Episode Details

A skeletal figure stands beneath a veil. Flowers rest at her feet. Someone lights a candle, leaves an offering, and speaks a prayer for protection.

Her name is La Santa Muerte. Most Holy Death.

For those unfamiliar with her, the image may feel unsettling. Yet for her devotees, she can be a trusted presence woven into everyday life. How did Death become someone people turn to for help? And what might we understand if we listened to the people standing before her altar?

In this episode of Rooted & Wild, I’m joined by Dr. Eric Breault, a scholar of religion whose work brings together comparative cultural studies, Western philosophy, and the anthropology of religion. His doctoral research at Arizona State University investigated La Santa Muerte through historical scholarship, sacred imagery, and fieldwork with devotees in Mexico.

Eric’s research examines unofficial folk saints in Latin America, particularly Mexican Catholic devotional figures that aren’t recognized by the Vatican. He explores how religious images and practices traveled through Spanish conquest, how communities adapted them, and how devotion creates shared meaning outside the boundaries of institutional approval.

Together, we follow the history behind La Santa Muerte’s imagery, exploring medieval Christian understandings of a “good death,” the colonial encounters that shaped her development, and the relationships devotees form with her today.

We also consider the tension between religious authority and lived faith. What happens when people experience comfort, protection, or sacred presence through a figure their religious institution rejects? And how do sensational portrayals obscure the lives and experiences of those who practice this devotion?

Released during Día de los Muertos, this conversation offers another perspective on humanity’s relationship with mortality. We distinguish remembrance of the deceased through that celebration from devotion to La Santa Muerte, allowing each its own history and meaning.

In this episode, we explore:

• Who La Santa Muerte is and how devotees understand “Most Holy Death”
• The historical imagery behind the skeleton, veil, and scythe
• Medieval Christianity, Spanish colonization, and the development of folk devotion
• Why people petition Death for protection and assistance
• Offerings, prayers, and everyday relationships with a sacred presence
• The Church’s objections and how Catholic devotees understand their own faith
• What outsiders miss when devotion is reduced to fear or sensationalism

This episode invites us to approach an unfamiliar spiritual practice with curiosity and to consider a question that reaches beyond any single tradition:

How might our relationship with death shape the way we live?

About Dr. Eric Breault

Originally from northern Illinois, Eric moved to Arizona in 2008 and graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2011 with a degree in Comparative Cultural Studies, focusing on religious studies theory and Western philosophy. His doctoral work at Arizona State University examined material culture, lived Catholicism, and the occult, with La Santa Muerte as its central case study. His research combines historical analysis with fieldwork to explore how devotional practices develop and how sacred figures and objects become part of everyday relationships and communities.

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Henry Hawk. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or ment