Santa Muerte

Nuestra Señora de la Santa Muerte is a deity and folk saint in Mexican folk Catholicism.  She is a personification of death, and is associated with healing, protection, prosperity and safe delivery to the afterlife. Despite condemnation by the Catholic Church, her cult has become increasingly prominent.

Reputed to grant many miracles. Her images are treated as holy and can grant miracles in return for the faith of the believer. Although most pray for jobs or good health, her cult has been often connected to drug traffickers and criminals. One of the reasons for her widespread appeal is that she accepts everyone. As Señora de la Noche (“Lady of the Night”), she is often invoked by those exposed to the dangers of working at night. Such as taxi drivers, bar owners, police, soldiers, and sex workers. As such, devotees believe she can protect against assaults, accidents, gun violence, and all types of violent death. You may also petition her to keep men faithful. As she will judge men who violate the sanctity of marriage if called upon to do so.

Many start to work with her by offering a glass of cool water, a white candle and praying her rosary. Her altars generally contain one or multiple images of the saint, surrounded by any or all of the following: cigarettes, flowers, fruit, incense, water, alcoholic beverages, coins, candies and candles. Tobacco is also used for personal cleansing and for cleansing statues of her.