The only true God for Catholics was the one that was established in the Bible. Therefore, when they found another religious thought, they condemned it as if it was a satanic rite: but this was unfair since in Ancient Mexico the concept of hell was not known. The indigenous gods were venerated in pyramids, in hills and in caves, and during the first years of evangelisation the Catholic missionaries did not understand why people used to dance around bones (which had often belonged to high priests or leaders, and that was why they worshipped them). These were only some of the religious practices of the time, which were beyond the comprehension of the minds of conquerors and evangelisers.

To try to hide these practices, the faithful devotees of Mictlancihuatl most probably “dressed” the cult of this goddess with elements of Catholicism to avoid being punished. The mixture of both roots -Indigenous and European- and the addition of Creole elements gave rise to the cult of the Holy Death, as we know it today.

The current and contemporary cult of the Santísima Muerte (Most Holy Death) appeared in Hidalgo around 1965. And it is rooted in the states of Mexico, Guerrero, Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Campeche, Morelos and Distrito Federal (in the “barrio de Tepito” the cult is commonly used among criminals and merchants), Nuevo Leon, Chihuahua, Quintana Roo, Oaxaca, Tijuana and Guanajuato. It was integrated with the cult to Tonantzin (female deity for the natives and later syncretised in the Virgin of Guadalupe) and that of the Virgin Mary.

The Holy Death is a spiritual entity, an image, a soul that helps and protects anyone who comes to her to ask for favours. She does not work under any kind of magic, neither white nor black. It has sometimes been said that the Holy Death is sinister, painful, cruel and cold, but this is not the case.

Devotees to the Holy Death report that among other favours, she can grant miracles to those who venerate her. Her worship has also been associated with criminals, prostitutes and drug dealers. People living in modern cities and villages also invoke her protection. However, people who live in situations of high risk are usually the ones who venerate her the most, wearing medals or images of the Holy Death or even a tattoo in their skin. Her image can be found mainly in soldiers, policemen, drug dealers, criminals and prostitutes. The Most Holy Death is a symbol that represents people living between the legal and the illegal, but her cult can also be found in the highest strata of society.

People ask her for anything: health, love, good luck, to recover stolen objects or even kidnapped relatives, for business, to open new roads, to win trials, to ward off bad neighbours, to protect vehicles from accidents and thefts, to have more money, to recover debts that people owe us, to find work, to bring food into the home, to ward off harmful friends from your partner or loved ones, to increase love in our partner, to forget a love, to regain a love lost, for matrimonial attraction, to ward off the lover of your partner, to make it up with your partner, for abundance, etc. Several rituals and special prayers are used to approach the Holy Death and gain her favours.

It is said that when the Holy Death grants a favour, one of our relatives must pay for it. This is absolutely false, since she protects the family from illnesses caused by works of black magic, witchcraft or natural disease. It is also said that she punishes you if you do not give her penances. This is totally false too, since she works to help her devotees and not to punish them. We must ask her with faith and kindness, with all our heart and without trying to hurt anyone: respect, faith and devotion from the heart for the Most Holy Death. No matter how difficult a problem may be, the Holy Death will help us without asking for anything in return, but if you offer her something you must give it to her wholeheartedly.