In addition, there are many other rumors about the death cult. But even they are accepted by Santa Muerte." I cannot confirm that there are more criminals among the followers. The sociologist Hernandez sees another reason for the triumphal procession in the increase in crime in the country: "Violence in Mexico has apparently increased in the past 20 years just as much as the success of the movement."But Hernandez rejects a characterization of the Santa Muerte as a saint of criminals: "The Santa Muerte has received this reputation from the church and the media. On the Caribbean coast the followers dance themselves into ecstasy, in Tepito they pray silently. The festivals and rituals do not have a fixed set of rules, but rather follow regional traditions. The cult, however, has now established itself throughout Mexico and is lived openly. It is thus considered the first altar of the death saints in Mexico open to the public and is accordingly frequently visited. The resolute woman opened her altar of the Santa Muerte 15 years ago together with the store for devotional objects in the crime stronghold of Tepito. The recent success outside their own four walls is probably also thanks to Dona Queta. When I leave the house, I ask Santa Muerte to protect me." Most of her acquaintances have a very private relationship with the Santa Muerte, says De Rosario. But she does not show her faith publicly: "My shrine in the apartment is enough for me.
The 43-year-old cook from Tepito has been a follower of Santa Muerte for 20 years. Only it has been lived hidden for many centuries."īecause of the stigmatization by the church many believers would have withdrawn into the private one. In his estimation, the cult mixes Catholic beliefs with pre-Hispanic elements. "Before colonization by the Spaniards, a distinct death cult existed in Mexico, which disappeared from the surface due to immigrant Catholicism," says sociologist Alberto Hernandez. In Dona Queta's store next to the altar, visitors can buy rosaries and candles. Many symbols of the cult resemble the Catholic denomination. Offerings such as beer bottles, filled wine glasses and fruit lie at her feet.Ĭult symbols resemble Catholic denomination Around the "white child," as the Santa Muerte is also called, angels and death figures line shelves. Dona Queta has lovingly dressed the figure in a golden, loose-fitting dress with a veil. In the center of Dona Queta's altar is a realistic image of a skeleton the size of a child, the skull framed by long black hair.
The decoration seems quite death-glorifying. When Pope Francis visited Mexico last February, he sharply criticized the cult's followers: "I am disturbed by the many seduced people who glorify this fantasy and commercialize death with gruesome symbols." This puts it in direct competition with the Catholic Church, which condemns its faithful for what it sees as the wrong way to live. Everyone is allowed to be who they are, whether homosexual or divorced," says Higuera.
"The people believe that the Santa Muerte protects them from illness and misfortune.
The fact that visitors come from Central America or even Colombia is happening more and more often, says Dona Queta: "They come for the faith, nothing else."Īnthropologist and cult expert Antonio Higuera Bonfil has been researching the Santa Muerte movement for years and has observed its rapidly growing following, which already extends beyond the borders of Mexico. They have taken the first plane to Mexico and will return to Bogota in the evening. In tears, they mourn their son, who died that morning, in front of the statue. This afternoon, a family of four traveled from as far away as Colombia to visit the deathly saint Santa Muerte. Their destination: the decorated altar of Santa Muerte, before which they kneel devoutly to thank the "saint of death" or to offer their intercessions. Hundreds of pilgrims come to Tepito in Mexico City every day. Only a few bouquets of flowers on the sidewalk draw the eye to the 62-year-old's store behind white bars. This is a thorn in the side of the Catholic Church.įrom the street, Dona Queta's life's work seems quite inconspicuous. The Santa Muerte is passionately worshipped in Mexico – and finds more and more followers. She is given chocolates and marijuana and in return supposedly saves her followers from disaster.
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