La Santa Muerte

 

La Santa Muerte

By: Gina Yoryet Roman

June 10, 2012

 

 

I am a born and raised catholic and as a devout Christian, all through my stay (during my childhood) in México City, I attended mass with my parents Sunday after Sunday and my family was always involved in religious activities to live a peaceful and moral existence.

 

"Being obedient and submissive" was part of the role of the six women (including my mother) encircling my family so as the woman I was to become, that was probably the highest important factor to shape me

since that’s what I was taught.

 

According to my investigative nature though, there was a trail with too many gray areas left behind assigning me a mission to find out and get a feel of what life was really about if I didn’t stick to my catholic beliefs.

 

 After being a part of a catholic youth group for two years (during my adolescence) it became rather dull so I parted towards a new horizon and sought for “freedom.”

 

For many years my full agenda made sure I didn’t miss one single party or club night, and there wasn’t even a gap to be spiritual.

 

Years later there were many failed attempts to renew my vows with catholicism looking at myself in the mirror, solitude impacted me hard with a slap making me wake up.

 

From thereon I was invited to join other religions, so I checked out one, maybe two but they never felt real, frustration and confusion grew because I had always known of one real religion, the one in which I was brought up way long before I parted my nest.

 

Finally after all those years of abashment, putting all my inner demons at peace, I finally made up with my religion again. As of eighteen months ago, (12 months ago to be more concise) I’ve been more devoted than ever because I have the will and when there’s a will, there’s a way.

 

I am still occasionally invited to try other religions but there isn’t the least spark of interest, why waste my time or stir unnecessary confusion? My intent is not to upset anyone because we all believe “our” religion is “THE ONE,” but I do draw a very abrupt line when someone tries to convert me into something else.

 

As it happened on April 14, I was called to work at a simultaneous translation event at the “Centro Bíblico Cristadelfiano” in downtown. As my job requires, I had to study the material in order to deliver better quality. While going through the presentation and the bible, the questioning began but I didn’t let it get to me this time, if my beliefs are well grounded, why should I get more baffled? 

 

Nowadays there’s a whole new religion every day but more astounding than all is those evil sects who claim to worship a divine power who they feel obligated to worship by sacrificing human beings, even innocent children.

 

The best fitting example of these sects is “La Santa Muerte,” – Holy Death, whose origins are still being questioned, though the skeletal figure symbolizing “La Flaca, or “La Santa Muerte,” has been venerated as far back as ancient Mexico, it is gaining more followers with this, dropping the number of catholics dramatically.

Earlier this year, an eight member family in Hermosillo was charged with the murder of two ten-year old boys and a fifty-five year old woman as an offering to La Santa Muerte.

Last month another satanic ritual sacrificing a five year old took place in San Agustin Netzahualcoyotl.  His own mother pulled his eyes out claiming that she was the chosen to save humanity.

 

Fortunately the neighbors heard the little boy screaming in pain and called the police who arrived just on time to save that little angel. The first days he was battling with death but thank God he is now in a more stable condition.

 

I keep questioning myself, “How could someone hurt a child like that?” His mother must be really out of her mind. I hope she never has the blessing to bring another innocent little one to this world.

But most of all I hope she serves that 50 year sentence the members of her sect have to serve.

I am a firm believer of this, “It is our duty to respect each other and to act on one another’s best interest.”