Mexico that she can be considered the patron saint of the entire Mexican penal system. Both inmates and guards ask the death saint to protect them from the constant dangers of prison life, while the former also pray to her for a speedy release.
Now, the Bony Lady is “out” and very visible. Since early 2000, worship has grown dramatically in Mexico and in the US, especially among migrants. I came to understand her popularity among migrants and LGBTQ communities in Mexico; she is associated with those living precarious lives and/or engaged in dangerous undertakings. What surprised me, however, was that government entities both in the US and in Mexico, shared my interest in the Bony Lady. The Drug Enforcement Agency, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Mexican government, and the Mexican military all actively oppose the worship of Santa Muerte. A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) law enforcement bulletin claims: “Santa Muerte informational training can prove so stressful for some law enforcement and public safety officers that they can become physically ill and pass out. This has happened more than once. Programs and writings concerning wellness and spirituality can provide ‘spiritual armor’”
Santa Muerte is a personification of death. Unlike other Latin American folk saints, Santa Muerte is not, herself, seen as a dead human being. She is associated with healing, protection, financial wellbeing, and assurance of a path to the afterlife.
Santa Muerte is not demonic or satanic.
Santa Muerte is a folk saint venerated by a small number of people, often alongside or during the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), which is a separate holiday focused on remembering and celebrating deceased loved ones through altars and offerings.
Cultural vs. Religious Significance:
The Day of the Dead is a broad cultural celebration of ancestors, while Santa Muerte is a specific folk saint for a smaller group of followers.
Official Stance:
The Day of the Dead is a widely recognized and even UNESCO-recognized aspect of Mexican culture, whereas the Catholic Church officially rejects Santa Muerte.
Symbolism:
The Day of the Dead symbolizes a positive and communal relationship with the deceased, contrasting with the Western tradition of grieving and letting go.
Protected by Santa Muerte
Amen Santisima Muerte
Amen Santisima Muerte 
Amen Santisima Muerte
