Prayers, offerings and blind faith characterize the cult of “Santa Muerte”, introduced to the United States by the Mexican community and celebrated every year in the Queens district of New York, a sign of its growing popularity in the country.

The “Holy Death” is represented by a skeleton with a scythe, a globe or a rose. She can don different costumes reflecting her powers.

Followers from all over the United States took part in religious celebrations in the megalopolis in mid-August, where stories of “miracles” granted by the Saint followed one another.

The majority of the faithful wear tattoos, rings and pendants bearing his image.

It is a faith that “helps us get out of difficult situations”, explains to AFP, Arely Vazquez, the main “priestess” of this cult in the United States.

Since surviving serious pancreatic surgery 17 years ago, Ms. Vazquez has promised her “Emaciated” to throw her a party every year to thank her, she says in front of the colorful altar erected in his living room in Queens, where the image of the Grim Reaper rubs shoulders with that of saints of the Catholic Church.

There are no norms or rules in what Andrew Chestnut, a professor of religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, defines as “a new religious movement”, which gained momentum in Mexico City in 2001.

The “Santa Muerte” has 12 million believers mainly in Mexico but also in the United States and Central America according to the estimates of this expert, author of the book “Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Holy Skeleton”.

“It’s the fastest growing religious movement in the world,” he said.

It is no wonder that in Mexico, where the cult of death is deeply rooted in popular culture due to the syncretism between Catholic religion and indigenous beliefs, this movement has gained popularity even though it was practiced until recently in the strictest privacy.

While the Catholic Church considers the Santa Muerte to be “satanic”, the relationship that the faithful have with her is very similar to that they have with several Catholic saints, details Mr. Chestnut.

“I think that if something does you good (…) it can’t be bad”, underlines Arely Vazquez who dreams of founding the first chapel dedicated to the Holy Death in the United States.

Each follower must have a figurine of the “Sainta Muerte” at home. They pray and make offerings to him: flowers, alcohol, tobacco or food.

For Cressida Stone, author of the book “Les Secrets de la Santa Muerte” (not translated into French), who describes herself as very fervent, “prayer is essential, much more than the size or the opulence of the altar”.

The Grim Reaper can also be “vindictive” and “wrathful” against those who do not keep the promises they made to him or disrespect him, she explains.

In the Santa Muerte the contact between the faithful and the object of his devotion is direct, without intermediaries and without discrimination.

“Here, we come to pray with faith,” says Alejandra Flores, 49, a follower of “Emaciée” since 2012 when she managed to get a job that she had been refused until then because of her trans identity.

“You can be a drug addict, a policeman, a transgender, whatever you want. Here, she welcomes us all,” she says.

Mike Rosales, who traveled more than 300 km from the State of Maryland to attend the New York festivities, dedicated an entire room of his house to the Saint. When he goes out or returns home, he always passes in front of his altar.

“I have it to protect me and feel good,” says the 36-year-old Guatemalan, who spends lavishly on his offerings. “If she gives us, why not give it back?” he continues.

In the United States, Mexico and Central America where there are great disparities between rich and poor, the scythe of “Santa Muerte” which restores equality “exerts a powerful attraction”, summarizes Andrew Chestnut.

08/18/2023 05:51:00 –         New York (AFP) –         © 2023 AFP