I want to dispose of Santeria items properly

Catholic Living Spirituality
#1

Hello all,

I am a Cuban American and was raised Catholic but have also been involved in Santeria / Ifa cult. I renounced that lifestyle about 3 years ago and went to confession (I had a very strong desire to do so) but My mother and brother still have the santeria items that used to “belong” to me. A statue called an ellegua in santeria and some other implements. My question is how do I properly get rid of these items. I don’t want to just leave them anywhere since I know they are evil and can cause harm. Does anyone here have similar experience with santeria and removing these items from your life?

Thank you for your time and God bless you.

#2

Someone in this thread posted a set of guidelines for what to do with these things.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=212914

I didn’t follow this, though. When I got rid of my books on Wicca (well, actually my sister did for me) we just put them in the trash, which our city burns rather than puts in a landfill. And actually, I think I kept my candles and oils rather than toss them.

This hasn’t affected me negatively though, but if you feel that’s not enough, I am glad there is a proper procedure for these things.

#3

Thank you so much!

#4

I did the same thing when I renounced wicca/neo-paganism. Although, I kept some candle/votives. I wound up throwing them away as well after a couple of incidents.

I had cleaned one of them out and put Holy Water in it to keep near my altar. I heard a loud ‘pop’ while walking the baby to go down for a nap. When I went to prayer later that evening, I discovered the glass candleholder had broken in half.

The next day at prayer, another one burst after I lit it.

It was after this that I remembered that I had used those candles a long time ago to mark a circle. They are no longer in my house.

I think it would be a good idea to burn the santeria stuff though. There are much stronger psychological ties to such things, IMO

#5

As someone who hasn’t had any experience in this, but lives in a community with many Latinos, some of whom practice Santeria, I would say that in wanting to get rid of these idols is the sign enough for God that you want to change and He will do everything in His Power to make that possible in His Own Way.

As long as these items are removed in a way that keeps them from being rediscovered by either yourself or another individual of good will (i.e. burning then burying the ashes, separating the statues into pieces and throwing them away, or just asking a priest to do it if you for some reason can’t) and then sprinkling some Holy Water in the area they occupied should be fine.

I’ll say a prayer for you and your family that you can joyfully continue to choose to worship the One God of Israel :slight_smile:

#6

pray, sprinkle holy water & burn them- this is how most occult things are disposed of i think

#7

Thank you all for the advice and prayers. It was a struggle a few years ago to actually break free from santeria and all it’s darkness. I have some stories to tell of the things I’ve felt but sometimes I’d rather just let that go. I fear my mother and brother may still want to practice the religion out of fear of renouncing it. My father was a practitioner who was very ill wilth parkinson’s and past away two years ago. My mother and brother seem to attribute his passing to getting rid of some of the santeria objects we had at the time. However, I think that he was sick in part because of the constant worrying involved in Santeria. But that’s just what I believe… Anyway, thanks again.

Bless you -

#8

No, bless YOU! I’m still excited for you that you’ve come home to Yaweh as God…YAY!!!:smiley: :stuck_out_tongue:

#9

Brothers & Sisters:

The only thing I can add comes from Acts 19:18-19:

  • Many also of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.*
    **Acts 19:18-19 RSV
    **
    And, From the DIDACHE - The Lord’s Teaching through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations:

Chapter 2:2 - you shall not practice magic, you shall not practice witchcraft, you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is begotten.
Chapter 3:1 - My child, flee from every evil thing, and from every likeness of it. 3:4 - My child, be not an observer of omens, since it leads the way to idolatry; neither an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a purifier, nor be willing to took at these things; for out of all these idolatry is engendered.
Chapter 4:14 - *In the church you shall acknowledge your transgressions, and you shall not come near for your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.
*
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0714.htm

On the Basis of these, I’d round everything up that could be rounded up and present them to your Confessor and Spiritual Director. Ask him what you should do with them, remarking that you’ve been told to Mangle, Burn, Sprinkle with Holy Water and Bury the remainder of things (placing St. Benedict’s medals on top of them). And, Unless he tells you something absolutely ridiculous, do what he says.

And, Get rid of everything - Don’t let your family keep any of it…

Learn and pray daily the prayer to St. Michael:

Holy St. Michael Archangel,
Defend us in Battle.
Protect us from the wickedness and snares of the Devil,
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
And, do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all of the evil spirits who wander the world seeking the ruin of souls.
AMEN

And remember the Prayer of the Publican:

Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the Living God,
Have Mercy on me,
A miserable sinner.

This is one the Desert Fathers prayed perpetually. And, Then there’s always one of Fr. John Corapi’s favorites:

Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I put my whole Trust in you.

Said 100+ times/day…

I don’t have a history of involvement in Santoria, but I do have the history with the occult (from my mother and Grandmother), so I know how much like quicksand it can be.

I hope this helps.

Your Brother in Christ, Michael

#10

Thank you, Michael (Traditional Ang) for your advice and prayers. I do say the prayer to Saint Michael often. In fact, a dream I had where Saint Michael helped me get out of a bad situation moved me to leave Santeria once and for all.

I think I will talk to my priest about this. I’m eager to close the book on that chapter for good.

God bless you!
Eric

#11