A Catholic Grimoire compiled from the writings of Ângelo Sequeira, for the acquisition and sustenance of Grace, the Blessing of the Virgin, the succour of her Divine Son our Lord, and the patronage of one hundred and twenty Saints. English translation by José Leitão.
Precious Apothecary is a translation of Botica Preciosa, a Catholic Grimoire compiled by Ângelo de Sequeira Ribeiro do Prado (1707-1776) who was perhaps the most important Brazilian missionary in history. The Botica Preciosa (1754) was his first book and is a collection of prayers, devotions and exercises to the Lady of the Rock and 120 other Saints. Suffused with the author’s missionary purpose the book also contains the consecrations and blessings for oils, flowers, statues and food, as well as exorcisms and prayers for many ailments intended for situations where no priests were available. This is a leading work of pragmatic religious practice in which Sequeira addressed the devotional needs of the ordinary people, and thereby gained a significant following in both Portugal and Brazil.
This work presents an exceptional insight into practices outside the influence of a Protestant narrative, offering a window into the multifaceted world of baroque Catholicism, heresies, deviations and Rigorist movements within this. The Catholic Pantheon of Saints is introduced, together with its hierarchy and the techniques needed to access and work with them. The book also includes extensive instructions on the creation and consecration of the materia sacra/ magica, rarely found outside of liturgical literature.
This grimoire presents a system which will appeal to Catholics (and other Christians) with an interest in magic, and those exploring pre-contemporary forms of spirit work from within a Christian framework. It is likewise essential reading for occult scholars and practising magicians interested in exploring Christian Magic, seeking sources for folk magic and expanding their knowledge of the grimoire tradition.
Precious Apothecary by Jose Leitao
Introduction
On the Multiplicity of Unity
On Ângelo Sequeira
On the Jacobeia
On the Lady of the Rock
To Conceptualize a Catholic Grimoire
Meditation on Content
On The Current Book
Jesus, Mary, Joseph
Christian Doctrine
Prayers for the day
Devotions to Our Lady
NOVENA OF THE LADY OF THE ROCK
GENERAL NOVENA FOR ALL THE FEASTS OF THE HOLIEST MARY
WAY OF PRAYING THE ROSARY OF THE VIRGIN OUR LADY
LITANY OF OUR LADY
MARIAN REMEDIES
Devotions to our Lord Jesus Christ
Remedies for the souls in Purgatory
NOVENA OF THE SOULS OR SALUTES OF ST. GREGORY POPE
ROSARY FOR THE SOULS
Way of visiting the Stations of the Cross
Spiritual Remedies
General prescription of the vocations of the Saints
Instructions for the sick and dying
Practices for Mass
Exorcisms
EFFECTIVE EXORCISM
Holy Offices
Office of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary our Lady conceived without original sin
Office of the glorious Patriarch St. Joseph
Various Blessings
Various Prayers
Annexe
Bibliography
Primary Sources
Secondary sources
Index
José Leitão is a scholar and researcher on the history of Portuguese Magic, currently associated with the University of Coimbra (Portugal). His current research focuses on the mapping of the practice, circulation and conception of Learned Magic in Early Modern Portugal, using as his main database the records of the Portuguese Inquisition.
Besides his current work, José also holds a PhD in Physics and Material Science from the Delft University of Technology and a Master’s degree in Theology and Religious Studies, with a major in Western Esotericism, from the University of Amsterdam.
Being a Saint Cyprian devotee (in his aspect of scholar and knowledge pilgrim), José is mostly known for his collections and translations of Saint Cyprian related literature, having produced the first English translation of the contemporary Portuguese version of The Book of Saint Cyprian (published by Hadean Press, 2014). Besides this, he has also published a collection of folktales relating the perception and use of this same book by rural Portuguese populations and would-be magical treasure hunters, published as The Immaterial Book of St. Cyprian (Revelore Press, 2017); a collection of text by the Early Modern Valencian polymath Jerónimo Cortez entitled Bibliotheca Valenciana; and the Opuscula Cypriana, an extensive collection of Saint Cyprian-related literature from the 17th century up until the 1920s (both published by Hadean Press, 2017 and 2019 respectively).