For many years, the mustachioed Jesus Malverde was the “saint” that drug traffickers went to when seeking spiritual support. But lately Jesus Malverde seems to be getting some competition from a skeletal figure called Santa Muerte or the Saint of Death.
When Mexican authorities detained suspected trafficker Angel Jacome Gamboa, aka “El Kaibil,” at a Tijuana banquet hall in March, they found him carrying a gun that had been emblazoned with an image – not of Jesus Malverde – but of the Santa Muerte.
In recent weeks, I’ve run across a few U.S.-based reporters seeking experts to speak on the Santa Muerte’s growing popularity north of the border (according to this 2007 Time article, they are a little late). South of the border, I’ve also noticed several stories in the media about Mexican authorities knocking down the Santa Muerte’s shrines. Followers in Mexico City recently marched in protest of the actions, according to this Reuters article.
To be sure, the two unofficial “saints” aren’t exclusively worshipped by drug traffickers. The Santa Muerte had been used to pray for life-saving miracles as well as death to enemies, according to the Time article. Malverde may have been based on the story of a bandit killed by Mexican authorities in 1909. Their presence possibly represents the erratic results that came from imposing the Catholic religion on a country with its own indigenous faith traditions.
Meanwhile, I’m wondering if all the attention on the trendy Santa Muerte might lead to a nostalgic resurgence of interest in Jesus Malverde.
Photos approved for public use. Click photo for credit.
4 responses so far ↓
LA Dona Junta // June 11, 2009 at 4:52 pm |
Hello,
I also have been a little tripped out recently with this whole Malverde and Santa Muerte stuff. I started hearing more about it last year when I started keeping up with the narco news stories and reading about it on blog posts. At first I thought it was some kind of witch craft stuff, but apperently it has been becoming more and more popular. Here is a blog post a fellow author did no LA Santa Muerte
http://laeastside.com/2009/02/templo-santa-muerte/
Michel Marizco // July 2, 2009 at 8:55 pm |
I’m both amused and annoyed by reporters who cherry-pick the story of the two saints and make it sound as if they belong exclusively to the narco-realm.
Some parent put a photo of their kid serving in Iraq at the Malverde shrine in Culiacán; it’s been up there for two, three years. But you’ll never see a photo of that image; only ones showing the douches with the flashy truck and the AKs.
dentist Seattle // December 5, 2009 at 9:36 am |
Dentist Seattle
Great article. I really enjoyed the perspective. Keep up the good thoughts.
acearley // December 5, 2009 at 4:45 pm |
Hi, D. Seattle. Thanks for the note!