Round 2 with santa muerte

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w01fpack

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After looking around a bit, I don’t see any current info on this topic, nor any that helps my situation.
I am involved with high school youth ministry at our parish (my wife and I run the program).
I have now come into contact with my 2nd teen who has been exposed to santé muerte.
The first was a couple years ago, one of the girls was dating someone who was a follower of muerte.
Through much prayer & counseling with her, she decided he was not for her if he would not leave that life behind.
Now to current day. (as a note: our parish has a very large Hispanic population, and ,many are illegal) We have a young man who has lived on the streets, been involved in drugs,
and more from what I gather, but we do not have the whole story. we are learning more as he opens up to the group. He has admitted that he & part of his family in Mexico have been involved with (his words ) witch craft, and he admittedly followed muerte. He has made reference to doing things he feels he cannot be forgiven for at a retreat recently. He is working through probation, and seems to have his heart pointed in the right direction to turn his life around. I feel God has been connecting him with me so I can possibly help him. He is responding well, he opened up to our DRE & showed her his santa muerte tattoo as part of his reason he cannot be forgiven. I am doing what research I can on muerte, as safely as I can. He runs into issue with his mother who is devoutly Catholic. In fact he was given a rosary that on the 4 points of the Crucifix, were pentagon shapes (I believe signifying the 5 wounds of Christ?) She though it was witchcraft & destroyed it.
What are some good references or resources for this issue?
Does the tattoo have special significance?

I know this treads in dangerous territory with this figure. I have already added the Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel to my prayers, for our protection as well as his.

If anyone wants to email me outside of this forum please do (ON this topic only). A public forum sometimes brings the wrong people into the conversation.
 
About the tattoo:
Maybe further discuss the actual nature of mercy and God’s forgiveness with him.
Maybe also suggest a quality coverup artist.
 
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w01fpack said:
santé muerte
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Not a “he” but a “she”. The tradition is a superstition that is based on the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Superstition is easy to fall into, in fact, many people will think nothing of praying novenas in a superstitions manner “never known to fail!!” or reading their horoscopes.

I’d not give this much of a big deal. Many people have regrettable tattoos.

Reach out to the Director of Hispanic Ministries at your Diocese. They will be your best resource, you will find compassionate help for this young man.
 
The ‘he’ I refer to is the student.
I have done enogh research to realize this is more than mere superstition, at least to the followers.

This ‘cult’ for lack of a better term is notorious for horrendous acts in its name.

My tattoo question, is more from a standpoint of asking if in itself the tattoo denites a level of worship, or contractural agreement with the entity.
 
I’m no expert, but I did have occasion to see an Anglo with one of those tattoos. I did a little research and then asked him what he intended by that. Well, it appears not all “devotees” are Hispanic, and not all are involved in criminal activities or superstitions about it, but some sure are. With him it was kind of a half-believed superstition, sort of like people who half believe in the power of crystals. But it’s a dark thing; something akin to the old mafia ritual in which one consigned oneself to hell.
 
It is definitely not solely hispanic, but it is definitely more prevalent.

The pact part is what im curious about.
Though from a theology standpoint, since Christ prevails in the end, he can repent and turn away.

He is only damned if he does not repent before death.
 
My (admittedly limited) experience is that it’s a sort of theology of despair. Again, it’s not dissimilar from the mafia oath where one takes an oath that he’ll go to hell becaue of his criminality. I don’t know how seriously some of them take it, but it’s a dreadful, terrible thing.
 
Gods mercy and forgiveness is what we are discussing with him as well as in group.
I think he is beginning to understand, but still hung up on his pas actions.

This is no overnight change to be sure. I feel if we can keep hi. engaged and coming, in time he will heal.
 
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Worship of Santa Muerta is becoming more popular, I think. The local Yerberia has an entire wall with Santa Muerta holy candles because they’re so popular. I heard it started with the cartels, but I’m not sure it’s true history.
 
DisorientingSneeze said:
About the tattoo:
Maybe further discuss the actual nature of mercy and God’s forgiveness with him.
Maybe also suggest a quality coverup artist.
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Catholic Charities includes Tatoo Removal (at least in some counties), doesn’t hurt to ask locally.
 
The cartels have certainly embraced it. Some of my research points back to the Aztecans & maybe more.
One article connected it directly to a specific demon.
 
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Perhaps, we should encourage priests to preach against her?
 
my comadre(my goddaughters mother) is married to a man who’s family worships santa muerte. she is a catholic and I’ve learned a bit from her about it. The tattoo… it depends if he made a deal with that spirit or not.
I think our Lord is forgiving and I’ve recently seen a documentary that is about rehabilitating santa muerte followers. They do the prayer or exorcism (such as what is done at baptism) as well as some other prayers like the rosary or st michael chaplets.
It does seem like many people are starting to become her followers. And that is kind of scary imo. They say that it’s been around for a long time but has only become more prevalent in the 1940s-50s
 
Where did you see the documentary.

The good thing is nobody is beyond the love of God.
 
I believe I saw it on Netflix or somewhere like that. it was pretty crazy!! it went back to one of the first places in Mexico city they had a shrine and the lady who started the shrine and also spoke with the ppl who help past followers get away from santa muerte. I watched it bcuz of my little goddaughter… her dad believes in that although the mom and the kids dont. I know some about it… and I have heard that you have to promise something to her in order to get help. so scary. that’s how ppl lose their souls according to the documentary.
 
I believe it was called “la santa muerte: the holy death” I think it may even be on youtube…
and I think another I watched in spanish(with subtitles) is also currently on YouTube as well.
 
i am glad that ArchBishop Wester said something and put a statement out. He use to be our Bishop here in salt lake city before he went to santa fe. He is really nice and for him to put followers of that on blast-- it must be happening a lot in that area for him to make a statement. That in its self is kinda scary I think. I hope that ppl who go to mass AND also treat s.m. as some type of saint will sit up and take note asap.
 
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