Exploring the fastest growing popular faith in the Americas – La Santa Muerte
As media reports on the Bony Lady repeat the same tired narco-saint narrative ad nauseum, the big developing story is that of the rapid globalization of devotion to Santa Muerte. Keeping in mind that the skeleton saint was unknown to the great majority of Mexicans until a little over a decade ago, it’s astonishing that … Continue reading Saint Without Borders: Santa Muerte Goes Global
With banners proclaiming “sons and daughters of Santa Muerte for peace in Juarez” some two to three hundred devotees of Saint Death organized a peace march in a city so violent that it recently earned the moniker “Baghdad on the Border.” Departing from one of the border city’s main Santa Muerte shrines, the marchers processed … Continue reading Devotees of Saint Death March for Life in Juarez, Mexico
In response to recent acts of aggression from religious rivals, Mexico’s top Santa Muerte temple head, Enriqueta Vargas of Tultitlan, spoke exclusively to Skeleton Saint about her role in the cult of Saint Death and her intention “to cleanse” the cult of what she regards as profiteers and charlatans....Let me make it very clear that … Continue reading Let The Earth Tremble! Top Santa Muerte Leader Seeks to Cleanse the Cult
Respondiendo a recientes agresiones de parte de ciertos rivales religiosos, la lideresa maxima de los templos de la Santa Muerte en Mexico, Enriqueta Vargas de Tultitlan, hablo en exclusivo con Skeleton Saint sobre su papel en el culto y su propuesta de limpiarlo de lo que ella ve como mercaderes y charlatanes. VOY A DEJAR … Continue reading Tiembla Tierra! Lideresa de la Santa Muerte Promete Limpiar el Culto
While the targeted destruction of Santa Muerte shrines and altars has been going on for several years in Mexico, over the past few months it's increased throughout the country. Most of the shrines leveled had been erected on public property, but the latest case of iconoclasm occurred on private grounds in Los Mochis, Sinaloa. According … Continue reading Top Santa Muerte Leader Protests Latest Shrine Attack in Mexico
Santa Muerte is the most popular saint in Mexican prisons and not only among inmates. She also has an ample following among guards, lawyers and even therapists. In the following testimony Manuel Flores Machuca of Mexico City relates his own experience with the patroness of prison. I’m gonna tell you about my experience with my … Continue reading Santa Muerte Got Me Out of Prison
La Santa Muerte es el santo mas venerado en las prisiones de Mexico y no solo por los reos, Tambien cuenta con muchos devotos que son custodios, abogados y psicologos. En el testimonio que sigue el devoto Manuel Flores Machucha comparte su experiencia con la patrona de la carcel... - Voy a narrarle mi experiencia … Continue reading La Santa Muerte me sacó de la cárcel
Absent from media accounts of Santa Muerte is her role as a powerful curandera or healer. Many devotees first approach the Skeleton Saint for health-related reasons. Such is the case for Missy Barkley, the first Australian devotee I've come across. Below is Missy's account of how she came to believe in the Bony Lady..... I've … Continue reading I’ll Forever Sing Her Praises – A first hand account of Santa Muerte, the healer
Mercy, pity, and compassion are not words that you will see outsiders associating with Santa Muerte, the skeletal saint whose tradition is currently one of the fastest growing religious movements in the Americas and around the globe. Yet, La Pieta, 'The Mercy,' Michelangelo's masterpiece depicting Mary cradling the peaceful body of Christ after the Crucifixion, … Continue reading La Pieta – The Compassion of Most Holy Death
Santa Muerte’s origins in the U.S. date much further back than her recent influx with Mexican immigrants over the past decade. During the 19th century in the mountain towns of New Mexico and southern Colorado, Mexican-American Catholics personified death as a female figure known as Doña Sebastiana, a moniker still heard today for Santa Muerte. … Continue reading Sister Death and Brother Francis at Holy Week in Chimayo, New Mexico
Most Holy Death 