from the hands and the feet wipe, wipe, Magdalene do not thou tire of cleaning.

That these are the five wounds that I must pass with the small and the great and all of Christendom. King of the eternal dwelling may one day it please thee that angels descend from heaven saying Hail Mary three times a day: Hail Mary, Hail Mary, Hail Mary.

Saint Nicholas is lost The Virgin is looking for him. My Lady I have not seen there pass by here a dazzling star. Yes, My Lady, yes I saw that by here it went passing; Saint John and The Magdalene carry it in their hand.

Let us walk, let us walk until we arrive at Calvary that though we walk faster they will have already crucified Him they will have nailed Him the nails in his divine side the blood that there spills falls into the sacred chalice and the man to whom it is given will be well blessed.

Forever and ever, Amen.

As Thou art of Nature, My God, to this unhappy creature do not give the burial between the wings of evil give him strength and worth to be saved from the abyss; give him grace for the same that thy goodness is so great with my fragile arrogance and flooded the human sea I have crossed so alone through pleasure.

Let him, Lord, that he again walks on the continent making fervent vows to be a faithful Christian. If I with my foolish lack have strayed into the fog challenging the foam lift the storm, I offer that from hereon I will not have the gall to become deaf to the lament of he who suffers in that evil and following my road I have had that brazenness to mock that Pharoah that the harbor come near me.

I promise thee, My God, not to mock that light that shines over the cross through Thy Son and Thy Love.

Thou, Father of my soul who listens to the afflicted. May thou achieve repentance of what thy life was.

Save him, My God. Save him, My God, and give me an account beforehand so that I may repent in the necessary time. Amen.

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From Fausto's Art Gallery in Ojinaga, Chihuahua.
(Shipped from Presidio, Texas)
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