Symbolism has other applications, coo. A woman acquiring some land in Vicari was "encouraged" to pay for protection: "How can you enter the Casa Santa without asking permission?" she was asked rhetorically (VM-GdS, May 29, 1987). Casa Santa, the sacred house, stands here as a metaphor for mafia territory. The origin of the term is not clear: it echoes not so much the language of official religion as that of fraternal organizations and sects. But it matters little where it comes from so long as the audience finds it convincing. In another instance I was told of a man suspected of excessive curiosity who was threatened over the phone by means of a riddle of pseudoreligious inspiration. The anonymous caller proceeded point-blank to the incongruous question: "Do you happen to know where the Church of La Madonna del Riposo is located?" A polite denial was followed by a frantic search revealing that the church in question was "located" in the city cemetery—the "repose" alluded to being of the eternal variety. … Symbolic objects can serve as threats. A metal heart of the kind donated to Catholic churches to give thanks for grace received, known as an ex-voto, was employed at least twice in the 1980s: in both cases the heart was perforated by bullet holes. One was placed at the back door of Salvatore Catania, who lived to tell of the threat. Pasquale Gramaglia was less fortunate; he was executed a few days after receiving the message (OSAG: 128). Raimondo Lampo, clearly someone on whom subtlety would be lose, found an empty coffin deposited at his lodgings (OSAG: 42). Gioacchino Basile, a trade unionist active in the Palermo shipbuilding industry, found a dead bird in his locked car after he had tried to organize an antimafia conference (Manifesto, July 4, 1990). Other menacing deliveries have included the severed heads of domestic animals and tarot cards featuring sword characters. Issuing threats by means of symbolic objects may seem peculiarly old-fashioned, but it has some advantages. In a generally hostile environment obscure signals are perhaps better able to instill terror while requiring minimum exposure: no voice, no writing, no risk of being overheard, no traces.

XREF: Connects to broader study of organized crime's use of religious language and ritual as coercive communication beyond literal violence.

Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Busi…, loc. 336