Julia the Pretty, I infinitely thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for making me a miracle of finding a good man who loves me and doesn’t care about me being a whore.

January 4, 2004

We entrust the souls of these peasants to the Holy Trinity, take pity in them. They were hanged for joining the revolution like us who are keep on going hoping to defeat the evil government that imposes his law, hunger, poverty and death on us. Long live Emiliano Zapato! Death to Huerta! Long live revolution!

May 30, 1913
Xochimilco, Mexico

Amatlan, Veracruz, 2014

Virgin of Guadalupe, protect all those immigrants who passed like this through your Mexico. They are also your children and they are looking for their dream which they cannot achieve in their country. Get them well to their destiny, the Mistresses are asking you about them. Thank you!

Blessed God, I offer you this retablo for not letting me die when I drank that damned poison after having got an illness that looks like aids. I could’t stand the idea of dying from it, I got scared and that’s why I took this decision. But I was saved, and I was told the news that there’s a cure from my illness.

L. F. C. Yovana — Mexico City, 1980

I thank the Archangel of the Neighborhood for the luck of meeting on my path these great women who earn their living by selling pleasures on the streets of Merced. They have inspired me to paint their stories and experiences in this old profession. God bless them, support and always protect them—wholeheartedly asks you this humble neighborhood artist Alfredo Vilchis Roque.

Corner of the miracles, Minas de Cristo, Mexico City

I dedicate this retablo in honor of the Queen and Patroness of Mexico in the memory of that sad morning of September 19, 1985, when I was surprised by a strong earthquake while going to take a cup of coffee in “Super Leche”, I was crossing the Central Avenue Lazaro Cardenas when I drop my wallet at the lights. I came back to pick it up, and here it happened, and the Virgin of Guadalupe saved my life in this way. It was 20 years ago, and here I tell about your miracle. May you be blessed.

Salvador P. G., I was 20 years old
Central District of Mexico City
September 19, 2005

I thank God because my son Juanito has recovered from the fright he had when a nagual appeared to him in form of an enormous black dog near the coal tower for being rude to his father who sent him that night to put more woods to the coal tower. The dog dragged him till the river. When he came back, all wallowed and in tears, he asked us for forgiveness, telling everything that happened, and then fell into the bed. I entrust his recovery to Our Lord, and he granted my wish.

Sorrowful mother
Villa del Carbon, State of Mexico
June 12, 1988

December 31, 1968

When I, full of hope of getting into the United States, crossed the Rio Bravo, I was caught by the migration police. He threatened me with death, pointing his gun in my mouth. I saw that there was no salvation for me, and I implored the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe. I realized what it is to be in a foreign land. I was searched, they took the little i got on me, then they threw me back to the river. I came back, relaying on my luck. I promised to bring you this retablo when I came back to my land. Now I do what I promised because you stayed with me.

Tomas Huerta — Zitacuaro, Michoacan

Josefina Reyes and her son Ramon Reyes dedicate this retablo to the Lord of Sacromonte for granting them with the luck that her son Ramon Reyes survived after being shot by some bandits, who attacked us, when he refused to give them his money. Seeing what a tragedy happened, we implored you to deliver him from death, and, by a miracle, the bandits went away, and I was able to save my son’s life. I offer this retablo for that.

Tlaxcala, 1931

The catholics of “The Right to Decide”, we give thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe for being with us throughout 20 years of our joint venture and because together we have the privilege of saving the Gospel of Jesus and a view different from the Catholic tradition. We share it with the community of believers so that they would live in faith and in complying with their needs, would be free from and could be more happy. We ask for your blessing to keep on working on building more fair, equitable and harmonious world.

Mexico City, August 7, 2014

Notes:
“The Right to Decide” is a catholic movement that supports the right of abortion.

Victim of fatigue and anxiety because of dehydration, abandoned in the desert by the guide who promised me to get me to Arizona where my brother was waiting for me, I was lost and all alone. I implored the Virign of Guadalupe, she took mercy on me and made so I was found by other immigrants who helped me to get from there to North Carolina.

December 12, 2000
Iztapalapa, Mexico City

The girl Lupita Corona was bitten by an evil dog when she was leaving the bakery shop. She went home, and her mother took care of her. But the fever wouldn’t go away, and they told her that the dog was rabid and the girl should be taken to the doctor. But the doctor said that the girl was about to die. Seeing her daughter’s trouble, she entrusted her to the Holy Mary of Guadalupe, promising wholeheartedly to order this retablo, because her daughter was suffering a lot. After that she began her recovery. Thanks to you now she’s alright. I bring you the promise for the received miracle.

Eternally grateful señora Lupe Hernandez and señor Jose Demetrio Corona
Guanajuato, 2–Nov–1941

We thank Saint Sebastian for we met and live happily as a couple, and were able to make our relationship official to the society without hiding from it, because we love each other as we are and who cares what we do.

Sofia & Rubi
Polanco, Mexico City, 2007