In some Latin American countries, mainly in Mexico and Argentina, the false devotion known as “Santa Muerte” has spread, a belief incompatible with the Catholic faith.
To clear up doubts, Father José Jil Portilla, member of the College of Exorcists of the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico and specialist on the subject, shared with ACI Prensa 8 keys to understanding the real meaning of this dangerous “death cult” and its consequences.
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1. “Santa Muerte” is not a person or being
“Santa Muerte” has absolutely nothing saintly about it. Death is not a being, but an event. It means the absence of life, that is, that a person has become lifeless.
From a young age we were taught to imagine death as a living human skeleton, carrying a scythe and taking the lives of people to take them away from this world. But this is not real, it is a fantasy. It is an allegorical or caricatured way to express the end of life, because death is not a real character.
2. Death is actually the consequence of sin
Death came to humanity as a consequence of sin and this is revealed in the Holy Scriptures in: Genesis 2, 15-17; Romans 5, 12 and Deuteronomy 30, 15-20.
Some people believe that God is the author of death, and therefore it is good to worship him. However, such a premise is erroneous and can be verified in: Wisdom 1, 12-13.
The one who is the author of death is the devil, who is guilty of man sinning and experiencing death. The Scriptures reveal this information very clearly in: Wisdom 2, 23-24; Genesis 3, 1-6; and Hebrews 2, 14-15.
3. The cult of “Santa Muerte” is satanic
The images of death represent the works of the devil. Therefore, he who worships death worships the devil and his works.
4. The skull is nothing more than a crude image
Some people ask God to grant them a holy death, that is, they wish to die a holy death. However, in no case does he think that death is a holy being. Knowing that death is not a being, then, each image of “Holy Death” has nothing holy and is nothing more than a crude and ugly image.
5. The Catholic Church has never approved his cult
The Church has never approved the cult of “Santa Muerte”. Care must be taken because there are false priests in some places who pose as Catholic churches and who worship death.
“Worshiping death is idolatry, but above all, many people do it out of ignorance,” said on one occasion Father José de Jesús Aguilar, in charge of the Radio and Television area of the Archdiocese of Mexico.
6. Death does no favors
Many people ask death to grant them some favor: money, work, power, protection, healing, seduction, etc. It is true that in some cases it has granted them what they asked for, but at a very high price, suffering serious consequences.
Here are some sufferings suffered by death worshipers:
1. If they are married, the marriage breaks down
2. If they were granted money, they lose peace and joy
3. Sometimes they suffer misery and do not progress
4. Fatal accidents happen to them
5. They suffer from depression (a lot of fear and sadness)
6. They hear noises, see ghosts
7. They move away from the faith
8. The whole family is affected with many problems
7. People are deceived and turn away from God
Those who worship and extend their worship, placing an altar, flowers, food or carrying it on their chests, are usually threatened that if they do not comply or repent of worshiping “Santa Muerte”, then she will take revenge on them. It is the Evil One who finally begins to torment with many sufferings.
However, escaping their clutches should not be scary. If Jesus is invoked, He will defend you from all the works of the devil. This can be seen in the Holy Scriptures in: 1 John 3:8; Romans 10, 13; James 4, 7; and 1 Peter 5, 8-9.
8. Death is the worst enemy of God and men
Sometimes works are mentioned to refer to their author. For example, it is said that we fight crime when in reality we fight criminals. In the same way, when the Bible speaks of annihilating death, it is actually speaking of annihilating its author, that is, the devil.
Jesus Christ will be the one who finished him off forever, along with his works. This is established in the Scriptures in: Isaiah 25, 6-8; and 1 Corinthians 15, 21-26.
Diego Lopez Marina
I was born in 1991. I have a degree in Communication Sciences. Since 2015 I have worked as a digital journalist. I started my career at the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio. In 2016, I started as an editor at ACI Prensa and I have worked as a web editor since 2018. Starting in 2024, I write the newsletter for social media. I specialize in Catholic news focused on the defense of life and family, international politics, technology, popular culture and the Vatican.