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p. 266
MYSTIC FIGURES FROM THE TITLE-PAGE OF THE "GRIMOIRE OF HONORIUS"
may have no foundation in fact, and may be eminently foolish, but it is not a superstitious
assumption. It has been well pointed out by Éliphas Lévi that the term superstition
signifies survival; that is to say, it is the sign surviving the idea. Thus, the Catholic
doctrine of Transubstantiation, in its open theological sense, may or may not be true
doctrine, but in neither case can the worship of the consecrated elements be superstitious,
because such worship draws directly from the idea which has created the outward sign. If
a time could be supposed when the Elements should continue to be worshipped after the
doctrine itself had passed away, that would be a superstitious observance. But the
etymological conception of superstition connects also with the idea of redundance. Thus,
a double consecration of the Eucharistic elements would be a superstitious observance, as
well as blasphemously absurd, because the first consecration is effectual by the
theological hypothesis. But the repetition of the Angelical Salutation in the devotion of
the Holy Rosary is not superstitious, because the first recitation is not necessarily
effectual by the devotional hypothesis. So also the magical practice which consists with
the magical hypothesis will not be superstitious, though it may not consist with reason.
The slaughter of a kid with a view to securing a virgin parchment is not a superstitious
but a precautionary or assumptive measure. The conversion of this slaughter into a
sacrifice is not superstitious, because it has a purpose which consists with the magical
hypothesis, namely, the increase of virtue by the consecration of the religious motive.
The importation into such sacrifice of ceremonies which are not precautionary, and do
not, by the hypothesis, increase the virtue, are redundant and so far superstitious. Such
offices do not occur in the Grimoires, with the exception of that of Honorius, in which
Ritual they are further characterised
p. 267
by brutal features. The slaughter of a black cock and the extraction of the eyes, tongue
and heart, which must be reduced into powder, and that powder subsequently sprinkled
on the lambskin, is a redundant and monstrous observance. Were I therefore an occultist,