La Santísima Muerte

A “trabajo” is a much more laborious and involved process, typically taking as long as 48 days to complete, involving the use of a photograph a person being passed from one statue of the Santísima Muerte to the other, and the constant repositioning of the statues, and also, the use of a special set of prayers, which must be prepared by Manuela, first, for them to have effect.

The amulets that Manuela prepares contain rice and mustard seeds, and are sewn shut with red thread. They must be sprinkled with Perfume de Siete Machos and prayed over in order to work. There must be three of them, one white, one red, and one black, and she uses ribbon that are about an inch to an inch and half wide to sew the little bags. The prayers are simply the Ave Maria, the Padre Nuestro, and you can also include the Credo and the Magnifica. Each amulet also contains a coin, which must come from the pocket of the person who is to use the amulet.

The color red is to help one always have enough money to meet ones needs. The white is to ensure a happy future, and the black is for protections against ones enemies.

The principal concern of the Santísima Muerte, however, above all, is to help women bring back their man when he is gone astray. “And yes, I bring them back,” says Manuela, indicating that it is she, in fact, who effects this process: she, by way of activity in the spirit world, goes out and fetches the man, and brings him back to his wife or his girlfriend, and takes him away from any other woman who has stolen his affections.

In addition, people often arrive in terrible condition, suffering from pain and crippling conditions brought on by the activity of brujas, who stick pins in dolls and perform other rituals in order to cause suffering in people. “I see them come in here where they can hardly walk, and they go away in perfect shape, and happy,” says Manuela’s husband. “In the six years I have been with her, I have seen many miracles performed. People leave here very happy, very content, very grateful. It is truly a miracle, and thanks be given to Almighty God.”

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