« Christian Reconstructionists pay creationists' billsHomeThe Gospel According to Dr. Seuss »

Saint Death: La Santa Muerte

Wishful Thinking

A report on a saint who is Mexico's " the queen of secret desires and furtive causes."

She is La Santa Muerte, "Saint Death," or as others call her, "La Santísima Muerte," "Sacred Death." Her petitioners are prostitutes, drug dealers and murderers, as well as multitudes of ordinary housewives, taxi drivers and street vendors hoping to cure a sick child or pay the rent or simply make it through another day without getting robbed or kidnapped or shot. Over the past 20 years, her following has grown so large and so rapidly that in some parts of Mexico she is becoming a rival in popular affection to the Virgen de Guadalupe, the manifestation of the Virgin Mary that for nearly half a millennium has been the reigning symbol of Mexican national identity. ...

Reed Johnson, Los Angeles Times: A 'saint' of last resort

Comments

I think it is only natural to see that when all hope is gone and the establishment cannot respond to the people's needs. People recur to anything in despair.It shows that the official atholic Church has lst some credibility among working class Mexicans. Superstition and fraud are always a danger for the naive. I myself am agnostic, and I respect other people's beliefs, however in Mexico it is very difficult to be different, more than being gay, since I am aslo gay, it is more difficult to come out of the "religious closet" and reveal to people that you don't believe in Jesus or any religion specifically. Í have been rejected and laughed at when I question the validity and reality of such cult named Saint Death. I have dared people to ask her to harm me or to do something bad to me, anyway for me it is justan image made with material earthy elements and scientifically such thing cannot exert any influence in your lives.

How do you feel?

Feel free to share your feelings about Saint Death: La Santa Muerte. Please stick to the theme of the entry. Disagreement is fine. Homophobia, racism, and kindred expressions of hatred will be deleted. This site is one of my hobbies. I genuinely enjoy hearing from people and hate moderating or killing comments. Forthright disagreement is fine as long as it is civil.
My thanks,
Richard