I practice the same folk magic that has been practiced by my family for hundreds of years. I am also a practicing Catholic. And for me there is no conflict.
The book I mentioned above is:
Occult Catholicism: Real Magic for Devout Catholics, Fr. Augustinus Thaumatourgos
With this book, Fr. Thaumatourgos explores the dynamics of Catholicism as an initiatory magical society, how that magic is conceptualized, theologized, and practiced, and how clergy and laity alike have access to this vast spiritual and magical powerhouse. With this book, you can learn:
* The conditions in which magic has been permitted by the Catholic Church
* The basic facts of magical theory
* Catholicism is an initiatory magical system
* The Sacraments form the levels of initiation and reinforcement in the mage's life
* Magical work qualifies as a sacramental
* How a layperson can use blessings and exorcisms
* How to compose one's prayers for maximum effectiveness
* How to set up a magical working-space
* How to make Exorcised Salt and Holy Water
* How to bless and consecrate magical tools
* The magical aspects of the Colors in the Church's Liturgy
* How to use candles
* The Nine Orders of the Angels
* The Angelic Princes, or Archangels, and how to call upon them
* The Pentagram is really a Catholic Symbol
* How to safely use aspects and rituals of other magical systems
* The conditions in which magic has been permitted by the Catholic Church
* The basic facts of magical theory
* Catholicism is an initiatory magical system
* The Sacraments form the levels of initiation and reinforcement in the mage's life
* Magical work qualifies as a sacramental
* How a layperson can use blessings and exorcisms
* How to compose one's prayers for maximum effectiveness
* How to set up a magical working-space
* How to make Exorcised Salt and Holy Water
* How to bless and consecrate magical tools
* The magical aspects of the Colors in the Church's Liturgy
* How to use candles
* The Nine Orders of the Angels
* The Angelic Princes, or Archangels, and how to call upon them
* The Pentagram is really a Catholic Symbol
* How to safely use aspects and rituals of other magical systems
It's very sad how Italian-American spirituality has been viewed by the Irish and German-dominated hierarchy in North America. It seems they're wanting to force a wedge between Christianity and the occult. Whereas Roman Catholics see where each flow into one another without much need for differentiation or distinction.
