Curious Curandera Saint Magic Email Course Copyright 2008 Curious Curandera www.curiouscurandera.com Please do not distribute the lessons in this course either free or paid. The material is not to be copied, posted on the web, or shared. Please respect the copyright. Besides the years of knowledge that is behind my work, my email courses take months to put together. Thanks. ===================================================================== Hi everyone, welcome to the Curious Curandera Saint Magic Email Course. This is a 6 week course in the form of weekly lessons sent by email. ===================================================================== I encourage your questions and ideas. Questions others ask about the lessons will be made available to course members through email if I feel that they will benefit the others taking the course. I ask that you try to keep questions related to the current lesson. This helps to keep the course running smoothly. I will of course answer any questions you may have about past lessons but please try to keep up. At the end of the course I will send out your completion certificate to the email address you provided when signing up for the course. These certificates will be mailed to you as a PDF file which you can print and frame. ===================================================================== At the beginning of each lesson you will find a brief subject outline of what we will be covering for that week. You will also find some interesting facts, sayings or quotes which relate to the lesson and a section where I will write some of my general thoughts to share with you. At the end of each lesson you will be given homework assignments to be completed by the end of that week, before the next lesson is sent out. Please mail in your responses for assignments as soon as you can. You will not be graded on these assignments and you are not required to participate in them in order to receive your certificate but they do help you to learn the material. You will get from this

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course as much as you put in. Your participation may also help other course members who may not have thought of a question you have asked but which would benefit them in expanding in their knowledge. ===================================================================== Please note I use the term healing in two capacities. Energy healing is used to restore health. Healing can also refer to correcting an imbalance in your life. You can heal your love-life or heal your financial situation. Basically, the term healing means to restore balance. Illness is caused by an imbalance within the body. Nothing in this course should ever be used as a replacement for professional advice. If you have health problems, consult a doctor. If you have legal problems, consult an attorney. Magic should be used as a supplement not a replacement. ===================================================================== WARNING: Always keep a sharp eye on candles that are lit. Never leave them unattended. Candles can cause fires and other injuries, even glass encased candles have been known to break, causing fires. Know your herbs. If you are going to use herbs or other ingredients in spellwork you should always research them. Many herbs are toxic. Some herbs are very dangerous to ingest or to handle. Others may cause skin reactions. Always keep all your spellwork ingredients and tools away from children. =====================================================================

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Week 1.....Subject Outline ) What is a Saint? ) Some Saint History ) The Importance of Water ) Spiritual Saint Baths ) The Bath Ritual ) How to Prepare a New Saint Statue ) Working with the Saints ) Terms Related To Our Saints =====================================================================

5Inspiring Quote Such is the will of God that we should have everything through Mary. St. Alphonsus Liguori =====================================================================

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Curious Curanderas Thoughts Fun and true facts If you want to purchase a cup of coffee at the Holy Spirit Church in Zagreb, Croatia, you wont need any money. The coffee will cost you Three Our Fathers. If you want a cola it will cost you Five Hail Marys and a Glory Be, and for a cup of cappuccino it will cost you four Our Fathers. Who is God was the most searched for query in Google in 2007. Pope John Paul II snuck out for pleasure outings in the Italian Alps over 100 times before being discovered by a 10-year-old boy who pointed at Pope John Paul II and shouted, The pope!, The pope! St Anthony of Padua was once fed up with the hard heartedness of and heresies of the citizens of Rimini, Italy he went to the towns riverbanks and preached to the fish instead. The townspeople thought theyd better listen too when they saw the multitudes of fish show up. If your last name is Zolp as verified on your birth and Catholic baptismal certificates, Loyola University in Chicago will provide you with a full four-year scholarship. U. S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson and his Catholic daughter Luci attended the installation ceremony for Archdiocese of New York Cardinal Terrence Cooke at Saint Patrick's Cathedral on April 4, 1968. Olive trees were used for crucifixion. After having a dream from God, Saint Patrick escaped at the age of twenty and sailors took him back to Britain. In the dream he was told to leave Ireland via going to the coast. =====================================================================

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What is a Saint? In order to perform spellwork with the saints and to understand exactly what saint magic is you should first be versed in what a saint is. Some of our course takers are new to working with them and feel lost in the beginning. So do you fully know what a Saint is? How they became Saints? How they become proton over a particular area? If not, this section of the course will enlighten you. This understanding pays off later when you are actually performing spellwork and asking the Saints for assistance. Without a better understanding of why a saint is a saint you will not approach saint magic openly and successfully. Saint magic is a sort of teamwork effort between yourself and the Patron in order to reach your intended goal. The word Saint comes from the Latin word Sanctus, which means consecrated or holy. A patron is one who has been assigned by a venerable tradition, or chosen by election, as a special intercessor with God and the proper advocate of a particular locality, and is honored with a special form of religious observance. Patron Saints were ordinary men and women who have experienced the same difficulties in their earthly lives the same as we experience in our own lives. Because of their experiences and struggles, they have an understanding in particular areas we come to face. They too struggled in life. Others accomplished the impossible. For example, St. Francis of Assisi loved nature and so he has been named the patron of ecologists. St. Francis de Sales was a writer and so he is patron of journalists and writers. St. Clare of Assisi was named patron of television because one Christmas when she was too ill to leave her bed she saw and heard Christmas Mass -- even though it was taking place miles away. While sometimes a Saint is Patron over a particular situation, place or cause, due to an event in his or her life. Other times the connection is more or less accidental. For example St Martin was the patron of drunkards because his feast day which is on November 11, coincided with the Roman Vinalia, or feast of Bacchus. Other Saints have been named Patron over areas for their own great acts in succeeding the impossible.....such as Elizabeth Ann Seton who opened many schools, child care centers, orphanages, and hospitals during her lifetime. Angels can also be named as Patron Saints.....Saint Michael, Saint Rafael, Saint Gabriel, etc..... These areas of expertise can include occupations, illnesses, churches, countries, causes, handicaps, limitations, their own personal sufferings and conversions, and so much more. There are over 10, 000 Patron Saints known, so every need we may have or situation we find ourselves facing there is a Saint for us to turn to.

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People seek the intersession of a particular Saint to ask for help for the cause that Saint is Patron of. A situation we have concern over is never taken to a Saint if he or she does not have Patronage over that area. Some areas have more than one Patron Saint ..... so many Saints are Patron over more than one specific area. We take our concerns to these Saints because even after their death, they are still involved in the affairs of this world. Its through them that our prayers are taken to heaven on our behalf. Saints are not canonized unless it is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that miracles took place through his or her prayers on behalf of the person who experienced the miracles. While in the spirit world they have proven to still be among the living, offering their help when we need them. Besides seeking Saintly miracles, praying to them gives us a sense of family and assurance, a feeling that we never have to face difficulty alone, and a feeling of hope. Since Saints are close to God in heaven, their prayers, on our behalf, are particularly effective. Many people ask Saint Monica to pray for them if they have trouble with unanswered prayers, because Saint Monica prayed for twenty years for her son to be converted. Finally her prayers were answered in a way she never dreamed of........her son, Augustine, became a canonized Saint and a Doctor of the Church. Feast days are recognized for each Saint. These feast days are usually the day of martyrdom, the day of the year in which they died, very often especially if they gave up their lives for their faith. These special Saints that gave up their lives for their faith are called martyrs. On feast days we take advantage on this day to honor the Saints either for their answers to our prayers or because of our devotion to them. Without showing our gratitude we risk the chance that these Saints will not help us in the future. For the spiritual worker (spell worker) feast days are important days of observation, especially if you call on the same particular saint over and over again for help, like many spell workers do. Most people who employ the saints in spellwork have a particular saint they like to use for special purposes. For example, I like to call on Saint Martha for matters of love, Saint Lazarus, Saint Michael, Satin Jude, or Nino de Atocha for healing, Saint Michael or Saint Cipriano for protection, and Saint Ignatius of Loyola to overcome enemies or to keep enemies away. I usually wont work with another Saint for these matters, so I continuously call on the same ones for the same reasons. Since I employ these saints often, feast days (their special day of honor) is a way for me to honor them, thank them for their support and continuous aide. Their feast day offers me a chance to repay them, in a small way, by bringing gifts (offerings) and lighting candle for them to show my

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appreciation and faith. Feast days are also a good day to shower our favorite Saints with prayer without asking for anything in return. Many of our patron saints have litanies attached to them which are special prayers given that say hey thank you, youre wonderful and appreciated Saint magic is widely practiced but not widely spoken about, at least not by the curanderas and curanderos. In this course its my intention to teach you how to employ the saints for various reasons and to enlighten you as to the way a real life curandera works behind the scenes. =====================================================================

Some Saint History During the first three centuries of the Churchs history, people would assemble for worship in private houses, in cemeteries, or other odd places. At intervals it had been possible to erect or adapt buildings for the sacred rites of religion. These buildings, however, were not dedicated to the saints, but were spoken of as the House of God, the House of Prayer, and sometimes as the Temple of God. They were also known as Kyriaca, Dominica, or Oratoria. Larger structures received the name of basilicas, and the term church (ecclesia) was constantly employed to designate the place where the faithful assembled to hear the word of God and partake of the sacraments. It was not uncommon for churches to be built over the bones of a martyred saint, and even to see the display of relics or cloths reputed to have miraculous healing power. By the year 100 A.D., Christians were honoring other Christians who had died, and asking for their intercession. Many people think that honoring saints was something the Church set up later, but it was part of Christianity from the very beginning. As a matter of fact, this practice came from a long-standing tradition in the Jewish faith of honoring prophets and holy people with shrines. The first saints were martyrs, people who had given up their lives for the Faith in the persecution of Christians. In the old times, the word Saint was used to refer to ANYONE who believed in Jesus Christ and followed his teachings. The assumption was that those who followed Christ had been so transformed that they were now different from other men and women and, thus, should be considered holy. However, the meaning of the word Saint began to change. As Christianity began to spread, it became clear that some Christians lived lives of extraordinary, or heroic, virtue. While other Christians struggled to live out the gospel of Christ, these people

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were eminent examples of the moral virtues, and they easily practiced the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity. The word Saint then became more narrowly applied to such people, who were venerated after their deaths as Saints, usually by the members of their local church or the Christians in the region where they lived, because they were familiar with their good deeds. Eventually, the Catholic Church created a process, called canonization, through which such venerable people could be recognized as Saints by all Christians everywhere. Most of the Saints, for instance, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, have gone through this process of canonization. Others, such as St. Peter and St. Paul, received the title through acclamation, or the universal recognition of their holiness. Its believed that both types of Saints (canonized and acclaimed) are already in Heaven, which is why one of the requirements for the canonization process is proof of miracles performed by the possible saint after his death. In the earliest stage, the saint-in-the-making is identified as a Servant of God. That stage is followed by recognition of being Venerable and then Blessed before being recognized by the Church as a Saint. This official recognition by the Church as a Saint comes at the conclusion of the process and ceremony called canonization. The practice of adopting Patron Saints goes back to the building of the first public churches in the Roman Empire, most of which, like I mentioned earlier, were built over the graves of martyrs. The churches were then given the name of the martyr, and the martyr was expected to act as an intercessor for the people who worshiped there. Soon, people began to dedicate churches to other holy men and women.......Saints......who were not martyrs. Today, relics of a Saint are still placed inside the altar of each church, and we dedicate that church to a Patron. That's what it means to say that your church is St. Marys or St. Peters or St. Pauls. The Patron Saints of churches, and more broadly of regions and countries, have generally been chosen because of some connection of that Saint to that place.......he had preached the Gospel there; he had died there; some or all of his relics had been transferred there. As Christianity spread to areas with few martyrs or canonized Saints, it became common to dedicate a church to a Saint whose relics were placed in it or who was especially venerated by the founders of the church. In the United States, immigrants often chose as Patrons the Saints that had been venerated in their native lands. By the middle ages, the practice of adopting Patron Saints had spread beyond churches to the ordinary interests of life, his health, and family, trade, maladies, and perils, his death, his city and

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country. The whole social life of the Catholic world before the reformation was animated with the idea of protection from the citizens of heaven. Saint Joseph became the Patron Saint of carpenters; Saint Cecilia, of musicians; etc. Saints were usually chosen as Patrons of occupations that they had actually held or that they had patronized during their lives. The same is true of Patron Saints for diseases, who often suffered from the illness assigned to them or cared for those who did. Sometimes, though, martyrs were chosen as the Patron Saints of diseases which were reminiscent of their martyrdom. Saint Agatha, who was martyred c. 250, was chosen as the Patron of those with diseases of the breast, since her breasts were cut off when she refused marriage to a non-Christian. Often, such Saints are chosen too as a symbol of hope. The legend of Saint Agatha attests that Christ appeared to her as she lay dying and restored her breasts that she might die whole. The blending of religion and magic is not new and may be best seen through the example of saints and miracles. Since magic was disallowed by the Church, a saint with his or her rituals could accomplish for Christians what magic used to. In ancient Germany, it was believed that gifts (offerings) should be awarded to those Saints who were still living. That way, the Saint would reward the gift giver from heaven. If that Saint did not reward the gift giver after death, that Saint was obviously not a very good one. This was the big test....to perform a miracle through death. It was believed that having a part of the Saint (a relic) such as a Saints body, a body part, clothing, something they owned, etc. would bring about miracles to the one who possessed them. When the relics failed, they were viewed as being disobedient. In order to force a relic to perform a miracle, they would humiliate it. For example, someone might have sworn at St. Jeromes tooth, effectively humiliating the saint himself. This ancient practice of humiliating the saint was probably the start of people today turning a Saint statue towards the wall or burying it to make a piece of property sell quickly. The collection of relics grew to be very popular in the 1200s. It was believed that if a person owned a relic, that person held a special bond over that Saint. Theoretically, the newly dead Saint was to be buried, the church would perform an investigation, and then the body would be exhumed. The corpse would then be brought out on holy days. In 1204 A.D., Byzantine fell to the crusaders and was pillaged for its relics. These relics were then taken west. Nevertheless, it was much easier to obtain the body parts of local Saints. At the death of each Saint, local people would ravage the corpse for relics. Sometimes, however, they would not wait for the Saint to be completely dead before they began their scavenging.

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With enforced Christianity came a turn from traditional magic to Parish Christianity. The difference between the two is negligible. For example, only a minor variance between a magical amulet and a Saints medallion exists. The dividing line is often confusing. For example, only the Church could perform magic. If a priest performed it, it was a miracle; if a layperson performed it, it was evil magic. Hmmmmm...... By the end of the fifteenth century, the two types of magic had come together with the European ritual cycles. Ritual cycles were very important in invoking the help of a saint and receiving miracles. The calendar was broken up into the great feasts of the Church: Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and Lent (carnival). On the eve of Lent, there was Carnival, a celebration of inversion. This was perhaps the most popular of holidays. Morality was turned upside-down. The least popular youth was made mock pope. In Germany prostitutes marched during Carnival. Carnival was allowed as a satirical means of removing desires, as a way for the common folk to let off steam. Many other holidays existed. There were very few days that were not a celebration of one Saint or another. Based on the disposition of users, the sacramentals were yet another opportunity for miracles to become enmeshed with magic. Local villagers reinterpreted the sacraments. Mass was seen as a magic ritual, and sacramentals were used as talismans. Candles were blessed, taken home, and used to protect the home and its inhabitants from evil. Waxed tapers were used to keep harm from newborns. Holy water was also much sought after as protection against evil. Blessed palm fronds were used for protection against evil. These fronds saved crops from fire, storm, and lightning. Communion bread was served to conjure against harm, to recover lost objects, and to make the user invisible. However, these official sacramentals were somewhat difficult to obtain for the layperson. More available sacramentals like prayers and the sign of the cross were used to equally good effect. They brought power and help to those who needed it. Another thing Christian-magically-minded people would do was place objects under the altar during Mass. These objects would obtain magical and miraculous healing properties. Simply touching the altar cloth would cure epilepsy. Its really interesting that our magical beliefs today and the beliefs of our ancestors who lived hundreds of years ago havent really changed much. =====================================================================

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The Importance Of Water There is much to be said about the mysteries of what most people see as mere water. Water is one of the most powerful forces of the universe. It can destruct cities or heal the fragile human body. Its forces are seen and unseen, quick or slow, predictable and unpredictable. Without water there is no life. Every living organism on earth must have water to survive. Life on earth, animal and plant would cease to exist without it. Every living cell is composed primarily of water. Water adapts to its surroundings, it changes its form to the shape of whatever contains it. It is the only natural substance on earth that is found as a gas, liquid, and solid. Water covers 70 percent of the earths surface and makes up 70 percent of the human body and transforms itself over and over again. Water has the ability to hold our thoughts and feelings and actually changes its molecule structure according to what energy it absorbs. An interesting article can be found here..... You really have to check this out..... http://www.life-enthusiast.com/twilight/research_emoto.htm Here they show pictures of the changes that take place when water is subjected to different energies. This research was conducted by a Japanese scientist named Masaru Emoto. He has also written a book on the subject called The Message from Water. So if you have any doubts how powerful water is......I recommend taking a look at this article. But the mysteries of water go even further than this. Not only can water hold our thoughts but it can be used for divination, cleansing, removing negative energies, Saint Offerings, and it can bridge the gap between our earthly plane and the spiritual world, making it easier for spirits to communicate with us. The water we have around us everyday which is usually taken for granted is actually alive and responsive to our every thought. Miracle healing waters have been discovered throughout the world and have been responsible for thousands of unexplainable healings. Human vibrational energy, thoughts, words, ideas and music, affect the molecular structure of water. The best scientist in the world cant understand it or explain its power, yet it exists.

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Water has the ability to take on our prayers and energies, both in a positive and negative way, depending on what we present. It has the ability to further reach the spirits more easily, and in this case, the Saints too (being Saints are spirits). Since water, in its natural form, no matter how it is contained or what contains it, can escape in a matter of time. Whether through a crack in the container or through evaporation, it can seep into the spirit realm at a faster rate than we can imagine and continue to flow. Water is energy, and everything in the spirit world is energy. Energy has no time span, its effects are instantaneous. Thats what makes the use of water, in spellwork work so well, so quickly and so powerfully. Incorporating water in your spellwork, especially for the use in Saint Magic, the water used should always be blessed. I am Catholic so these are the types of prayer I use throughout my courses. If you are of another religion, use whatever means you have for blessing or change the words to fit your path. Making Holy Water You can make Holy Water yourself, many people do. The short version of making Holy Water is to add salt to the water and recite a short prayer over the water container to bring blessings....but there is also a longer and more involved method. In my own opinion the more of your own energy and effort you put in to something, the more you get out of it. This longer version of making Holy Water is the one I use. Its my own personal opinion that you cannot take two impure substances (water and salt) and create something pure by mixing them together without making each of the items pure from the start. This is not to say that those who follow the shorter method are doing it incorrectly, this is just my own personal belief. My method follows.... You will need some salt and the water to be blessed... Take the salt in your hand and say.... Salt made by God, I purge you of evil, by the living God, by the true God, by the holy God, by God who ordered by the mouth of the prophet Eliseus, that you be mixed with water to heal the latter's sterility. Become now the salt of exorcism for the salvation of the faithful, that all tasting you may receive health of soul and body. From wherever you are sprinkled let there flee away all appearance of devilish deceit,

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and wickedness and cunning. Let every unclean spirit be commanded by him who is to come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire. Amen. Almighty and everlasting God, we humbly beg of your measureless mercy to bless this salt that you have made and given mankind to use. (Make the sign of the cross over the salt) Sanctify it in your loving kindness, so that all who partake of it may receive health of both mind and body. Grant that whatever is touched or sprinkled by it may be preserved from uncleanness, and from every assault of the wicked foe, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen Now take the water in your hands and say.... Water made by God, I purge you, too, of evil, in the name of God the Father almighty, in the name of Jesus Christ his son our Lord, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Become now water blessed to banish all power of the enemy, and to conquer and dispel that enemy himself with his fallen angels, by the power of the same Lord Jesus Christ, who shall come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire. (Make the sign of the cross over the water) Amen. O God, for the salvation of mankind you have built your greatest sacraments on this substance of water. Give a kindly hearing to our prayers, and pour out the power of your blessing on this element, now prepared for our many kinds of purifications. Grant that this, your creature, may receive power by divine grace, in serving your mysteries, to drive away evil spirits, and dispel diseases. Grant that everything in the homes or other buildings of the faithful that is sprinkled with this water may be freed of all uncleanness, and be freed from harm. Let no harmful spirit abide here, nor breath of corruption approach, and may all the snares of our hidden enemy vanish. If there be anything which threatens either the health or the peace of those living there, may the sprinkling of this water put it to flight. Grant that the well-being sought by calling on your holy name may be defended from all attacks, through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Here you will add the salt to the water when prompted in the prayer...)

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O God, you are the origin of unshakable power, the king of an unconquerable dynasty, and a ruler ever magnificent in triumphs. It is you that hold in check the forces of the hostile power, you that vanquish the rage of the roaring foe, you that scatter far and wide the snares of the enemy. Trembling and bowing before you, we ask of you and we beg, O Lord, that you behold with favor this mixture of salt and water, to regard it with kindness, and to bless it with the breath of your tireless love. (Now sprinkle a pinch if the salt into the water) Grant that wherever it is sprinkled at the invocation of your holy name, the attacks of the unclean spirit may be banished, and the fear of the fatal serpent be kept far away. Let the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, who humbly implore your mercy, be everywhere granted, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and is King and God with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. (Make the sign of the cross over the water again) Amen. When asking for the intercession of Saints you should always have a clear glass of water near. If you are lighting a candle to the Saint, place the water near the candle. If you are not burning a candle place the water in the area that you use when praying or near the saint image you are praying to. The water acts as a filter to absorb any negativity around you and the area you are work in. It also helps to keep away any outside interference that may influence your prayer or spellwork. It helps to think in terms of vibration when trying to understand the power of water. The spoken word has a vibration. There is physical evidence today that when you bless something, you change its structure. Prayers spoken directly into a glass of water help to seal in our words and desires, not to mention amplifies them. This practice of speaking directly into a glass of water is practiced in many religions all over the world. Doing this takes our prayers immediately from us to the spirit. You can also use this same concept for spiritually healing yourself or for spiritually healing others. To do this, speak your prayer or healing words directly into the water and drink it. Wait

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24, hours and repeat the process again. Continue this once a day until health has been restored. When asking a Saint for health and to overcome an illness recovery seems to be faster and longer lasting when practiced this way. Water can also be used as offerings to Saints to show your devotion and gratitude. All Saints appreciate fresh water offerings with the exception of Saint Lazarus (San Lazaro). But this is not to say that if you are working with Saint Lazarus you cant have a glass of water in the same room to absorb negativity, just not as an offering. You can however offer water to his dogs. You will notice the picture of Saint Lazarus in the files section of the group has dogs at his feet, cleaning his wounds. When working with Saint Lazarus although he doesnt like water offerings himself you can still place the water offering off to the side and tell him its to refresh his canine companions. One last thing regarding the use of water; A clear glass of water should always be kept in the room you work magic in. This offers protection to the practitioner. Actually regardless if you are working magic or not a clear glass of water placed in a room offers tremendous benefits. This will assure that the area is kept free from negative energies. Also its good practice to keep another glass of water near the bed as you sleep. This practice will help to block any spellwork being directed towards you and keep you safe during sleeping hours. When our body is at rest as we sleep, this is the best and easiest time that work can be done on us. If someone is ever trying to do magic against you they are more likely to try calling your spirit when they believe you will be sleeping since our spirits (souls) are easier targets. This is why you hear of many spells which direct you to call on the persons spirit when you think they might be sleeping. This is when we tend to be easier targets for witchcraft. Keeping a glass of water near the bed as you sleep will offer some form of protection. It will also show signs of how much negativity is around you by the amount of tiny bubbles that cling to the side of the glass. In the morning empty the water into the toilet and flush it away. Refill the glass with fresh water before going to bed again. =====================================================================

Spiritual Saint Baths Many cultures believe in the powerful effects of water not only for cleaning the mundane dirt from our bodies but to cleanse our spirit, our soul and our essence. Spiritual bathing is as old as mankind and is still practiced today.

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History, Religion and Culture Christian baptism is a good example of a spiritual bathing. The water is poured on the person and believed to wash away the sins of the flesh. This gives new life to the person on both a physical and a spiritual level. Also, Catholic priests make water Holy by reciting ritual prayers over it and then making the sign of the cross above the vessel containing the water. Ancient Greeks, Romans, Celtics, Mayans, Aztecs, Incas, and many others believed a spiritual bath to be a necessity and take spiritual baths on a regular basis. It was once considered to be a sacred ritual in order to bring blessings to their families and to their lives. The Japanese believe in the power of water in much the same way. Its believed that water is a symbol of purity and blessings. Buddhists believe that spiritual bathing is necessary for purifying the human soul so that they may connect with a higher power. Temples are still built to house special bathing facilities and are used to bring purity to the body, mind and soul. The river festival in India is an ancient water ritual where people go to bathe. The event is long and festive and the highlight of the event is the spiritual bath itself. Participants plunge themselves into the Ganges River three times while repeating Long live Mother Ganga in their native tongue. Native American sweat lodges are also a form of spiritual bathing. Here selected prayers are recited and incantations are worded to invoke the spirits of the four elements..... the sun, the moon, the earth, and the water. Special liquids are poured over the hot stones to create a spiritual steam which is believed to purify the person of negative energies. Native American healers also chant and shake rattles over water to enhance its healing properties. Ancient Greeks viewed spiritual bathing as a very necessary and sacred act. They believed it to be a way of survival since the bath kept them in good health spiritually and emotionally. Kings and Queens took ritual baths in sacred pools and natural bodies of water such as lakes and streams. The Nile River was often used for spiritual bathing ceremonies. During these ceremonies flowers and herbs were added to the water to increase its effectiveness. The Mikvah (mikveh) is a Jewish form of a spiritual bathing ritual. It is a pool of water specially constructed and used for total body immersion. This spiritual bath was used before two people were married and this is where the term bridal shower actually comes from. Today it is used to achieve purity.

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Spiritually Cleansing Energy Spiritual bathing goes hand in hand with Saint Magic. These baths strengthen our connection with nature and bring us closer to God and to the Saints we work with. They can be taken for inner guidance and to uplift the soul, even for those who do not hold any particular religious or spiritual beliefs. Depending on the spiritual bath taken these baths can help end bad luck, open the way for love, happiness, money, healing, and just about any situation a person may face. The Bath Ritual There is a certain procedure that should be followed when taking ritual saint baths. The rules follow...... When you are trying to bring or attract something towards you.....stand in the tub and pour the water over your head and then rub your body upwards with your hands from your feet to your head. The idea here is that you want to rub the spiritual water that you poured over yourself back up the body to bring the desired results to you. When you are trying to send something away, repel or rid yourself of something..... then you want to pour the water over your head and then rub your body downwards with your hands from your head to your feet. The idea here is that you want to rub the spiritual water that you poured over yourself down the body to rid yourself of a problem. Just remember... upwards to receive and downwards to release..... Or upwards to grow and downwards to shrink..... Thats not too difficult..... ;) Whichever result you are seeking you should first shower beforehand to remove the mundane dirt from the body, turn off the shower or empty the tub and then stand there and pour the spiritual water over yourself. Once you pour the spiritual water over yourself, do not dry off. Allow the moisture to dry naturally on your body.

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The Moon If you really want to add some extra power to these spiritual Saint Baths look at the moon cycle. When incorporating the moon phases.....the rule is.....to take your spiritual bath during the waning moon when you want to remove or repel something and if you want to draw or attract something then take your spiritual bath during the waxing moon. There are numerous places on the net that give the current phase of the moon. There are also moon phase programs you can download for free that will tell you what phase the moon is currently in and when a particular moon phase will happen do some research...it is easy to find. Another resource for finding the current phase of the moon is your local newspaper. Moon phases are always listed in the weather section along with other useful data. Bath Mixtures While taking a spiritual saint bath there are certain procedures to follow...... the way the curious curandera works (me, heehee...) is to take two white tealight or votive candles and dedicate them to the saint your working with. This is easily done by simply verbally and mentally telling the saint that these candles are dedicated in their name to bring their power to the ritual bath. The candles are set on a small white plates to protect the floor from melted wax that may escape during burning. Each of the candles is placed in opposite sides of the bathroom so that you will have to walk between them to get in the bath. A prayer to the Saint you are working with is recited asking for their help with your desire before entering the bath. Ask your chosen Saint to be your intercessor and to bless you with his/her help. Here you can also choose a psalm that relates to your desire. Write the psalm on paper so that you have it handy to read after bathing. Get in the bath and wet your entire body, including your head. Then scoop up some water either with your cupped hands or with a small container and pour it over your head. With your hands wipe the water upwards or downwards depending on your desire. (I spoke of this earlier). Do this three times. Afterwards sit in the bath for about 10 to 15 minutes meditating on the desired outcome.

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Get out of the tub and collect a small container of the bath water and set it aside (you will need this later). Allow the rest of the water to go down the drain. Do not dry off. Walk in between the candles and kneel, its probably best to place a folded towel on the floor to catch the drips. Here, on your knees, recite the psalm if you have chosen to include one. If not spend several minutes in meditation with your chosen Saint and the request you made to him/her. Play out the entire scene from beginning to end in your minds eye. Watch your desire taking place in your mind. Then dress in clean clothing. Take the container of water you collected from your bath and if the purpose of your bath was to REMOVE something then pour the water out into the street.....if the purpose of your bath was to BRING something then pour the water on your doorstep. Allow the candles to burn out on its own. Here are some bath mixtures you can try for yourself. They are all good and very powerful if you follow my instruction. I use these saint baths myself and prescribe them to my clients. The following baths are designed to bring the help of a particular Saint. Note: When I mention a handful as a measurement in these mixtures this does not mean as much as you can pile in your hand. This means to use only enough herb to make a small bundle to cover the center of your cupped palm. Saint Michael Bath This is a good bath for spiritual protection and to overcome those who are against you. There are plenty of Psalms for protection purposes but some popular ones would be Psalm 7, Psalm 18, Psalm 23, and Psalm 27 1 handful angelica Boil 1 quart of filtered water and remove from heat. Place the herbs in the water and allow to steep until the water is cool to the touch. Strain out the herb and pour the liquid into the bath. San Martin Caballero Bath This is a good bath for success, especially success in business matters. A good Psalm for this bath would be Psalm 108. 1 handful of honeysuckle 1 handful of mint 2 star anise Boil 1 quart of filtered water and remove from heat. Place the herbs in the water and allow to steep until the water is cool to the touch. Strain out the herb and pour the liquid into the bath.

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La Virgencita De Guadalupe (Virgin of Guadalupe Bath) This is a good bath to attract love and good luck. A good Psalm for this bath would be Psalm 111 to attract love or Psalm 4 to bring good luck. The petals from 7 roses Boil 1 quart of filtered water and remove from heat. Place the flower petals in the water and allow to steep until the water is cool to the touch. Strain out the herb and pour the liquid into the bath. After the bath spray your body with holy water. Saint Lazarus Bath This is a good bath for healing and to remain healthy. A good Psalm for this bath would be Psalm 6. 1 handful of Rosemary 1 handful of Chamomile Boil 1 quart of filtered water and remove from heat. Place the herbs in the water and allow to steep until the water is cool to the touch. Strain out the herb and pour the liquid into the bath. After the bath spray your body with holy water. Saint Peter Bath This is a good bath for receiving family happiness, overcoming relationship problems, and finding suitable employment. A good Psalm for this bath would be Psalm 57, an all purpose Psalm for success. 1 handful rue 1 handful basil Boil 1 quart of filtered water and remove from heat. Place the herbs in the water and allow to steep until the water is cool to the touch. Strain out the herb and pour the liquid into the bath. Saint Jude Bath This is another good bath for healing and maintaining health. A good Psalm for this is Psalm 6. 1 handful of sea salt 1 handful of sage Boil 1 quart of filtered water and remove from heat. Place the herbs in the water and allow to steep until the water is cool to the touch. Strain out the herb and pour the liquid into the bath. Sacred Heart Bath

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This is a good bath to bring blessings of all kinds into your life. A good Psalm for this bath would be Psalm 62. 2 parts Eucalyptus 1 part Hyssop Boil 1 quart of filtered water and remove from heat. Place the herbs in the water and allow to steep until the water is cool to the touch. Strain out the herb and pour the liquid into the bath. =====================================================================

How to Prepare a New Saint Statue When bringing a new Saint statue into your home it should first be properly prepared..... not only to remove the mixture of accumulated outside energies but to also personalize the image or to dedicate it for a special use. There are many ways you can achieve this personalization. The first thing that should be done is to spiritually fumigate the image to clean away unwanted and unusual energy. This can be done through smudging. You can use a smudge stick or stick incense for this. If Im using incense one of my favorites is Church Incense, also called Gloria Incense. You can use other types of incense or dry herbs if you prefer. Some good cleansing incense that you can purchase includes Myrrh, Frankincense, Hyssop, and Copal. Dry herbs used for cleansing includes ruda (rue), rosemary, and sage. Sage is another one of my favorites. Use whichever you prefer. If you choose to go with another type of store bought incense or another type of dry herb make sure it has cleansing and purification properties associated with it. For this explanation I am going to assume you are using loose Church Incense, just for simplicity. For the cleansing you will need a charcoal disk to burn the incense, a heatproof container to burn the incense since the charcoal does get very hot, some Holy Water, a candle to your protective Saint, and of course Church Incense. Begin by focusing on your intention; in this case it is to remove negativity from the statue. Light a candle to your protective Saint and ask for his/her protection from any negativity that may linger after the cleansing and to protect you from any negativity that may attach itself to you or anyone else in the home. And from any other resistant or stubborn energy that may be hard to force away.

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Ignite the edge of the charcoal disk and place a large pinch of the Church Incense on the center of the charcoal disk. Once the incense begins to smoke say the following prayer while spiritually smoking the statue. The idea is to have the smoke from the incense come in contact with all parts of the Saint. If the Saint statue is small enough to pick up in your hands...pick it up and pass the image through the smoke several times, turning the image in all direction so that the smoke comes in contact with the entire object. If on the other hand, the statue is too large to pick up then just direct the smoke towards the image with your hands. Prayer Our help is in the name of the Lord, who has made heaven and earth. Almighty and eternal God, it does not displease you that images of your saints are carved or painted. For as often as we look on these images with our bodily eyes, so often we do consider the actions of your saints with our mind's eye, and ponder their sanctity for our imitation. Be so good, we beg of you, as to banish all negative energies from this Saintly representation. Render this statue clean and pure And assure that all dangerous and negative energies that are released from this image Be sent far from my home and family Assure us safety and spiritual progression through its use. Grant that whoever in the presence of this image humbly pays devout reverence and honor to (saints name) may through his/her merits and intercession win grace in this life, and everlasting glory in the world to come, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Repeat this three times. The entire time you are reciting the prayer you are also passing the statue through the smoke of the incense. Make sure that all side of the statue is spiritually fumigated, including the bottom of it. When the entire statue has been fumigated sprinkle it with holy water. This is when a spray bottle of Holy Water will come in handy since you can adjust the amount of water released. You dont want to saturate the statue but the Holy Water should be sprayed over the entire image. You can also fix a Saint Statue if you want to use it for a specific purpose. If you have a statue that you want to use to provide yourself with protection.....turn the statue over and carefully drill a hole on the bottom. Once the hole is drilled print two small images of the Saint and one of

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yourself. You can print these from the internet and resize them in Microsoft Word or in another photo editing program. You want to make them small enough to that when you roll them up they fit into the hole you drilled. Now take the picture of yourself and place it in between the two pictures of the Saint. Your picture should be face up and the two pictures of the Saint should be each facing your picture. While you are sandwiching the pictures together concentrate and ask the Saint to be your spiritual protector. Once you have done this roll the three pictures up tightly.....and roll them up towards yourself, not away from you. You want to bring the protection not send it away. Insert the rolled up pictures into the hole and seal the opening with some wax. You can use this method to personalize Saint Statues for a number of purposes by adding pictures, prayers, blessings, herbs, seeds, relics, crystals and other gemstones, symbols, powders or oils related to what you want to achieve. Use items that represent what you want the statue to be used for. Anther way to prepare a statue, and this is one of my favorite methods, is to take the statue and set it on top of a piece of wood that is at least a quarter inch in thick. With a pencil trace the shape of the base of the statue onto the board. Remove the statue and draw another circle inside the shape of the states base shape. Now here is when you need your craftiness. With a jigsaw or a scroll saw, cut out the shape of the base and then cut out the inside of the inner circle. You end up with a wooden ring. Take that and glue it to the bottom of the statue. Since you traced the shape of the base, your cutout should fit to the bottom of the statue perfectly. Once this is dry you can place anything inside the cutout to personalize the statue. Maybe you want to place some herbs, dried flowers, roots, small pieces of gemstones or quartz, pictures, or maybe even a written prayer. I like this method since you dont actually alter the statue itself by drilling holes into it. =====================================================================

Working With The Saints Saint magic is practiced among many religions and has been practiced for centuries. Its nothing new folks. Its important to be sincere, humble, unselfish, and to have complete faith in your work when asking the Saints to intercede on your behalf. You should also keep your requests in check.

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Make sure you are asking the right Saint for help with a particular request. It isnt wise to ask a Saint for a request which that Saint is not patron of. Different Saints will provide help for different areas. For instance, you shouldnt ask Saint Lazarus to help you in your financial matters since this Saint grants requests of healing and health related problems. Saints bring better results when they are matched with the kinds of problems or situations they too have experienced in their earthly life or are invoked for a problem they can relate to. A Saint who was inflicted with skin problems would sympathize with a request made for your own skin problems. Remember, our Saints have patronage over certain areas. Always think about what you present to a Saint before you formally ask them to intercede for you and never perform Saint Magic when you are angry, upset, ill, or not able to fully concentrate. This will only bring you a failed request. When working with the Saints, candles are usually burned in their honor for several reasons...... The candle represents not only the Saint you are working with but it also illuminates the situation at hand. Burning their candle brings his or her blessing to the problem presented before them. The candle is also an emblem that represents your devotion and eagerness to working side by side with that particular Saint. Seven day glass encased candles with the Saints picture is usually burned and a prayer given asking the Saint to intercede on your behalf. Those who employ a Saint often in spellwork will usually have Saint Altars or shrines set up in their homes. These altars are normally set up in a permanent location away from the main entrance of the home or an entire room is devoted to working spells with them in order to draw their blessings and create a positive buildup of spiritual energy. Here is where you build special relationships with the Saints you work with and invoke the powers of the divine. The more you work at your Saint Altar the more positive energy you build which in turn creates some serious powerful magic. Invoking the help of a Saint doesnt mean that you dont have to put forth your own efforts. Dont expect to sit back and do nothing while the Saints works his or her magic for you. You shouldnt expect to find a good job if you never get out and apply for one. Dont expect to resolve marriage problems if you do nothing to make changes within yourself. Dont expect to overcome your financial problems if you dont stop spending needlessly. Dont expect your health to be restored if you continue to smoke. We must take action to obtain these things. The Saints will help you but you have to do your part as well. They are not able to live your life for you.....that is for you to do......but they will gladly assist you, comfort you, guide you, and bring new and better opportunities to you.

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To obtain daily blessings from the Saints and to bring them closer to us we should recite the litany of the Saints on a daily basis. This litany is powerful and includes all the most popular Saints known. It all depends on how involved you want to be. The more involved, the more received, the more you grow, and the more progress you make. Saint magic is not just a hobby or a simple pastime.....its a very serious act and a great commitment. Saints are powerful intercessors, but we too have our own powers, energies, religious flares, and abilities. By combining our own abilities with the help of the Saints wonderful things can manifest in our lives. The impossible can be possible. Offerings to Patron Saints can be made according to your own spiritual belief. Offerings among the Catholics usually include sacramentals. Sacramentals are not the same as sacraments.....dont get these two confused....they are very different. Sacraments are religious rituals or church ceremonies, Sacramentals are objects that remind us of God or the Holy (Examples: holy water, rosary, crucifixes, exorcisms, blessings, candles, ashes, palms, medals, etc.) Offerings we make to the Patron Saints in the form of sacramentals can include Holy Water, rosaries, praying the rosary, holy medals, crucifixes, holy images, blessed salt, blessed oil, scapulars, candles, fire, incense, bells, prayer cards, fasting, and novenas. Other types of offerings that are common are small charms (Milagros) which are used as representation to something needing help with. For instance, if someone had a heart problem, or a broken heart the small heart charm would be offered to represent these things. Plants are a common offering as well as fresh flowers. Everyones offerings are different and have special meaning depending on your religious beliefs. Sacramentals are also commonly used as amulets and talismans. Speaking of sacramentals, I see many people making the sign of the cross but when I ask them why they do it they arent really sure.....most of the replies I get are.....Im suppose to. Others who know why they are making the sign of the cross stumble when I ask them what it means. And still others who can answer these two questions didnt even know that there was a correct and incorrect way of making the sign of the cross. This is not to make fun of these people or to embarrass them but just out of my own curiosity (thats why I have the name curious curandera...hehehe) to see how many people understand exactly what they are doing and why they are doing it. Consciously doing something spiritual makes all the difference when you know why its being done. The Sign Of The Cross The Sign of the Cross is a prayer in itself; its a sign of faith. This is not only the greatest but the most frequently used of all the sacramentals. No ceremony is performed without it, at least those performed by Christians. The sign of the cross is the symbol of our deliverance and the emblem

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of the mercy of God giving redemption to sinful man. The words which we use in making this sign, together with the action performed, manifests our belief in the principal truths of our religion. We say: In the name not names and thereby expresses our faith in the unity of God. We mention the three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and thus show our belief in the Trinity. The cross itself, made with the hand, manifests our faith in the incarnation, death and resurrection of our Savior, and shows that we regard him not only as God but as man....... for that he might be able to die on the cross it was necessary that he should possess a human nature. Thus we have in this brief formula a summary of the most important articles of our faith. And the sign of the cross is more than this. It is a prayer to God, made in the name of our mediator Jesus Christ, who has declared..... If you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it unto you. The making of the sign of the cross is a very ancient practice. It probably goes back to Apostolic times, and was in common use in the second century. Among the early Christians it was usually made very small, by a slight movement of the finger or thumb, on the forehead or breast. In the days of persecution the faith of the Christian had to be concealed, and any more conspicuous sign would have put him in danger of death. To correctly make the sign of the cross.......the thumb, the index and the middle finger of the right hand are joined together, while the fourth and little fingers are joined and bent in the palm of the hand. The three fingers joined together express our faith in the Holy Trinity, one God in three divine persons. The two fingers joined together in the palm of the hand signify that there are two natures in Christ. He is truly God and truly Man united in the incarnation of one divine person...Jesus Christ. When we make the Sign of the Cross, we proclaim our faith in the redemption (i.e. that we are saved by the redeeming action of Jesus dying on the cross for our salvation, that we might dwell with him in heaven forever). Making the Sign of the Cross is also an act of consecration. After we join our fingers of the right hand, we lift our hand to our forehead which touches the highest part of the cross, calling on GOD to be in our mind (i.e. to consecrate our minds to him), then we move our fingers over and past our hearts. At the place of our heart we are calling upon him to be in our love, affections and sentiments. And continue all the way down to our stomach which touches the lowest point of the cross. We then move our joined fingers to the right shoulder, thereby calling upon God to be in our good actions/prayerfully in all of our actions and to consecrate all of our actions to God. Then we complete the Sign of the Cross by moving our joined fingers to the left shoulder, in this forth step we create the cross beam by the extended arms of the cross in which our Jesus was crucified, his hands extended to gather all the nations scattered to the ends of the earth into one in him and thereby asking God to forgive us our sins.

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Most people have actually shortened this sign by skipping over the stomach area, crossing only the forehead, chest, and left and right shoulders. This is fine to do but not the original way of doing it. Let us not then be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the Cross our seal made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in everything; over the bread we eat, and the cups we drink; in our comings in, and goings out; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are in the way and when we are still. Great is that preservative; it is without price, for the poor's sake; without toil, for the sick, since also its grace is from God. It is the Sign of the faithful, and the dread of evils; for he has triumphed over them in it, having made a shew of them openly; for when they see the Cross, they are reminded of the Crucified; they are afraid of him, who hath bruised the heads of the dragon. Despise not the seal, because of the freeness of the gift; but for this rather honor thy benefactor. -- St. Cyril of Jerusalem, A.D. 315 - 386 Just something I thought would be interesting to know more about since if you truly plan on working with the Saints you will be crossing yourself man, many times. Its always nice to know why you are doing this huh? =====================================================================

Terms Related To Our Saints Before you can have a true personal working relationship with the Saints you should at least have an understanding of some words which relate to them. Without having a basic understanding of them is like calling on a person only when help is needed. A one-sided relationship will not get you very far. Saint magic involves a personal interest, devotion and love. Taking a true personal interest in them is a bonding, the formation of a friendship, just like you would take an interest in a close friend standing right in front of you. Here I will define for you some of the words that you will come across which are related to our Holy Saints. This section will also include why we do some of the things we do in our spiritual practices. This may sound funny but the fact is that many people dont understand why we do certain things, for instance why do we say Amen after a prayer, what does it mean? We are trained at birth to do certain things and many go through life without giving them a second thought.....we just do them out of habit. Here you will also find out why certain gestures and words are performed and the meaning behind them.

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Communion Of Saints The Communion of Saints refers to more than just communion of holy people, but also a communion in holy things and those faithful in Christ. Its actually the spiritual union of all Christians living and the dead, those on earth, in heaven and, in Catholic belief, in purgatory. They share a single mystical body, with Christ as the head, in which each member contributes to the good of all and shares in the welfare of all. Stigmata, Stigmatist Wounds or marks on a person resembling the five wounds received by Jesus at the crucifixion. Some 300 cases of stigmatization have been attested, nearly all of them being women... Some known stigmatists include.....St Catherine of Siena, St Francis of Assisi, St Gemma Galgani, St Gertrude, St John of God, St Padre Pio, St Rita of Cassia, St Margaret of Cortona, St Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, and St Rita of Lima. Doctor Of The Church This is a special title given to certain Saints. This title indicates that the writings and preachings of a person are useful to Christians in any age of the Church. Such saints are also particularly known for the depth of understanding and the orthodoxy of their theological teachings. Some doctors of the church include.....St Anthony of Padua, St Augustine of Hippo, St Basil the Great, St Catherine of Siena, St Francis of Sales, St Isidore (our computer and internet saint), St John of the Cross, St Teresa of Avila, St Therese of Lisieux, and St Thomas Aquinas. Martyr A witness to the truth of the faith, in which the martyr endures even death to be faithful to Christ. Those who die for the faith before having received baptism are said to have received a baptism of blood, by which their sins are forgiven and they share in the death and resurrection of Christ. Fourteen Holy Helpers The Fourteen Holy Helpers are a group of saints venerated together because their intercession was thought to be particularly effective, especially against various diseases. They are invoked as a group because of the black plague which devastated Europe from 1346 to 1349. The fourteen holy helpers include....St Agathius of Byzantium for headaches, St Barbara for fever and against sudden death, St Blaise for throat problems, St Catherine of Alexandria against sudden death, St Christopher for plagues and against sudden death, St Cyriacus for temptations, especially at time of death, St Denis for headaches, St Erasmus for abdominal problems and for protection of domestic animals, St Eustachius for family trouble, St George for protection of domestic animals, St Giles for plagues and for a good confession, St Margaret of Antioch for safe

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childbirth, St Pantaleon for physicians and for protection of domestic animals, St Vitus for epilepsy and for protection of domestic animals Alms Material goods given to the needy prompted by divine charity. Ecstasy Supernatural ecstasy may be defined as a state which, while it lasts, includes two elements: the one, interior and invisible, when the mind rivets its attention on a religious subject; the other, corporeal and visible, when the activity of the senses is suspended, so that not only are external sensations incapable of influencing the soul, but considerable difficulty is experienced in awakening such sensations, and this difficulty is experienced whether the ecstatic himself desires to do so, or others attempt to quicken the organs into action. A large number of saints have been granted ecstasies from the spirit of God. Confessor One who has given heroic testimony to the Christian faith. In the early Church, this term frequently designated a martyr. In modern ecclesiastical language, a confessor is a male saint who did not shed his blood for the faith. The Church divides such saints into two classes: those who were bishops; and those who were not bishops. Apostles Envoys, messengers, missionaries; name given especially to those first selected by Jesus. They are distinguished from the other disciples by the general power of jurisdiction and teaching. There are 12 apostles. They include St Andrew, St Bartholomew, St James the Greater, St James the Lesser, St John, St Matthew, St Matthias, St Philip, St Simon Peter, St Simon, St Jude, and St Thomas. Though not one of the twelve Apostles, St Paul is numbered as an Apostle of the first rank. The name is also given to St Barnabas. Disciple Disciple comes from a Latin root meaning student or pupil. The disciples of Jesus were his first students, learning from both his words and his perfect example. Miracle Worker An effect which causes admiration because it cannot be produced by any natural agency but only by the power of God. It is above the natural law, as when one dead is restored to life; contrary to this law, as when Moses caused water to gush from a rock; independent of the law, as when something that might be done by natural causes, e.g., the immediate cure of a dangerous illness, is affected without the aid of physician or medicine.

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Relic An object connected with a saint. It may be the whole or a part of the saint's body, or something the saint has touched, e.g., a garment. Hermit A person, who lived alone in seclusion to pray and meditate. Sacrament An efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. The sacraments (called "mysteries" in the Eastern Churches) are seven in number..... Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance or Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Sacramentals Sacred signs which bear a certain resemblance to the sacraments, and by means of which spiritual effects are signified and obtained through the prayers of the Church. Pilgrimage A journey to a holy place..... for example, the Holy Land, Rome and Lourdes. Purgatory A state of final purification after death and before entrance into heaven for those who died in God's friendship, but were only imperfectly purified; a final cleansing of human imperfection before one is able to enter the joy of heaven. Angelus A form of prayer said 3 times per day.....morning, noon and evening. Ave Maria Latin words meaning; Hail Mary. Corpus Christi A Latin phrase meaning; The Body of Christ

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Creed A brief, normative summary statement or profession of faith, e.g., the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed......The word Creed comes from the Latin credo, meaning I Believe with which the Creed begins. Creeds are also called symbols of faith. What Does Amen Mean? Amen is a Hebrew word that stems from the word aman, which means to be faithful, support, or confirm. The word amen actually means, so be it, or truly. Therefore, when we end our prayers with amen, we are re-affirming our dedication to God through Jesus Christ. We also use it to confirm a statement. Ashes Every year, on the Wednesday the people receive the ashes of the previous years palms as a blessing, traced into the form of a cross on their foreheads. These ashes symbolize the dust from which humankind came, and the dust to which we all will return; a concept familiar to many people through the phrased ashes to ashes, dust to dust. By using the ashes of the previous years palms, the ashes symbolize both the joy of Christs entry into Jerusalem and the regret over his sacrifice. Ashes were once a symbol of both penance and mourning. At the time Christ lived, both were expressed by sitting in dust and ashes, as well as placing dust and ashes on ones forehead. Cross The instrument of execution on which Christ died; a symbol of the sacrifice of Christ as sole mediator between God and man. Jesus invited his disciples to take up their cross and follow him, in order to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries. Crucifix The Crucifix differs from the cross, in that it depicts the image of Christ being crucified, rather than that of the empty cross. The addition of his figure to the empty cross is intended to emphasize his human nature, which enabled him to suffer physical pain and death. Not all crucifixes are identical. Depending on the mission of the church, the depiction of Jesus may evoke various emotions ranging from sorrow, to fear, or to awe. However, the purpose of the crucifix remains the same: to remind Catholics of the price Christ paid for humanitys redemption. Hymn Sacred poetry set to music and meant to raise the hearts of people to God, especially during liturgical services.

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The Meaning Of INRI On The Cross INRI is Latin for Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum which means Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews The first letters of this title provides us with INRI. We see this inscription on most crucifixes. Scapulars A scapular, from the Latin word scapula, meaning shoulder, is a length of cloth suspended both front and back from the shoulders of the wearer, that varies in shape, color, size and style depending on the use to which it is being put. There are at least 18 scapulars with different devotions associated with them. Many of the saints have their own scapular in a particular color and each with its own set of graces (promises). The wearer can receive special graces depending on the type of scapular. The individual needs to pledge to a particular confraternity, a saint, or a way of life. The scapular itself acts as a reminder of the pledge and the benefits that can occur if one is faithful to the devotion. =====================================================================

)Homework Assignment 1. What does the word Saint mean? 2. What are feast days? 3. Tell me in your own words why water is used in spellwork. 4. Why should you always keep a glass of fresh water sitting in your home? 5. Why would you sleep near a fresh glass of water? 6. Name the fourteen holy helpers. 7. What do the initials INRI mean? =====================================================================

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This is the end of week 1. Please send in your homework assignments as soon as possible. As always I am always interested in hearing your comments, suggestions, and your personal experiences. Remember, your questions and input is encouraged. When sending in questions please include your name, location (State) and the week number of the lesson you are inquiring about. Note: Throughout the week I will be posting added (bonus) material so always check your email and group for now stuff! Curandera Doa Concha

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