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16 comments:

1. Anonymous says

   February 25, 2010 4:23 PM  

   praying to lady death... that's really odd and somehow scary...

   
   Joe Curry says

   February 25, 2010 6:54 PM  

   Great essay! Especially the first photo tells an entire story. Wondering what's written on his back.

   
   Anonymous says

   February 25, 2010 9:01 PM  

   Hi Joe: Jeff here!
   here's a ruff translation of what written on the back of the man in the first photograph.
   
   My child (referring to La Santa Muerte) place down your cloak,bring peace and harmony. Oh white sister everything you do day by day whatever or where ever you are you protect me and free me from everything bad with your divine power and of Gods.
   
   My God i give thee thanks for my white beautiful child (again referring to La Santa Muerte)who has blessed me many times and the people that i love. el Cholo

   
   Joe Curry says

   February 25, 2010 11:38 PM  

   Thanks Jeff, it makes a lot of sense in this context. But overall (for a non-believer like me) the whole cult-thing still doesn't.
   Though I am thinking now there's a catchy wisdom in all this cult: thinking of life in terms of death. It probably just makes everything easier for people in underprivileged communities.
   And it is fascinating.

   
   Anonymous says

   February 26, 2010 12:50 AM  

   ya it can me a bit heavy at times. it obvious affiliation to people especially involved in crime of some sort, can be due to there closeness and aware of death at all times. gang members pray not to be killed and also ask for forgiveness when they do, La Santa Muerte is also very popular among homosexuals and prostitutes as they feel the catholic church has abandoned them and they say La Santa Muerte or Death does not discriminate we all must meet her regardless or class or creed.

   
   Benjamin Hiller says

   February 26, 2010 11:09 AM  

   Great Photoessay and indeed an intense whoreship of the lady death. An interesting mix of "crime" and "catholic ethics".... hope to see more Jeff!
   
   Greetings from Hamburg/Germany
   
   Benjamin

   
   Anonymous says

   February 28, 2010 12:20 PM  

   Very interesting photography reportage indeed, was not aware of such mixture between crime and catholic ethics exisiting!! it's good to know

   
   Anonymous says

   March 29, 2010 9:47 PM  

   photoblog phail.
   
   none of your photos ever show up

   
   admin. says

   March 30, 2010 10:53 AM  

   @Anonymous: Of course they do. What browser do you use? The problem might be in your computer.

   
   Anonymous says

   September 2, 2010 9:22 AM  

   I disagree with the term "cult" here. As for "worshiping death," Christians have been doing exactly the same thing. Furthermore, Santisma Muerte has many wonderful abilities. Catholics the world over believe in going to different saints and angels to ask for favors, and many of the people featured here ARE Catholic, so why is this any different? It is true that many "bad apples" have taken to using Santisma Muerte's name, but this is a fairly new practice, and I think it has much more to do with the image of her as a skeleton, rather than her actual qualities. In addition, Santisma Muerte is now considered a "banned" saint, as so many others are. The church feels it can just "do away" with whatever it likes at any time, without a thought to the feelings of it's followers, and THIS is the result. Her best known quality is punishing unfaithful husbands and lovers, NOT hiding drug dealers.
   One of my favorite myths about her states that she killed herself when she found her lover unfaithful, and thus will punish unfaithful men when called upon. There is a lot of amazing historical stuff about her Goddess aspect, too, if you'll take a moment to do your homework before you just jump to conclusion.

   
   Yesenia Nazario says

   December 8, 2010 3:20 AM  

   I dont believe in any of this but we all believe in something! But I have to say I love the first photo,, those tattoes are amazing!! love what the sencond tattoe says!

   
   Anonymous says

   February 17, 2011 11:41 AM  

   I believe on her!!!she has a wonder power!!!!

   
   Anonymous says

   February 22, 2011 7:10 PM  

   H0W SAD

   
   Anonymous says

   February 22, 2011 7:23 PM  

   ITS REALLY SAD T0 SEE THAT PE0PLE ARE S0 IGN0RANT AND THAT THEY D0NT REALIZE THAT G0D PAID A PRICE F0R 0UR SINS! G0D CREATED EVERYTHiNG iNClUDiNG Y0U HES A jEAl0US G0D! H0W Will YA FEEl iF UR KID WAS T0 G0 ASK S0MEB0DY ELSE F0R SOMETHING THAT Y0U CAN GIVE HIM/HER EVEN 0R EVEN WAY BETTER THAN WHAT THE 0THER PERS0N IS G0ING TO GIVE THEM!! THATS ALMOST THE SAME THING WITH G0D iMAGINE H0W HE FEELS SEEING U ASK SANTA MUERTE FOR THINGS THAT HE CAN GIVE U HES 0WNER OF GOLD&SILVER ALL OUR BLESSINGS COME FROM HIM (MONEY,JOB,KIDS)REALLY LADY DEATH IS N0T HOLLY BECAUSE ITS MAINLY THE DEVIL TRYING TO CONFUSE UR MiND BECAUSE HE DOESNT WANT U T0 GET CLOSE T0 GOD BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT UR SOUL WILL BE SAVED! BEHiND EVERY SAiNT THERES A DEMON! DO YOU KNOW UR PURPOSE IN DIS WORLD??? THERES AN AFTER LIFE WHERE IS YOUR SOUL GOING? MANY PEOPLE DONT THINK ABOUT THAT AND THATS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE ITS GOING TO DETERMINED WHERE U ARE GOING TO BE FOR AN ETERNITY!! A PLACE OF TORMENT,CRYING,BURNING OR A PLACE OF HAPPYNESS!! THINK ABOUT IT U REALLY DONT HAVE TO BELIEVE ME BUT JUST TRY GETTING CLOSE TO HIM & YOU WILL SEE THE GREAT THINGS HE HAS ST0RED F0R Y0U!!! G0D BLESS YA

   
   Anonymous says

   January 19, 2012 5:39 PM  

   Santa Muerte de mi madre que me ayude con mi hermano que está golpeando las pandillas y le dispararon seis veces en el estómago.

   
   Anonymous says

   January 23, 2012 10:58 AM  

   La Santa Muerte doesn't have anything to do with the devil..either way me you and everyone else is going to pass sooner or later and it could be GOD sending death for you to go.just because you believe in Lady Death doesn't mean youre a devil worshipper.Lady Death is just doing a job the our Lord is sending her to do. He sends her to get us..And she's a saint..just because you believe in her doesn't mean you don't believe in God.