Category: folk catholicism
All Souls Vigil Service – Novena and Chaplet for the Dead and Ancestors – Nov. 2-10, 2023
Nine-day vigil, novena, and Chaplet for the Dead service.
Have lights set and worked on my altar in a nine-day community altar service beginning the night of November 2nd, All Souls Day. There is some wiggle room and you can join up after the work starts as long as you see that there are still spots left and it doesn’t say “sold out.”
Along with setting and working lights in the name of your loved one, I will perform a nine-day novena and daily recitation of the Chaplet of the Dead, with appropriate offerings, incense, and other materials.
The Chaplet of the Dead is a four-decade rosary that includes prayers such as the De Profundis (Psalm 130) and prayers for the repose of the departed soul and the comfort of the bereaved.
In Catholic tradition, the prayers of the living faithful can benefit the souls of those who are in Purgatory, being purified of sin that’s been forgiven but not yet atoned for, so that they can ultimately join the company of heaven. The dead can no longer engage in works or deeds on their own behalf, of course, but just as saints and ancestors can pray for us and thus help us on this plane, so we can pray for the dead. We can even dedicate our own works and deeds for the benefit of the departed, thus helping them leave Purgatory to enter the presence of God and the saints.
Even if you don’t believe in purgatory in the most literal sense, these prayers and offerings at their core focus on the peace and rest of the departed, on their ultimate reunion with God, the source of light and life. Thus this service can serve as comfort for both the dead and their loved ones who are grieving.
It’s completely appropriate to perform such a service for ancestors whose names are unknown, as well, or for the souls of the departed who have no one living to pray for them, whether you’re praying to elevate ancestors, that your beloved dead are joining the light or finding their way, that your ancestors who are “stuck” get “unstuck,” or for God to have mercy on, or the Blessed Mother to give comfort to, the poor souls with no living loved ones to pray for them.
You can also use this service as an opportunity to thank those departed, known or unknown, from whom you’ve received help or comfort yourself.
Learn more or book your spot now at Seraphin Station.
Work in progress
Seven Sorrows Rosary
The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, or Chaplet of the Seven Dolours, is a devotion to Mary as the Sorrowful Mother that dates to the 13th century. It became quite popular in Europe during the ravages of the Black Plague.
There are several methods for praying this chaplet. This particular piece reflects my preferred approach to the devotion (and my aesthetic sense). It consists of seven segments of seven cobalt-blue glass beads, each separated by a faceted Czech glass pater bead and a Mexican sacred/immaculate heart milagro. The septets are connected with a repurposed chandelier crystal, and the pendant terminates with a detailed milagro-style focal heart charm (no antiphon beads).
More info available at Seraphin Station.
Day at the office
Tonight: Community honey jar services, Ss. Cosmas and Damian service for physical, spiritual, mental healing
Ss. Cosmas and Damian service for petitions related to health and healing (both physical and spiritual), casting off evil, removal of crossed conditions, and protection from plague and other illness.
Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers who were practicing physicians in the 3rd century and treated their patients at no charge, hence their title of “unmercenary” or “silverless.” They have different feast days within different churches and denominations, and in the Orthodox church, in fact, there are considered to be three distinct sets of saints named Cosmas and Damian. Of course they all have different bios and feast days, as well. As with most saints from the early centuries of the church, there’s very little or nothing in any historical or archaeological record about their lives — we have rather to deal with legend (and subsequent mystical revelation, in some cases).
But these brothers who were doctors, twins, and ultimately martyrs, have for centuries had the reputation for interceding for the faithful who called on them for healing, and numerous miracles have been attributed to them. They are also the patrons of twins, surgeons, and pharmacists, are widely venerated in Brazil as patrons of children in general, and in some houses and temples, are associated with the lwa the Marassa.
The July community honey jars for Relationships/Love and Prosperity/Success also start tonight. As usual, there are Pay What You Can options for the prosperity jar.
The Keys and Crossroads service for St. Peter is still underway as well.
Double rewards points are in effect until midnight.
Learn more or book now at Seraphin Station.
June Saint of the Month: Sacred Heart of Jesus
Last Friday was the Feast of the Sacred Heart. I wrote this post on Friday but didn’t manage to actually, er, post it 🙂 Anyway, that feast is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so familiar a symbol that even non-Catholics tend to recognize it.
Usually pictured as a flaming heart crowned with thorns, and often featuring a cross and a wound and/or droplets of blood, the Sacred Heart is a symbol of Jesus’ patient and eternal love and compassion for humanity. Devotion to the Sacred Heart is often practiced to obtain grace, mercy, a peaceful home, consolation in grief, blessings, compassion, and greater depth of faith.
It is related to, but not identical with, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, usually pictured as a heart surmounted with flowers and pierced by a sword.
There’s also a whole “genre” of workings in the hoodoo rootwork tradition that operate under the aegis of the Sacred Heart, often to do with reconciliation or peace between cohabitating or married couples. But practitioners in the folk Catholic tradition have petitioned the Sacred Heart over the years for any number of things: to soften the heart of someone they want to influence, like a landlord or boss; to bless children; to return a lover; even for gambling luck.
The Sacred Heart Saint of the Month box for June will come with a short booklet containing history, prayers, spells, and recommendations for working with the Sacred Heart in the folk Catholic and Catholic conjure traditions. I do not believe there’s anything like it currently available in print.
Read more or order yours now at Seraphin Station.
The Saint of the Month Box
Whether you’re just starting to learn about saints and spirits in the hoodoo rootwork tradition or you’ve been working with them for years, I strive to delight you with something new and covetable to add to your collection with every box.
Since I’ve been working with saints and spirits my entire life, and since I later went on to spend the better part of a decade in grad school studying medieval and early modern traditions around, and portrayals of, saints, I usually do manage to come up with something you haven’t seen before to add to your devotional practices. I have got some pretty neat stuff squirreled away (some pretty weird stuff too).
- Standard box includes, at a minimum, a bottle of oil, a candle, a holy card or mini prayer booklet, brief history/recommendations for working with the saint or spirit, and a charm, medal, or curio.
- Deluxe box includes, at a minimum, a bottle of oil, a fixed, blessed, dressed, and decorated vigil candle, a holy card or mini prayer booklet, brief history and recommendations for working with the saint or spirit, and a handmade chaplet, rosary, or necklace.
Praise for Saint of the Month Boxes
I wanted to say how much I loved the St. Expedite Saint of the Month box! I was completely wowed when I opened it and saw everything inside, especially the beautifully decorated vigil light and the lovely bag with the chaplet inside. It’s a lovely piece and clearly well-made. The booklet on St. Expedite was very helpful, especially considering I am new to working with saints now much confusing and conflicting information there is online about St. Expedite. The only thing I can’t figure out is, am I really supposed to burn this candle? It’s so pretty!
– E.S. 2022
You are supposed to burn the candle, yes! But you can use it as a vase for flower offerings or to hold other materials on your altar once the candle has burned out, if you like!
Please note that items in deluxe kits, such as jewelry, rosaries, and decorated candles, are one of a kind and hand-made upon order, so don’t expect them to ship in a day or two.
New: St. Expedite Altar Kits
St. Expedite altar in a box – contains almost everything you need to get set up to work with this popular saint, patron of procrastinators, techies, hackers, couriers, travelers, those burdened by red tape and obstacles, and those needing fast luck or money.
Standard and deluxe versions available. Both come with a 24-page booklet of instructions and prayers.
Read more or order now at Seraphin Station.
Santa Muerte Art
Love this artist.
Love Obviously
Family treasures
San Simon – Maximon Community Altar Service – Luck, Open Roads, Uncrossing, Prosperity, Success
October 28 is the feast day of Saints Simon and Jude, and in Guatemala, one of the feast days of the syncretic trickster folk saint who takes part of his name from St. Simon. The other part most likely derives from that of a Mayan underworld deity who essentially shape-shifted into Maximon rather than fading into extinction after the Spanish conquest.
As you might expect, then, with a name like this, San Simon or Maximon is a crossroads spirit with a foot in two worlds simultaneously. He is beloved in Guatemala and its diaspora, responding to devotees from any walk of life who petition him for luck, for business success and prosperity, to remove obstacles and open roads, to fight back against injustice, and to thwart attacks of black magic.
Read more or book your spot at Seraphin Station.
Saints Clare and Philomena Candle Services and Novenas Begin Tonight
*While I normally ask that clients book one service per order and check out for separate services separately, in this case, since Saints Clare and Philomena are so closely associated in some traditions, I’m offering a bundled discount if you book both services together. To get the discount, you have to check out with both services at the same time.
Saint Clare Candle Service & Novena – Clarity, Wisdom, Insight, Clairvoyance
Have lights set and worked on my St.Clare altar in a nine-day community altar work servicebeginning the night of August 11th,the feast day of St. Clare of Assisi.There is some wiggle room andyou can join up after the work startsas long as you see that there are still spots left and it doesn’t say “sold out.”
I will begin a nine-day novena and chaplet recitation to St.Clare on this same day, focused on petitioning her…
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Immaculate Heart of Mary Nicho with Pearls
These little nicho ornaments are made with reclaimed post-consumer tinplate that’s hand-cut, hammered, and shaped to encase tiny print reproductions of antique and vintage holy cards. I embellish them from my stash of vintage, antique, and/or reclaimed fabrics, metals, beads, and trims. This particular shrine features an image from a French holy card of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and is embellished with resin rhinestones and pearls, reclaimed vintage brass rosary chain, silk ribbon, a silver-tone heart pendant, pearlized glass beads, and satin roses.
This handmade ornament is intended to evoke the Blessed Mother’s elegance and grace but without removing all the rough edges and scuff marks that are part of this icon’s history and that characterize the fabric of her devotees’ genuine lived lives.
7.25″ long including chain and pendant.
Available at Seraphin Station.
St. Michael Niner Chaplet Bracelet
This one of a kind chaplet bracelet is handmade with 5mm ruby red glass beads, an ornate crucifix with a bronze-toned antiqued patina imported from Italy, a chain extension and lobster clasp if you want to wear it or secure it around a statue or rearview mirror, and a holy medal of St. Michael handpainted in bright and durable enamels.
The saintly protector par excellence, Michael is called on to defend against dangers both spiritual and physical and from enemies both known and unknown.
Unclasped, this chaplet’s length from end to end is 8.75″. Will fit a 7.5″ wrist, but I’m happy to customize it if you need it shorter or longer. (Just allow a few extra days handling, please!) Medal measures 1″.
This style of chaplet is called a “niner” and is a popular and very portable way of doing a novena for a saint, of keeping your prayer beads close to hand when you’re traveling or need to be more discreet than a full-size rosary might allow, or of having a set of prayer beads the perfect size for wearing as a bracelet or keeping on your car’s rearview mirror or the door knob of your room or home.
One way of praying with a niner chaplet is to call on the saint’s aid on the medal, pray the Our Father x3, the Hail Mary x3, and the Glory Be x3 on the beads, and then the Apostle’s Creed on the crucifix.
Read more about St. Michael (and other saints and angels) in the education section at Big Lucky Hoodoo. And if you’ve never been sure how St. Michael can be a saint and an angel at the same time – and he most certainly is – you can get a little crash course in Catholic ontology at Seraphin Station.
This St. Michael piece is available at Seraphin Station or Etsy.
Seraphin Station 
