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.
Read more about this topic: Gospel Magic
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“This above all makes history useful and desirable: it unfolds before our eyes a glorious record of exemplary actions.”
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