14-years old Juanito Cruz thanks the Virgin because the Blue Demon didn’t surrender and defeated the Death. He gave me a wheelchair that he had promised because my legs are hurt and I can’t walk. Look after him, Virgin. He’s my idol and a very good man.

Mexico City, 1990

Little Julio got in the pigsty and was bitten by a pig. He almost lost his arm. His mother prayed to the Virgin of San Juan for delivering the boy from losing his arm. The Virgin saved him. The grateful mother brings this retablo.

Juana
Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco
April 30, 1950

In a difficult situation, I implored Saint Jude Thaddeus, and now I’m alive to tell about the miracle, when he miraculously saved me. The Bengal tiger jumped on me, and I thought I was done. But suddenly the tiger stepped back, and I managed to escape from the cage.

Pedro, an animal tamer, thankful and devoted.
December 7, 2000

I’m celebrating the election of Barack Obama as president of United States. May the Abraham Lincoln’s spirit give him strength, so he would govern with liberty and democracy, with impartial justice and friendly relationship with every corner of the world that welcomes him.

Alfredo Vilchis Roque, artist of the neighborhood
Corner of the miracles, Minas de Cristo, Mexico City
January 20, 2009

Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, I thank you for saving my life when a maniac took me in a hotel. I didn’t know his real intentions. When I refused to do what he wanted, he beat me up. He left me thinking I was dead. I managed to escape to heal my injuries. Protect me in this life of prostitute.

Mexico City, 1970

I thank the Virgin of Juquila for the viagra that helped me with this painful illness. Now I’m able to satisfy my wife in bed. No remedy helped me before. So I entrusted myself to you and tried the viagra. Now we’re very happy. I dedicate this retablo for saving our marriage.

Roberto
Coyoacan, Mexico City, the end of 1990s

I was born and grew up with a sexual contradiction suffering jokes, insults and humiliation. My family was ashamed of my feminity, but it’s not my fault that I was born like this. Tired of constant bullying I left my home. I studied and fought. I live my life, and I’m happy. Maybe one day I’ll be understood. But now I’m grateful to Saint Sebastian for this surgery that changed my life.

J. A. P. Noemy
Mexico City — February 14, 2000

Mrs. Debbie Nathan dedicates this retablo to her colleagues from MCLAP (Mexican Capital Legal Assistance Program) and to the clients who had a great courage to cross the border and one day got involved in sad situations and now they are facing the death penalty. We, from MCLAP, are fighting for our dearest clients’ lives. We are also facing the danger going in the regions terrorized by the drug-traffic. Let the forces and the spirits, natural and supernatural, protect us so we could continue to live and enjoy our lives in our neighbor countries.

New York — Mexico City 2011
Bless our way!

We dedicate this retablo to the Blessed Soul of the Purgatory because we recovered from sunburn that we got five years ago on our last vacations on the Gulf of Mexico.

Mr. Felt and Mrs. Bone
Mexico, 2004

San Sebastian, I offer you this retablo, because Veronica agreed to live with me. We thank to you for our happiness. Now we can live without hiding our relationship.

Sylvia
Lomas de Chapultepec, Mexico
February 14, 1987

Señora Librada brings this retablo for the miracle of saving my cow. Hoof-and-mouth disease killed a lot of animals in the town of Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosi. But I entrusted my cow to Saint Francis.

1945

I give thanks to the queen of my fatherland, Saint Mary of Guadalupe, for giving me health and a job to tell these stories about the revolution that goes on even now. This great woman, Elin Luque, opened the doors of the Casa Lamm for me. She is doing a marvelous work saving and protecting the value, customs and tradition of the Mexican exvoto. Because the art is a miracle that never dies. Till I have faith, hope and love, I swear my brushes speak for my fatherland.

Alfredo Vilchis Roque
Corner of the miracles
Minas de Cristo, Mexico
January 2011

Elin Luque Agraz is an art historian, curator and director of the Casa Lamm Cultural Center in Mexico.