Tony Kail, author of A Secret History of Memphis Hoodoo: Rootworkers, Conjuers and Spirituals, shares a fascinating account of a recent visit to the Santuario de la Santa Muerte in Las Vegas, Neveda
London Death Society Entrevista al Profesor Andrew Chesnut acerca de la Santa Muerte
El Dr. Andrew Chesnut es el principal experto en la santa popular mexicana, Santa Muerte. Tiene la Cátedra Walter F. Sullivan en Estudios Católicos y es Profesor Titular de Estudios Religiosos en la Universidad de Virginia Commonwealth. Publicado por primera vez en el 2012 por Oxford University Press, su libro Santa Muerte: La Segadora Segadora … Continue reading London Death Society Entrevista al Profesor Andrew Chesnut acerca de la Santa Muerte
Borderland Devotions – Santa Muerte and the margins of faith
While the media in the U.S., Mexico and beyond often focuses on an inflated image of Santa Muerte as a so-called ‘narco-saint,’ her devotees come from a broad spectrum of those who have been born beyond, stepped away from or been pushed outside of the status quo. She stands as a loving matron for those … Continue reading Borderland Devotions – Santa Muerte and the margins of faith
The Universal Mother and a Universal Flag – A Neo-Pagan reflection on Santa Muerte
The following piece was submitted by Gabriel Oakfield, a Neo-Pagan Santa Muerte devotee from the United Kingdom, who provides his personal perspective on Santa Muerte's place in bridging tensions between a Catholic upbringing and his sexual identity. In this reflection Oakfield also allows us to see one way in which Saint Death's decentralized global presence is acting … Continue reading The Universal Mother and a Universal Flag – A Neo-Pagan reflection on Santa Muerte
U.S. Bishops Denounce Santa Muerte
Russell Contreras reporting for AP News provides context for an important new development in the Roman Catholic church's official condemnation of Santa Muerte's devotional tradition. U.S. Bishops have, for the first time, come out with an official statement on their position that Santa Muerte is not considered compatible with Catholic values - coming at a … Continue reading U.S. Bishops Denounce Santa Muerte
Santa Muerte as Religious Resistance – Reflections of a Devotee
The following post from the Devoted to Death Facebook group provides a powerful perspective on current events from a U.S. devotee of Santa Muerte. In this piece Robin Artisson reflects on some of the extreme political changes occurring and what place Saint Death may have in helping to focus these issues for those pushed to … Continue reading Santa Muerte as Religious Resistance – Reflections of a Devotee
O Quinto Aniversário da Santa Muerte do México
Por meses tenho esperado pela 15ª aniversário do altar da Santa Muerte, de Enriqueta Romero, no conhecido bairro de Tepito, situado na Cidade do México. A Dona Queta, como é conhecida carinhosamente, lançou, sem premeditar, o movimento religioso que mais cresce nas Américas. E tudo isso simplesmente ao colocar sua estátua de esqueleto - de … Continue reading O Quinto Aniversário da Santa Muerte do México
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
