Category: la sirene

July feast days

I have been insanely busy this month, but I need to do some saints’ shout-outs.

I’m late for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, for which I owed her a bouquet of expensive damned roses and a 5X6 scapular (you can find ANYTHING on ebay)  — her feast day was July 16.  She is one of the faces of the loa Erzulie Dantor.

July 22 was the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, about whom the Renaissance poet Richard Crashaw wrote some truly bizarre poetry.

Today, July 25, is the feast of St. James the Apostle.  He is sometimes called St. James the Greater as a mark of his apostleship preceding that of the other apostle he shared a name with.  St. James shares this feast day with St. Christopher, patron saint of travel.

Pre-Vatican II prayer to St. James: “Be Thou, O Lord, the Sanctifier and Guardian of Thy people, so that, defended by the protection of Thy Apostle James, they may praise Thee by their conduct and serve Thee with a quiet mind.”  Some houses and temples use images of St. James to honor the loa Ogoun; some, however, use St. James Minor, and others use Saint Peter or one of the warrior saints.

Prayer to St. Christopher: “Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that, celebrating the heavenly birthday of Blessed Christopher, Thy Martyr, we may, by his intercession, be strengthened in the love of Thy name.” 

Tomorrow, July 26, is the feast of St. Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary.  Prayer: “O God, Who didst deign to bestow upon Blessed Anne such grace, that she was found worthy to become the mother of her who brought forth Thy Only-begotten Son, mercifully grant, that we, who celebrate her feast, may be helped by her intercession with Thee.”  “Thou has loved justice, and hated iniquity.  Therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness.” (Ps 44, 8)  “Grace is poured abroad in they lips: therefore has God blessed thee forever.” (Ps 44, 3)  “The daughters of the king are in thy honor, the queen stood on thy right hand in gilded clothing, surrounded with variety.” (Ps 44, 10).

July 29 is the feast of St. Martha, the sister of Mary Magdalene.  St. Martha is often called on by voudouisants who serve La Sirene.  Rootworkers call on her to dominate men and employers.

July 31st is the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola.  I don’t know that he’s used much in rootwork or vodoun, but his meditation practices inspired some really interesting Renaissance and Baroque poetry.

back home

I’m back, trying to get caught up with orders placed while I was gone.

I have some water from the Gulf of Mexico, some sand from Dauphin Island, and a wonderful array of dried insects and reptiles.  I also have a few new black cat bones — some had to be reburied, and some didn’t survive the burying/cleaning/digging up/dog avoiding process.

What this means:

Good time for Yemaya and La Sirene baths, goofer dust, hot foot powder, and stuff involving black cat bones.  This set hasn’t had time to be bleached white yet, but if you don’t care about them being a little more “natural” looking, then these will be right up your alley.  I should be able to get them white in a few more weeks.

If you’re new to my journal, please note that I do not harm animals to make curios, jewelry, etc.  All animal curios and parts used in my formulas and items are gathered humanely.

Also, I’ll be putting up some original art by my mother (she did a lovely Green Man that needs framing) and some veve paintings from my cousin pretty soon, I hope. These two are much better artists than I am, so keep your eyes peeled.

Nov 22, Feast of St. Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr

St. Cecilia was a 3rd century Roman who was forced to marry a pagan, whom she converted to Christianity.  She is said to have preserved her virginity despite her marriage, warning her new husband that her Guardian Angel would be furious if he touched her.  Her new husband acquiesced and got baptized.  They were both martyred, Cecilia by being beheaded in her own bathtub.

She is the patron of musicians, and apparently possessed a divine singing voice and the ability to play any instrument.  She is said to have been able to hear the voices of the Choirs of Angels. 

She is associated with the orisha Yemaya and her voodoo counterpart La Sirene.  I have also seen her associated with Oshun in Lukumi.

Prayer from my Latin Missal:

Oh God, who dost gladden us with the annual feast of Blessed Cecilia, Thy virgin and martyr, grant that we, who honor her by this service, may also follow the example of her holy life.  Through our Lord, etc.

May this sacrifice of propitiation and praise, we beseech Thee, O Lord, through the intercession of Blessed Cecilia, Thy Virgin and Martyr, ever make us worthy of Thy loving kindness.