Gospel magic

Gospel magic is the use of otherwise standard stage magic tricks and illusions 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 parables"; the trick or illusion in Gospel Magic is used to present theological points in an entertaining way with the intention that people will remember^{[citation needed]}.

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.

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 arts 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).

Organizations

The principle organizations for Gospel Magicians are the International Fellowship of Christian Magicians and the Catholic Magicians' Guild [1]. The IFCM's monthly magazine is The Voice. The CMG's electronic quarterly magazine is entitled Totus Tuus.

Gospel magician holidays

Gospel Magic can be used throughout the Christian 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 Illusionist'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 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 Rome was a renowned Roman actor hired for a play that satirized the rite of Christian Baptism. In the middle of the opening night performance before Emperor Diocletian, 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.

See also

• Illusionist
• List of magic tricks
• Tarbell Course

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, 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 obstat and imprimatur from Bishop Nicholas Anthony DiMarzio, 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.

External links

• Exciting Gospel Magic at BellaOnline
• Magic News Network
• Sermons in Science
• Magicians Without Borders
• Fellowship of Christian Magicians of Germany
• Gospel E-magic
• [2]