“The Strange Case of St. Expedite”
By Denise Dumars
Hoodoo, Vodou, Santeria practitioners call on St. Expedite when something absolutely, positively, has to get done overnight. He is sought out specifically for particular financial needs – the more specific, the better. For example, one college student needed a certain amount of money over and above what his initial financial aid award. He asked St. Expedite for the extra money, and the next time he went to financial aid office, he learned that the award had been amended to include the exact dollar amount he needed. He credits St. Expedite.
St. Expedite also, yes, expedites results that are moving too slowly. It gets very interesting here, for now our special delivery saint aids not just traditional adherents, but also those who work in contract jobs, freelancers, and anyone else who gets paid after they do the work, rather than getting a regular salary. One freelancer reports that a company was very slow in paying her for a project she complete, so she taped a Saint Expedite card to her computer monitor and the money suddenly came through. There are self-described “computer geeks” who now count St. Expedite as their patron saint!
To ask St. Expedite for help, place his image, a glass of water, and a red candle on your altar, bureau or computer workstation. Say the prayer on the back of the prayer card (or one of many found online), then ask him specifically for what you need. The best time to do this is on Wednesday, the day of Mercury the messenger – in Hoodoo and Vodou, St. Expedite is associated with Papa Legba, Baron Samedi, Ellegua, and other “messenger” spirits. Light the candle every day until your wish is granted.
After he grants your wish, offer him flowers, a glass of water, and a slice of pound cake. According to Ray Malbrough, believers leave nine quarters by his statue at “the Voodoo church” with their offerings. New Orleans tradition has it that he prefers Sara Lee pound cake. How anyone figured that out is unclear. Here are two prayers to St. Expedite from St. Expedite.com; one is clearly in the Christian tradition, and the other is more ecumenical:
When in Urgent Need: Pray to Saint Expedite
Our dear martyr and protector, Saint Expedite,
You who know what is necessary and what is urgently needed.
I beg you to intercede before the Holy Trinity, that by your grace my request will be granted.
_______________(Clearly express what you want, and ask him to find a way to get it to you.)
May I receive your blessings and favors.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
For Quick Help: Pray to Saint Expedite
Saint Expedite, you lay in rest.
I come to you and ask that this wish be granted.
____________________(Clearly express what you want, and ask him to find a way to get it to you.)
Expedite now what I ask of you.
Expedite now what I want of you, this very second.
Don’t waste another day.
Grant me what I ask for.
I know your power, I know you because of your work.
I know you can help me.
Do this for me and I will spread your name with love and honor
So that it will be invoked again and again.
Expedite this wish with speed, love, honor and goodness.
Glory to you, Saint Expedite!
In addition, there are many videos on YouTube about St. Expedite, many of them made for the express purpose of thanking him for his help. His reach across religions is evident as the videos were created by followers of numerous belief systems from numerous countries: Wiccans from the United States and Candomble followers from Brazil among them.
A statue of St. Expedite figures prominently in the film Skeleton Key, a fine supernatural thriller set in Louisiana that depicts some of the most authentic Hoodoo I’ve seen on film, but he is never named in the film or even referred to ….he’s just there for those in the know to recognize!
It’s been more than twenty years since that Santera told me about St. Expedite and I’m happy that in 2009 I actually got to see his niche in “the Voodoo church.” I’m taping his prayer card to my computer monitor right now.
Excerpt from:
“The Strange Case of St. Expedite”
By Denise Dumars
Llewellyn’s 2012 Magical Almanac
For Everyday Living
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