The Demon Santa Muerte aka "Saint Death"

The witchy, surreptitiously venerated demon that's now accepted by many Catholic priests.​

I am not certain of how many Mexicans read my work. I know I’ve come across a few in my email inbox and in the comments. But perhaps there are some of you who hail from California, Arizona, or Texas. If so, you likely have seen in your grocery stores little Catholic-looking candles intended for devotions to Santa Muerte, otherwise known as “Saint Death.”

Saint Death is neither a real person, nor any kind of a Catholic saint at all. Nor is this revered caricature any kind of a remnant of the memento mori brands from Europe’s Great Plague times, meant to inspire contemplation and self examination in the face of impending death. No, this entity is regarded as an actual figure—not a brand. And Many people in Mexico even revere “her” with novenas and prayer sessions.

Many Catholic commentators rightfully call out this thing for what it obviously is, which is an anti-Marian mockery. Like the mantled Virgin Mary who is here to bring life and hope, this thing is also wears a mantle. This thing shares a surprising amount of physical grammar with Virgin Mary imagery. Just as the Holy Mother stands in her depictions as calm and reserved, this thing likewise stands there in an almost-similar, motionless and unemotional pose. And while Mary might be holding a rosary or a lily, this thing often holds a globe or even a scythe. Maybe scales.

The cult of Santa Muerte borrows extensively from Catholic imagery, posture, and devotion, dependent upon Catholic forms while hollowing out their original theological content. It is obviously demonic for these reasons alone. But wait, there’s more. It gets worse.

Some History​

Continued below.

The Demon Santa Muerte aka "Saint Death"

The witchy, surreptitiously venerated demon that's now accepted by many Catholic priests.

theweltgeist.substack.com

RileyG said:

I’ve seen her candle in an Asian grocery store (it also had Hispanic oriented goods).

There were many “Saint candles” and “she” was included!

Scary!

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Here is the thing in my area. We have a local Latino grocery I often shop at. The owners are parishioners and support our Church bulletin among other things. We have all become friends. We have Latino priests as well. So it’s been a process but Santa Muerte is no longer offered there anymore. Praise the Lord.

I believe it’s a problem within their own homeland if they say so. The fact is, Santa Muerte is a demonic entity favored by drug cartels, etc. there is no way I am going to say that this is not practiced in Mexico when those that lived there know it absolutely is. I don’t care what info you get on the web. Those that lived there know. There actually is no female saint that represents death.

The Church would not have spoken out about it if it was not a problem in Mexico.