March 2nd

            On March 2^nd, I was treated to a walking tour of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. During this tour, we got to go to the Ursulines Convent, Saint Louis Cathedral and Voodoo Authentica. These three locations each revealed an important aspect of Religion in New Orleans.

            First on our tour, we went to the Voodoo Authentica. While there, the shopkeepers answered our questions about voodoo and provided us with further information on their own voodoo practices. For instance, they gave us in depth descriptions and motivations to how their store was set up regarding the various altars located in each room. Also, they explained some of the history of the voodoo in New Orleans.

            Going to the Voodoo Authentica provided me with my first real experience with authentic voodoo objects. I found the gris gris section of the store most interesting. Behind all of the ritual masks, altars and voodoo dolls was an entire stock of vials and glass containers full of miscellaneous voodoo ingredients (plant extracts and natural ingredients) used to make gris gris bags for bathing or carrying around. I noticed that there was not one toxic or poisonous ingredient. I was informed by one of the shopkeepers that although natural toxins and poisons are used in voodoo for black magic, the Voodoo Authentica was devoted only to positive voodoo magic and consequently, they had never, and would never carry such items. This was as much of a surprise to me as originally stepping through the door as I had the impression that all voodoo shops would sell ingredients for anything. It’s for the best though!

            Our second stop was the Ursulines convent. There we took a walking tour of the historic buildings. Inside were objects dating as far back as the 1700-1800’s when the building was first built. It showed a history of the building from its usage as a hospital to an orphanage, to a place where the state legislature gathered to a school. Most usages of the building were devoted to charity and improving the overall well-being of the city of New Orleans.

            Off to the side was the Ursuline church. It is a magnificent building full of impressive woodwork, metal decorations, statues and anything one would expect in a magnificent church. I did not see when the church itself was built but it surprised me as I was under the impression that the Ursulines spent all their money on social programs and providing services to the community, not building ridiculously impressive churches.

            Our final stop was the Saint Louis Cathedral. This church was also magnificent. It had even more decorations, statues and beautiful woodwork as the convent church. There was a very French style to this church. From the various French symbols scattered about the church to the large statue of, who I thought was, saint Joan of Arc at the entrance (am I wrong about this? It sure looked like Joan of Arc), the whole cathedral was very French. This showed the influence that the French left on New Orleans, both culturally and aesthetically in the cities historical buildings.

            All three locations provided a taste of the contributing factors that led to current New Orleans. From the French style of the French quarters buildings, to the historic importance of the Ursulines convent, to the importance of the Voodoo supply shop, all showed off the diversity of this American city.