A wonderful summary about Santa Muerte and history of the faith with some new and cutting edge research at the end!
Loving Godmother, Holy Saint – Santa Muerte devotee Hank Vine on the death of la Madrina Enriqueta Vargas Ortiz, leader of Santa Muerte Internacional
It is difficult for me to make the distinction between Enriqueta Vargas Ortiz the person I adored and the spiritual leader that she was and now the transition to....I don't know, for me at least she is at the right hand of San Padrino Endoque (Jonathan Legaria Vargas.)* I understand what blossoms in a lot … Continue reading Loving Godmother, Holy Saint – Santa Muerte devotee Hank Vine on the death of la Madrina Enriqueta Vargas Ortiz, leader of Santa Muerte Internacional
Top Santa Muerte Leader Enriqueta Vargas is in the Bony Lady’s Embrace
La Madrina Enriqueta Vargas Ortiz (b. 1959 - d. 2018), the charismatic leader of Santa Muerte Internacional, has died after a prolonged battle with cancer. The SMI temple in Tultitlan will hold a viewing on December 19th at noon, beneath the feet of the largest statue of Santa Muerte in the world. On December … Continue reading Top Santa Muerte Leader Enriqueta Vargas is in the Bony Lady’s Embrace
10 Años Enalteciendo a Nuestra Santa Muerte – Reflections on the 2017 anniversary celebration for Santa Muerte Internacional from Hank Vine
Yes, it has been a very good day... The gentleman who rescued me at the airport the last time I visited (see Born in Texas, Complete in Mexico) is the one who I went with today. I got called up to speak and be introduced to the people and I told how Flaca has given … Continue reading 10 Años Enalteciendo a Nuestra Santa Muerte – Reflections on the 2017 anniversary celebration for Santa Muerte Internacional from Hank Vine
¿Es Santa Muerte – el Nuevo Movimiento Religioso de más rápido crecimiento en las Américas – Institucionalizando?
Tanto las fotos como la traduccion del ingles fueron realizadas por la Dra. Fabiola Chesnut, Jefa del Departamento de Lenguas Extranjeras y Bellas Artes de la Escuela Secundaria Huguenot, Richmond, Virginia, y nativa de Morelia, Michoacán. Texto por el Dr. Andrew Chesnut. El día 28/12/16 asistí a la celebración del 9º aniversario de la fundación … Continue reading ¿Es Santa Muerte – el Nuevo Movimiento Religioso de más rápido crecimiento en las Américas – Institucionalizando?
Is the Fastest Growing New Religious Movement in the Americas – Santa Muerte – Institutionalizing?
All photos were taken by Fabiola Chesnut, Chair of Foreign Languages and Fine Arts at Huguenot High School, Richmond, Virginia, and native of Morelia, Michoacan. On 12/28/16 I attended the 9th anniversary celebration of the founding of Templo Santa Muerte Internacional in the gritty Mexico City suburb of Tultitlan.Founded by Jonathan Legaria Vargas, aka Comandante … Continue reading Is the Fastest Growing New Religious Movement in the Americas – Santa Muerte – Institutionalizing?
Santa Muerte Internacional Expands to Dallas and Atlanta
A key element to Santa Muerte’s rise on the global stage has been her tradition’s distinct lack of central coordination. The power of her skeletal iconography to emerge among devotees of all walks of life has allowed her to move from the backwoods to the barrios of Mexico and from the streets to the highest … Continue reading Santa Muerte Internacional Expands to Dallas and Atlanta
The Enigmatic Allure of the Beautiful Girl
A recent meet-up at a home temple in Dallas, Texas between top Mexican Santa Muerte leader Enriqueta Vargas of Santa Muerte Internacional and Padre Sisyphus Garcia, pioneering founder of the Los Angeles Templo Santa Muerte, provides a perfect portrait of increasing centralization in Santa Muerte's multifaceted public devotional tradition. Vargas' diplomacy has extended the presence of SMI from its base … Continue reading The Enigmatic Allure of the Beautiful Girl
“La Flaca” A New Film on Santa Muerte in NYC
Co-directors Thiago Zananto and Adriana Barbosa have released the trailer for their forthcoming film, "La Flaca," which features NYC Santa Muerte pioneer, Arely Vazquez. Filmed on location in Queens, "La Flaca" (or Skinny Lady, one of the skeleton saint's main monikers) focuses on the 9th anniversary fiesta of Arely's devotion to Saint Death. Top Mexican … Continue reading “La Flaca” A New Film on Santa Muerte in NYC
10 Years of Santa Muerte in NYC
On August 20, 2016, New York City devotional pioneer Arely Vazquez hosted her tenth annual Santa Muerte fiesta in Queens. Joined by the preeminent Santa Muerte leader in Mexico, Enriqueta Vargas of Templo Santa Muerte Internacional, Arely led some 150 devotees in an evening of prayer, song and dance. At first I was surprised by … Continue reading 10 Years of Santa Muerte in NYC
Most Holy Death 