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Chapter 10. Jean Sempe's Prayers and Texts in Julio's (1896),
Marvelous Prayers for the Healing of all Illnesses
Benjamin Hebblethwaite
As mentioned in the introduction to Chapter 9, oungan Nelson Marcenat, like many other Vodou
priests and priestesses, includes some French language Catholic mystical literature in his Vodou
practice. While he serves the lwa in his various activities, he also makes use of Sempe's texts found
in Julio's (1896), Pnriees . . . . .. pour la guerison de toutes les maladies 'Marvelous Prayers for the
Healing of all Illnesses,' and the texts of Coret (1851), L'ange conducteur 'The Guiding Angel,' for
healing treatments, childbirth and burials. Oungan Marcenat is, in his own words, a pike liv 'a book
stake' who has the literacy skills needed to recite French and Latin Catholic texts for rituals and
functions like burial, baptism, healing, protection, the expelling of demons, etc. Some Catholic texts
are also commonly recited and sung prior to ceremonies for the lwa. Thus for certain occasions and
rites of passage, an oungan, especially one who is literate in French, will be called upon to serve as a
pike liv or as ape sarann 'a recognized spiritual leader of a community who uses Catholic texts in
special contexts.' These texts can be used apart from Vodou, depending on the context, or they can
be syncretized with or appended to Vodou content.
As Leyburn (1941) pointed out, many Americans, Britons or Italians, among other cultures,
inherit an exclusive attitude about religion: a believer is one thing and not two things. Haitian, Fon or
Yoruba cultures, however, comfortably absorb foreign deities, notions and traditions into their
systems. Prior to the slave trading of the colonial period, West African cultures commonly added
foreign elements to their pantheons and theologies. The religions in these cultures induct foreign
deities into their heavens and engage in 'divine naturalization.' In these cultures, religious ideas have
a composite character in which assemblage out of diversity forms an underlying principle. In Fon and
Yoruba areas, initiation into a given tradition usually requires the acquisition of the language
originally associated with the tradition. For example, Chango initiates in Fon-speaking Benin are
expected to acquire the Yoruba language. In periods of ethnic conflict and war, the most desirable
war booty included the priests, statues of conquered gods and shrine paraphernalia. Upon invasion
and annexation, foreign deities and priests were incorporated by both the invaders and the invaded.
Inter-ethnic marriages also facilitated influences from the outside. Following the advice of oungan
Marcenat, we offer selections of Jean Semp6's prayers and texts in order to provide examples of the
kinds of Catholic texts that are utilized by Vodou priests and priestesses. These texts illustrate how
the spirit of assemblage is alive and well in Haiti. Catholic literary influences in Vodou are extensive,
so this material should be understood as a small sample. Mystical Catholicism shares a great deal in
common with Vodou: these texts assert the primacy of the Supreme Being and recognize a special
role for angels (Iwa), saints (/wa) and demons (dyab) as intercessors or malevolent trouble-makers who
take action on earth. Like Vodou texts, Jean Semp6's texts seek the healing of the sick, protection
against misfortune, and the strength and well-being of the faithful.
Invocation toute-puissante
qu'il est bon de recidter avant d'entreprendre unegudrison
quelconque
t 0 Toi, par qui tout a ete fait et par qui tout
sera transformed pour retourner a la source
premiere, Principe emane du sein de l'Etemel,
Ame de l'Univers, Divine Lumiere, je t'invoque
a mon aide. Oui, viens, Fluide createur, penetrer
mes sens amortis. Et vous, augustes Messagers
du Tres-Haut, Anges de lumiere, Esprits
celestes, vous tous, Ministres des volontes de
mon Dieu, venez a moi, j'implore votre
assistance. H2tez-vous, venez m'eclairer et me
guider ; portez a Dieu ma priere : il connait mes
desirs. Je veux soulager mes freres et sceurs, les
fortifier, les maintenir ou les rendre justes
devant lui...
Je vous implore par le Fils Unique, legal au
Pere, qui regne avec le Saint-Esprit, en l'Unite
d'un seul Dieu. Ainsi soit-il !
Priere avant d'entreprendre un voyage
All powerful invocation
which is good to recite before undertaking any healing
t Oh You, through whom all was made and
through whom all will be transformed to return
to the first source, Principle emanated from
within the Eternal, Soul of the Universe, Divine
Light, I invoke you to help me. Yes, come,
creator Fluid, penetrate my dull senses. And you,
august Messengers of the Most High, Angels of
light, celestial Spirits, all of you, Ministers of the
wishes of my God, come to me, I beg for your
assistance. Hurry, come to enlighten me and
guide me; carry my prayer to God: he knows my
desires. I want to relieve my brothers and sisters,
fortify them, maintain them and make them
worthy before him...
I beg you by the Only Son, equal to the
Father, who rules with the Holy Spirit, in the
Unity of a single God. Amen!
Prayer prior to undertaking an important trip
important
t Que le Seigneur tout-puissant et
misericordieux me dirige et m'accorde un
voyage de paix et de bonheur; que l'Archange
Raphael m'accompagne dans ma route, afin que
je revienne dans ma mason avec la paix, le salut
et la joie.
Seigneur, ayez pitie de moi. Christ, ayez pitie
de nous. Seigneur, ayez pitie de tous.
Pater noster, etc.
Mon Dieu, sauvez votre serviteur, qui espere
en vous.
Oraison de Saint Charlemagne
O Dieu tout-puissant, vous avez subi la mort
sur l'arbre patibulaire de la croix pour expier
mes p6ch6s.
O Sainte Croix de J.-C., soyez toujours
avec moi.
O Sainte Croix de J.-C., repoussez loin de
moi toute arme tranchante.
t 0 Sainte Croix de J.-C., preservez-moi de
t May the all mighty and merciful Lord direct
me and give me a peaceful and happy journey;
may the Archangel Raphael accompany me on
my path, so that I may return to my house with
peace, salvation and joy.
Lord, have pity on me. Christ, have pity on us.
Lord, have pity on all.
Pater noster, etc.
My God, save your servant, who hopes in you.
Prayer of Saint Charlemagne
Oh all mighty God, you underwent death on
the sinister tree of the cross to atone for my sins.
t Oh Holy Cross of Jesus Christ, be always
with me.
t Oh Holy Cross of Jesus Christ, keep all
sharp weapons far away from me.
t Oh Holy Cross of Jesus Christ, preserve me
1 Latin for 'our Father' in English.
tout accident corporel.
t 0 Sainte Croix de J.-C., detournez de moi
tout mal.
O Sainte Croix de J.-C., versez en moi tout
bien, afin que je puisse sauver mon ame.
O Sainte Croix de J.-C., 6loignez de moi
toute crainte de la mort et accordez-moi la vie
6temelle.
t 0 Sainte Croix de J.-C., gardez-moi et
faites que les esprits malins, tant visible
qu'invisible, fuient devant moi, des aujourd'hui
et dans tous les siecles des siecles. Ainsi soit-il !
Aussi vrai que Jesus est n6 le jour de Noel,
aussi vrai que Jesus a ete circoncis, aussi vrai
que Jesus a regu les offrandes des trois Rois
Mages, aussi vrai que Jesus a ete crucifix le
vendredi saint, aussi vrai que Joseph et
Nicodeme ont 6te Jesus de la croix et l'ont mis
dans le s6pulcre, aussi vrai que Jesus est mont6
au ciel ; de meme qu'il soit aussi vrai que Jesus
me preserve et me preservera de tout attentat de
mes ennemis, tant visible qu'invisible, des
aujourd'hui et dans tous les siecles des siecles.
Ainsi soit-il !
from all physical accident.
t Oh Holy Cross of Jesus Christ, turn all evil
away from me.
t Oh Holy Cross of Jesus Christ, pour into me
all good, in order that I may save my soul.
t Oh Holy Cross of Jesus Christ, distance
from me all fear of death and give me eternal life.
t Oh Holy Cross of Jesus Christ, protect me
and make the evil spirits, whether visible or
invisible, flee before me, as of today until the end
of time. Amen!
As true as it is that Jesus was born on
Christmas day, as true as it is that Jesus was
circumcised, as true as it is that Jesus received
offerings from the Three Wise Men, as true as it
is that Jesus was crucified on good Friday, as true
as it is that Joseph and Nicodemus took Jesus off
of the cross and put him in a tomb, as true as it is
that Jesus rose into the heavens; in the same way
it is just as true that Jesus preserves me and will
preserve me from all attacks from my enemies,
whether visible or invisible, from today until the
end of time. Amen!
0 Dieu tout-puissant, sous la protection de t
Jesus, Maria, Joachim, t de Jesus, Maria,
Anna, t de Jesus, Maria, Joseph, je me remets
entire vos mains. Ainsi soit-il !
O Seigneur, par l'amertume que vous avez
soufferte pour moi sur la Sainte Croix,
principalement lorsque votre ame s'est s6paree
de son corps, ayez pitie de mon ame, quand elle
sera s6paree de ce monde. Ainsi soit-il !
Prikre pour chasser d'une habitation tout
mauvais esprit ou emp&cher tout bruit
suspect
Je te chasse, Esprit du mal, et je te some
par le Dieu Vrai, t par le Dieu Vivant, t par le
Dieu Saint, de sortir et de t'eloigner de ce lieu,
pour n'y plus jamais revenir. Je te l'ordonne au
nom de Celui qui t'a vaincu et qui a triomph6 de
toi sur le gibet de la croix et don't la puissance
t'a lie a jamais. Je t'ordonne de ne plus
6pouvanter jamais ceux qui habitent en cette
demeure, au nom de Dieu t Pere t Fils t et
Saint-Esprit, qui vit et regne dans tous les siecles
des siecles. Ainsi soit-il !
Oh all mighty God, under the protection oft
Jesus, Mary, Joachim, t of Jesus, Mary, Anna, t of
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I put myself in your hands.
Amen!
Oh Lord, by the bitterness that you suffered
for me on the Holy Cross, most importantly
when your soul separated from its body, have pity
on my soul, when it will be separated from this
world. Amen!
Prayer to chase all evil spirits from a property
or to hinder all suspicious sound
I chase you, Spirit of evil, and I enjoin you t
by the True God, t by the Living God, t by the
Holy God, to leave and to get away from this
place, and to never come back here. I order you
do that in the name of the One who defeated you
and who triumphed over you on the gallows of
the cross and whose power has bound you for all
eternity. I order you to never again frighten those
who dwell in this place, in the name of God t
Father t Son t and Holy Spirit, who lives and
reigns throughout all of the ages and millennia.
Nous vous en supplions, Seigneur, visitez
cette demeure, et chassez-en bien loin toute
embuche de l'ennemi ; que vos Saints Anges y
habitent, nous conservant dans la paix ; et que
votre benediction soit toujours avec nous. Ainsi
soit-il !
Prikre contre la possession et autres
tourments des mauvais esprits
Cette priere doit se dire tous les jours pour
&tre preserve du malin esprit, du fer, de l'eau, du
feu, de la foudre, de la mort subite et tout
danger de tomber en injuste captivity.
Pour se d6livrer d'un mauvais esprit, il faut la
dire trois fois de suite avec un cierge allume.
On s'y prend de la meme maniere, lorsqu'il
s'agit de d6livrer une femme en travail d'enfant.
On la dit en neuvaine contre les mal6fices de
marriage.
Verbe, qui avez ete fait chair, qui avez ete
attache a la croix, qui &tes assis a la droite de
Dieu le Pere, je vous conjure par votre saint
Amen!
We beg you, Lord, visit this place, and chase
far away from it all pitfalls of the enemy; may
your Holy Angels dwell here, conserving us in
peace; and may your blessing always be with us.
Amen!
Prayer against possession and other torments
of evil spirits
This prayer must be said everyday to be
protected from evil spirits, from iron, from water,
from fire, from lightening, from sudden death
and all danger of falling into unjust captivity.
To deliver oneself from an evil spirit, it must
immediately be said three times with a lighted
candle.
One makes use of it in the same way when
delivering a woman who is laboring with child.
One says it for the novena3 against the evil
deeds of marriage.
Verb, who became flesh, who was crucified on
the cross, who is seated on the right of God the
Father, I beg you by your holy Name, at the
Nom, a la prononciation duquel tout genou
fl6chit au ciel, sur la terre et dans les enfers,
exaucez les prieres de ceux qui mettent leur
croyance et confiance en vous, daignez
preserver cette creature, N..., par votre saint
Nom, par les m6rites de la Sainte Vierge votre
Mere, par les prieres de tous les Saints, de toute
attaque et mal6fice de la part des demons et des
malins esprits, vous qui vivez avec Dieu le Pere,
en l'unit6 du Saint-Esprit. Ainsi soit-il !
t Voici la Croix de Notre-Seigneur J6sus-
Christ, d'oP depend notre salut, notre vie, notre
resurrection spirituelle, la confusion de tous les
demons et malins esprits.
Fuyez donc, disparaissez d'ici, demons,
ennemis juries des hommes, car je vous conjure,
demons infernaux, esprits malins, qui que vous
soyez, presents ou absents, sous quelque
pr6texte que vous soyez appel6s, invites,
conjures ou envoys de votre bon gre ; ou
forces par menaces ou par l'artifice d'hommes
mechants ou de femmes m6chantes, pour y
demeurer ou habiter, je vous conjure donc
derechef, quelque opiniatres que vous soyez, de
pronunciation of which all knees bend before
heaven, on earth and in hell, grant the prayers of
those who place their belief and confidence in
you, deign to preserve this creature, Name..., by
your holy Name, by the merits of your Mother
the Holy Virgin, by the prayers of all of the
Saints, from all attacks and evil spells carried out
by the demons and crafty spirits, you who live
with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit. Amen!
t Here is the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
from who depends our salvation, our life, our
spiritual resurrection, and the confusing of all the
demons and crafty sprits.
Flee then, disappear from here, demons,
sworn enemies of men, for I entreat you,
infernal demons, crafty spirits, whoever you are,
present or absent, for whatever pretext that you
have been called, invited, invoked or sent by
your own free will; or forced by threats or by
the artifice of mean men or mean women, to
dwell there or live there, I entreat you thus to
henceforth, however opinionated you may be,
to leave this creature, Name..., t by the Great
quitter cette creature, N..., t par le Grand Dieu
Vivant, t par le Dieu Vrai, t par le Dieu Saint, J-
par Dieu le Pere, t par Dieu le Fils, t par Dieu
le Saint-Esprit, principalement t par Celui qui a
ete immol6 en Isaac, t qui a ete vendu en
Joseph, t qui etant homme a ete crucifix, t qui a
ete immol6 comme un agneau, t par le sang
duquel Saint Michel, combattant contre vous,
vous a vaincus, vous a fait fuir. Je vous defends,
de sa part et par son autorit6, sous quelque
pretexte que ce soit, de ne faire aucun mal A
cette creature, N..., soit dans son corps, soit
hors d'elle, ni par vision, ni frayeur, ni crainte,
tant la nuit que le jour, soit qu'elle dorme, soit
qu'elle veille, mange ou prie, soit qu'elle agisse
naturellement ou spirituellement. Si vous &tes
rebelles A ma volont6, je lance sur vous toutes
maledictions et excommunications et vous
condamne, de la part de la Tres Sainte Trinit6, A
aller dans l'etang de feu et de soufre, ou vous
serez conduits par le bienheureux Saint Michel.
Si l'on vous a invoques, en vous faisant quelque
fort et expres commandement, soit en vous
rendant un culte d'adoration et de parfums, soit
Living God, t by the True God, t by God the
Son, t by God the Holy Spirit, principally t by
the One who was immolated like Isaac, t who
was sold like Joseph, t who as a human was
crucified, t who was sacrificed like a lamb, t by
the blood of which Saint Michael, fighter
opposed to you, defeated you, made you flee. I
ban you, on his behalf and by his authority, for
whatever pretext it may be, to do no evil to this
creature, Name..., whether it be in her body,
whether it be outside of it, neither by vision,
nor by fright or fear, whether in the night or in
the day, whether she is sleeping, whether she is
awake, eats or prays, whether she acts naturally
or spiritually. If you are disobedient to my
authority, I cast upon you all curses and
excommunications and condemn you, on
behalf of the Most Holy Trinity, to go into the
lake of fire and sulfur, where you will be led by
the blessed Saint Michael. If you have been
invoked, while doing for you some strong and
intentional command, whether by establishing a
cult of worship and perfume, whether by
casting some kind of spell by words or by
que l'on ait jet6 quelque sort par paroles ou par
magie sur les herbes, les pierres, ou dans l'air,
soit que cela se soit fait naturellement ou
mysterieusement, soit que ces choses soient
temporelles ou spirituelles, ou enfin qu'on se
soit servi de choses sacr6es, qu'on ait employ
les noms du Grand Dieu ou des Anges, qu'on se
soit servi de caracteres secrets, qu'on ait
examine les minutes, heures, jours, mois et
annees, quand on aurait fait avec vous quelque
pacte tacite ou manifeste, meme avec serment
solennel ; je casse, d6truis et annule toutes ces
choses, t par la puissance et vertu de Dieu le
Pere, t par la sagesse du Fils, R6dempteur de
tous les hommes, t par la bont6 du Saint-
Esprit; en un mot, t par Celui qui a accompli la
loi en son entier, t qui est, t qui etait, J et qui
sera toujours t Omnipotens, t Agios, t
Ischyros, t Athanatos, J Soter, tJ
Tetragrammaton, t Jehovah, t Alpha et
Om6ga ; en un mot, que toute la puissance
infernale soit mise en fuite et d6truite en faisant
sur cette creature, N..., le signe de la t Croix, sur
laquelle Jesus-Christ est mort, et par
magic through herbs, rocks, or in the air,
whether it was done naturally or mysteriously,
whether these things were temporal or spiritual,
or finally whether one used sacred things,
whether one used the names of the Great God
or the Angels, whether one used secret
characters, whether one examined the minutes,
hours, days, months and years, when one would
have made with you some tacit or manifest
pact, even with a solemn oath; I break, destroy
and annul all these things, J by the power and
virtue of God the Father, J by the wisdom of
the Son, Redeemer of all men, t by the
goodness of the Holy Spirit; in a word, t by the
One who fulfilled the law in its entirety, t who
is, J who was, J and who will always be, J
Omnipotens t Agios, t Ischyros, t Athanatos, J
Soter, J Tetragrammaton, t Jehova, t Alpha
and Omega; in brief, may all the infernal power
be made to flee and destroyed by making upon
this creature, Name..., the sign of the t Cross,
upon which Jesus Christ died, and by the
intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary, of the
Holy Angels, Archangels, Patriarchs, Prophets,
l'intercession de la bienheureuse Vierge Marie,
des Saints Anges, Archanges, Patriarches,
Proph&etes, Ap6tres, Martyrs, Vierges et
Confesseurs, et generalement de tous les Saints
qui jouissent de la presence de Dieu, aussi bien
que des saints Ames qui vivent dans l'tglise de
Dieu. Rendez vos hommages au Dieu Tres
Haut et Tres Puissant et qu'ils p6n&trent jusqu'a
son trone comme la fum6e de ce poisson des
abimes qui fut brt6le par l'ordre de l'Archange
Raphael; disparaissez, comme l'esprit immonde
disparut devant la chaste Sara. Que toutes ces
benedictions vous chassent et ne vous
permettent nullement d'approcher cette
creature, N..., qui a l'honneur de porter sur son
front le signe de la t Sainte Croix ; parce que le
commandement que je vous fais maintenant
n'est pas le mien, mais de Celui qui a ete envoy
du sein du Pere Elternel, afin d'an6antir et de
detruire vos mal6fices [...]
Apostles, Martyrs, Virgins and Confessors, and
generally all the Saints who take delight in the
presence of God, as well as the holy souls who
live in the Church of God. Give your thanks to
God the Most High and Most Powerful so that
they may penetrate to his throne like the smoke
of this deep water fish which was burned by the
command of the Archangel Raphael; disappear,
like the unclean spirit disappeared before the
chaste Sarah. May all these blessings chase you
and not allow you whatsoever to approach this
creature, Name..., who has the honor of
carrying on her forehead the sign of the t Holy
Cross; because the command that I give you
now is not my own, but from the One who was
sent from within the Eternal Father, in order to
annihilate and destroy your wickedness [...]
Chapter 10. Jean Semp6's Prayers and Texts in Julio's (1896), Marvelous Prayers for the
Healing of all Illnesses
1 Consentino (1995:30).
2 Blier (1995:75).
3 In the Roman Catholic Church, the novena is the recitation of prayers for nine consecutive days to
achieve a specific purpose (Encarta Dictionary).
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