Gospel Magic
Encyclopedia
Gospel magic is the use of otherwise standard stage magic
tricks and illusion
s to promote Christian messages. Gospel Magic does not claim to invoke spirits or paranormal powers.
Gospel Magic is intended to present the Christian good news through "visual parable
s"; the trick or illusion in Gospel Magic is used to present theological points in an entertaining way with the intention that people will remember.
Gospel Magic is generally presented as stage magic or platform magic
, but it can be adapted to close-up magic or micromagic
situations. It is uncommon for a Gospel Magician to use mentalism
.
The Jewish equivalent of Gospel Magic is known as Torah Magic
.
Don Bosco has been seen as the Patron Saint of Magicians and, specifically, Gospel Magicians.
In 1910 C. H. Woolston published Seeing Truth: Object Lessons with Magical and Mechanical Effects.
In 1945 The Jesuit priest, F. Javier Barcon Furundarena, s.j., wrote Arte de Encantamiento This book influenced Father Wenceslao Ciuró and started his interest in magic. As Father Ciuró was one of the most prolific Spanish magic writers of the 20th century, Arte de Encantamiento might be one of the most important books in the history of magic in Spain. Without this book, Juan Tamariz and Arturo de Ascanio might not have become magicians. Interestingly, this book received an imprimatur from the Spanish Catholic church. This book on sleights and stage magic were seen as beneficial because they served to educate people not to believe in witchcraft, spirit mediums and other psychic and occult hoaxes.
have long been used to present Christian teachings. Icons, parables, music
, song
, dance
, poetry
, sculpture
, painting
, stained glass
, theater, radio
, film
, television
, the Internet
, stage magic and illusion have all been used.
Gospel magicians include Dennis Regling, Andre Kole, Del Wilson, Duane Laflin, Barry Mitchell, Angelo Stagnaro, Steve Varro, and Oz & Wilde (Gene Oswald & Kif Anderson).
.
liturgical calendar but especially at Christmas (The Real Meaning of Christmas) and Easter (The Empty Tomb). There are several feast days that are particularly important to Catholic Gospel Magicians:
These books are based on the Tarbell Course
, a standard for all stage magicians. . It was originally intended to be expanded to cover all eight-volumes in the Tarbell Series, but Miller died before this project was completed.
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
tricks and illusion
Illusion
An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people....
s to promote Christian messages. Gospel Magic does not claim to invoke spirits or paranormal powers.
Gospel Magic is intended to present the Christian good news through "visual parable
Parable
A parable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or a normative principle. It differs from a fable in that fables use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters, while parables generally feature human...
s"; the trick or illusion in Gospel Magic is used to present theological points in an entertaining way with the intention that people will remember.
Gospel Magic is generally presented as stage magic or platform magic
Platform magic
Platform magic is that aspect of magic that fits conveniently between stage illusions and close-up magic. It is more intimate than stage magic because it doesn't require expensive, large-scale stage equipment and can thus be performed closer to one's audience and while standing on the same level...
, but it can be adapted to close-up magic or micromagic
Micromagic
Micromagic or close-up magic or table magic is magic performed in an intimate setting usually no more than ten feet from one's audience and is usually performed while sitting at a table....
situations. It is uncommon for a Gospel Magician to use mentalism
Mentalism
Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities. Performances may appear to include telepathy, clairvoyance, divination, precognition, psychokinesis, mediumship, mind control, memory feats and rapid...
.
The Jewish equivalent of Gospel Magic is known as Torah Magic
Torah Magic
Torah magic is stage magic in the service of teaching the articles of the Jewish faith to youngsters, the Jewish equivalent to Gospel magic.The Jewish religious books the Tanakh and the Talmud consider conjuring as sinful.- Torah magicians :...
.
History
The first modern use of Gospel Magic is in the ministry of the Italian Catholic priest Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco (Don Bosco, 1815-1888). His autobiography lists many dozens of magic tricks used for the purpose of offering religious instruction to children and youth. http://www.bosconet.aust.com/pdf/MOpart1.pdf. (see especially Chapters 3 (pg 25), Chapter 13 (pg 71) and Chapter 14 (pg 75.)Don Bosco has been seen as the Patron Saint of Magicians and, specifically, Gospel Magicians.
In 1910 C. H. Woolston published Seeing Truth: Object Lessons with Magical and Mechanical Effects.
In 1945 The Jesuit priest, F. Javier Barcon Furundarena, s.j., wrote Arte de Encantamiento This book influenced Father Wenceslao Ciuró and started his interest in magic. As Father Ciuró was one of the most prolific Spanish magic writers of the 20th century, Arte de Encantamiento might be one of the most important books in the history of magic in Spain. Without this book, Juan Tamariz and Arturo de Ascanio might not have become magicians. Interestingly, this book received an imprimatur from the Spanish Catholic church. This book on sleights and stage magic were seen as beneficial because they served to educate people not to believe in witchcraft, spirit mediums and other psychic and occult hoaxes.
In the Bible
Biblical references to "magic" are, without exception, the manipulation of supposed preternatural powers usually associated with conjuring spirits in order to foretell the future (1 Samuel 28:7,) or dealing with astrology (Isaiah 47:13), rather than stage magic.The arts and ministry
The artsARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
have long been used to present Christian teachings. Icons, parables, music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
, painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
, theater, radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, stage magic and illusion have all been used.
Gospel magicians include Dennis Regling, Andre Kole, Del Wilson, Duane Laflin, Barry Mitchell, Angelo Stagnaro, Steve Varro, and Oz & Wilde (Gene Oswald & Kif Anderson).
Organizations
The principle organizations for Gospel Magicians are the International Fellowship of Christian Magicians and the Catholic Magicians' Guild http://www.catholicmagic.com. The IFCM's monthly magazine is The Voice. The CMG's electronic quarterly magazine is entitled Totus TuusTotus Tuus
Totus Tuus was Pope John Paul II's apostolic motto. It is a Latin phrase meaning "totally yours" and expressed his personal Consecration to Mary based on the spiritual approach of Saint Louis de Montfort and the Mariology in his works...
.
Gospel magician holidays
Gospel Magic can be used throughout the ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
liturgical calendar but especially at Christmas (The Real Meaning of Christmas) and Easter (The Empty Tomb). There are several feast days that are particularly important to Catholic Gospel Magicians:
- January 31 - St. Don Bosco's feast day - Catholic Gospel Magicians usually celebrate this day by offering free magic performances to underprivileged or infirm children.
- March 22 - St. Nicholas Owen (martyr) is considered the Stage IllusionIllusionAn illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people....
ist's holiday since St. Nicholas used his cabinetry skills to hide Catholic priests during Britain's Penal Times. - March 25 - St. Dismas, the "Good Thief," who was crucified alongside Christ, is considered the Patron of Reformed Thieves. In that sense, Christian magicians who use picking pockets in their acts consider him to be their patron.
- August 10 - St. Lawrence of Rome is an ancient Roman martyr. Because of his quick wit even in the midst of being tortured to death, he is considered the Patron of Comedians. It is understandable how magicians who do comical acts would look to St. Lawrence for inspiration.
- August 11 - St. Clare of AssisiClare of AssisiClare of Assisi , born Chiara Offreduccio, is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi...
is the co-founder of the Franciscan movement. because of her propensity for clairvoyant visions, she is considered the Patron of Mentalists. - August 25 - St. Genesius of RomeGenesius of RomeSaint Genesius of Rome was an actor who worked in a series of plays that mocked Christianity. One day while performing in a work that made fun of baptism he received sudden wisdom from God, realized the truth of Christianity, and had a conversion experience on stage...
was a renowned Roman actor hired for a play that satirized the rite of Christian BaptismBaptismIn Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
. In the middle of the opening night performance before Emperor DiocletianDiocletianDiocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
, Genesius had a change of heart and converted and was subsequently martyred, thus becoming the Patron of Stage Performers. He is rightly considered a patron of stage magicians. - November 15 - St. Albert the Great - Though Albertus Magnus is more commonly seen as the Patron of Scientists, he is remembered by Gospel Magicians because he saw scientific principles present in nature as signs of wonder.
Gospel magic bibliography
- The principal texts for Gospel Magicians are the two-volume series:
-
- Miller, Jule L. Spiritual Applications for Tarbell I. Gospel Services. 1976.
- Miller, Jule L. Spiritual Applications for Tarbell II. Gospel Services. 1984.
These books are based on the Tarbell Course
Tarbell Course
The Tarbell Course in Magic is the preeminent encyclopedia of magic amongst professional and amateur magicians. It has eight volumes; the first five were part of the original home-study correspondence course compiled in 1928 by Dr...
, a standard for all stage magicians. . It was originally intended to be expanded to cover all eight-volumes in the Tarbell Series, but Miller died before this project was completed.
- Dennis Regling's 52 Weeks of Gospel Magic incorporates magical illusions, chemical reactions, balloon twisting and other performance skills to present Christian lessons.
- Stagnaro, Angelo. The Catechist's Magic Kit. Crossroad Publishing. 2009. The Catechist's Magic Kit received a nihil obstatNihil obstatNihil obstat is a declaration of no objection to an initiative or an appointment....
and imprimaturImprimaturAn imprimatur is, in the proper sense, a declaration authorizing publication of a book. The term is also applied loosely to any mark of approval or endorsement.-Catholic Church:...
from Bishop Nicholas Anthony DiMarzioNicholas Anthony DiMarzioNicholas DiMarzio is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the seventh and current Bishop of Brooklyn, having previously served as Bishop of Camden from 1999 to 2003.- Early life :...
, of the Diocese of Brooklyn, making it the only Gospel Magic book to receive such designations from the Catholic Church. The book follows the Catholic Catechism chapter by chapter, but includes a chart to allow it to be used by Protestant and Orthodox magicians.