Santa Muerte Devotion 101: Answers and Explanations for Curious Readers and New Devotees
Digital Web Book by Arnold Bustillo
Buy the paperback at https://amzn.to/41gmMKg
Digital Web Book by Arnold Bustillo
Buy the paperback at https://amzn.to/41gmMKg
The Santa Muerte Rosary
The Santa Muerte Rosary is a collection of prayers recited by devotees for different reasons. You may recite the rosary as a form of meditation to clear the head and lift the spirits, or as an act of devotion, to acknowledge the Santa Muerte and show her that you are thinking of her. If you make a contract with Santa Muerte, which is explained later in the chapter “How to Make a Contract with Santa Muerte”, you may also offer to recite the rosary in exchange for a miracle granted.
The term “rosary” refers not just to the prayers recited, but also to the physical collection of beads which may be held in the hands as you pray. A rosary typically includes 59 beads, a medallion of the Santa Muerte, and a three way connector which brings all the ends of the rosary together to form a necklace. You do not technically need a physical rosary in order to recite the rosary prayers, but the beads are quite helpful for keeping track of your place as you move through the recitation.
What follows is a complete Santa Muerte Rosary prayer as it would be recited from beginning to end. You are free to recite only parts of the rosary, for example to adapt your favorite lines into morning or evening prayers, but the entire rosary is shared here so you may decide how best to incorporate the prayers into your Santa Muerte devotion. All of the prayers presented here are my own original creation, but you should feel free to adapt any of the lines of the prayers, or the order and frequency of the prayers in the rosary, for your own personal use.
If using a physical rosary necklace, simply start at the medallion and move up the necklace one bead at a time, reciting the appropriate prayer or set of prayers that correspond to each point on the rosary. Go up one side of the necklace and down the other until all beads have been covered by the appropriate prayer or set of prayers. The last point on the rosary necklace, the place that marks the recitation of the “Closing Prayer” in the rosary, is the three way connector - the point on the rosary where the three ends of the rosary connect. The three way connector may or may not be marked by a bead, but if it is, then it is skipped at the beginning of the rosary and only counted at the very end of the rosary. See diagram below:
The term “rosary” refers not just to the prayers recited, but also to the physical collection of beads which may be held in the hands as you pray. A rosary typically includes 59 beads, a medallion of the Santa Muerte, and a three way connector which brings all the ends of the rosary together to form a necklace. You do not technically need a physical rosary in order to recite the rosary prayers, but the beads are quite helpful for keeping track of your place as you move through the recitation.
What follows is a complete Santa Muerte Rosary prayer as it would be recited from beginning to end. You are free to recite only parts of the rosary, for example to adapt your favorite lines into morning or evening prayers, but the entire rosary is shared here so you may decide how best to incorporate the prayers into your Santa Muerte devotion. All of the prayers presented here are my own original creation, but you should feel free to adapt any of the lines of the prayers, or the order and frequency of the prayers in the rosary, for your own personal use.
If using a physical rosary necklace, simply start at the medallion and move up the necklace one bead at a time, reciting the appropriate prayer or set of prayers that correspond to each point on the rosary. Go up one side of the necklace and down the other until all beads have been covered by the appropriate prayer or set of prayers. The last point on the rosary necklace, the place that marks the recitation of the “Closing Prayer” in the rosary, is the three way connector - the point on the rosary where the three ends of the rosary connect. The three way connector may or may not be marked by a bead, but if it is, then it is skipped at the beginning of the rosary and only counted at the very end of the rosary. See diagram below:
To begin, hold the medallion or amulet depicting the image of the Santa Muerte in your hands and pray the following Santa Muerte Rosary "Opening Prayer":
"Santa Muerte, Holy Death, I offer these prayers for you.
From the altar in my heart, to your ears,
may you find the words sweet, and their meanings true.
Santa Muerte, Holy Death, I offer these prayers for you.”
On bead 1, pray one "Our Santa Muerte":
“Our Santa Muerte who will come for us all, kind and gentle be your kiss.
When you come to end my life, may I be free of any regrets.
Thank you for this day, one more beautiful day,
so I may have it to live, love, and laugh my own way, amen.”
On beads 2-4, pray one "Glory Be Holy Death" each:
"Glory be Holy Death, blessed death, peaceful death.
As you have been with me from the beginning,
so are you with me now, and so will you be with me always, amen."
On bead 5, pray the First Mystery of Santa Muerte:
"Holy Death holds in her hand
A magick scythe she commands.
When at us her scythe does swing,
Swift to us, our death she brings.
Our Santa Muerte who will come for us all, kind and gentle be your kiss.
When you come to end my life, may I be free of any regrets.
Thank you for this day, one more beautiful day,
so I may have it to live, love, and laugh my own way, amen.
Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen.
Glory be Holy Death, blessed death, peaceful death.
As you have been with me from the beginning,
so are you with me now, and so will you be with me always, amen."
On bead 6 - 15, pray one "Hail the Santisima" each:
"Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen."
On bead 16, pray the Second Mystery:
“On the back of Death is placed,
Hooded cloak of magick great.
With this power Death protects,
Each of us from birth to death.
Our Santa Muerte who will come for us all, kind and gentle be your kiss.
When you come to end my life, may I be free of any regrets.
Thank you for this day, one more beautiful day,
so I may have it to live, love, and laugh my own way, amen.
Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen.
Glory be Holy Death, blessed death, peaceful death.
As you have been with me from the beginning,
so are you with me now, and so will you be with me always, amen."
On bead 17 - 26, pray one "Hail the Santisima" each:
"Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen."
On bead 27, pray the Third Mystery:
“Balanced in Death’s hand of bone,
scales of justice, to all shown.
Special treatment, none receive,
From this Earth, we all must leave.
Our Santa Muerte who will come for us all, kind and gentle be your kiss.
When you come to end my life, may I be free of any regrets.
Thank you for this day, one more beautiful day,
so I may have it to live, love, and laugh my own way, amen.
Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen.
Glory be Holy Death, blessed death, peaceful death.
As you have been with me from the beginning,
so are you with me now, and so will you be with me always, amen."
On bead 28 - 37, pray one "Hail the Santisima" each:
"Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen."
On bead 38, pray the Fourth Mystery:
“Santa Muerte walks the Earth,
those who love her, she will serve.
Fear not Death, be unafraid,
Death is with us, everyday.
Our Santa Muerte who will come for us all, kind and gentle be your kiss.
When you come to end my life, may I be free of any regrets.
Thank you for this day, one more beautiful day,
so I may have it to live, love, and laugh my own way, amen.
Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen.
Glory be Holy Death, blessed death, peaceful death.
As you have been with me from the beginning,
so are you with me now, and so will you be with me always, amen."
On bead 39 - 48, pray one "Hail the Santisima" each:
"Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen."
On bead 49, pray the Fifth Mystery:
“Land of living, land of dead,
at the bridge between stands Death.
When the flame of life is lost,
Santa Muerte helps us cross.
Our Santa Muerte who will come for us all, kind and gentle be your kiss.
When you come to end my life, may I be free of any regrets.
Thank you for this day, one more beautiful day,
so I may have it to live, love, and laugh my own way, amen.
Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen.
Glory be Holy Death, blessed death, peaceful death.
As you have been with me from the beginning,
so are you with me now, and so will you be with me always, amen."
On bead 50 - 59, pray one "Hail the Santisima" each:
"Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen."
Hold the three way connector in your hands and pray the following Santa Muerte Rosary "Closing Prayer":
“Hail to you Santa Muerte,
when to you I turn in desperation,
may you shine mercy upon me.
Hail to you Santa Muerte,
when to you I bring petition,
may you shine favor upon me.
Use your powers on my behalf,
and never forsake me,
Santisima Muerte, amen.”
- The End
"Santa Muerte, Holy Death, I offer these prayers for you.
From the altar in my heart, to your ears,
may you find the words sweet, and their meanings true.
Santa Muerte, Holy Death, I offer these prayers for you.”
On bead 1, pray one "Our Santa Muerte":
“Our Santa Muerte who will come for us all, kind and gentle be your kiss.
When you come to end my life, may I be free of any regrets.
Thank you for this day, one more beautiful day,
so I may have it to live, love, and laugh my own way, amen.”
On beads 2-4, pray one "Glory Be Holy Death" each:
"Glory be Holy Death, blessed death, peaceful death.
As you have been with me from the beginning,
so are you with me now, and so will you be with me always, amen."
On bead 5, pray the First Mystery of Santa Muerte:
"Holy Death holds in her hand
A magick scythe she commands.
When at us her scythe does swing,
Swift to us, our death she brings.
Our Santa Muerte who will come for us all, kind and gentle be your kiss.
When you come to end my life, may I be free of any regrets.
Thank you for this day, one more beautiful day,
so I may have it to live, love, and laugh my own way, amen.
Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen.
Glory be Holy Death, blessed death, peaceful death.
As you have been with me from the beginning,
so are you with me now, and so will you be with me always, amen."
On bead 6 - 15, pray one "Hail the Santisima" each:
"Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen."
On bead 16, pray the Second Mystery:
“On the back of Death is placed,
Hooded cloak of magick great.
With this power Death protects,
Each of us from birth to death.
Our Santa Muerte who will come for us all, kind and gentle be your kiss.
When you come to end my life, may I be free of any regrets.
Thank you for this day, one more beautiful day,
so I may have it to live, love, and laugh my own way, amen.
Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen.
Glory be Holy Death, blessed death, peaceful death.
As you have been with me from the beginning,
so are you with me now, and so will you be with me always, amen."
On bead 17 - 26, pray one "Hail the Santisima" each:
"Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen."
On bead 27, pray the Third Mystery:
“Balanced in Death’s hand of bone,
scales of justice, to all shown.
Special treatment, none receive,
From this Earth, we all must leave.
Our Santa Muerte who will come for us all, kind and gentle be your kiss.
When you come to end my life, may I be free of any regrets.
Thank you for this day, one more beautiful day,
so I may have it to live, love, and laugh my own way, amen.
Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen.
Glory be Holy Death, blessed death, peaceful death.
As you have been with me from the beginning,
so are you with me now, and so will you be with me always, amen."
On bead 28 - 37, pray one "Hail the Santisima" each:
"Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen."
On bead 38, pray the Fourth Mystery:
“Santa Muerte walks the Earth,
those who love her, she will serve.
Fear not Death, be unafraid,
Death is with us, everyday.
Our Santa Muerte who will come for us all, kind and gentle be your kiss.
When you come to end my life, may I be free of any regrets.
Thank you for this day, one more beautiful day,
so I may have it to live, love, and laugh my own way, amen.
Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen.
Glory be Holy Death, blessed death, peaceful death.
As you have been with me from the beginning,
so are you with me now, and so will you be with me always, amen."
On bead 39 - 48, pray one "Hail the Santisima" each:
"Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen."
On bead 49, pray the Fifth Mystery:
“Land of living, land of dead,
at the bridge between stands Death.
When the flame of life is lost,
Santa Muerte helps us cross.
Our Santa Muerte who will come for us all, kind and gentle be your kiss.
When you come to end my life, may I be free of any regrets.
Thank you for this day, one more beautiful day,
so I may have it to live, love, and laugh my own way, amen.
Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen.
Glory be Holy Death, blessed death, peaceful death.
As you have been with me from the beginning,
so are you with me now, and so will you be with me always, amen."
On bead 50 - 59, pray one "Hail the Santisima" each:
"Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace.
Blessed by you are the forsaken and forgotten.
Blessed by you are the abused and downtrodden.
Hail the Santisima, who holds power over all,
bless us with your love now and at the moment of our deaths, amen."
Hold the three way connector in your hands and pray the following Santa Muerte Rosary "Closing Prayer":
“Hail to you Santa Muerte,
when to you I turn in desperation,
may you shine mercy upon me.
Hail to you Santa Muerte,
when to you I bring petition,
may you shine favor upon me.
Use your powers on my behalf,
and never forsake me,
Santisima Muerte, amen.”
- The End