With this humble retablo, I give infinite thanks to the Virgin of Juquila for protecting me on every November 2, because on this night my bar fills with the souls of the dead of the town who come very cheerful to celebrate their day with lots of music and mezcal.

Nicandro Tejeda ~ Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico

Saint Expeditus, I ask you with this humble retablo to end this coronavirus pandemic because I miss my secretary Lucy. I cannot see her because of the quarantine, and I’m very desperate being locked in the house with my wife 24 hours a day. If it lasts any longer I’ll go insane.

Mexico, 2020

I got this great idea to propose to my Chabelita in a trajinera-boat at Xochimilco. I thought it would be very romantic. But then I got so nervous I slipped and I fell into lake. I give infinite thanks to Saint Anthony of Padua because I didn’t lose the ring—it fell inside the boat—and, despite this embarrassing moment, my fiancée said “yes” which made me very happy.

Ramiro Tellez, Mexico City

Last year I participated for a first time in the staging about the passion and death of Jesus Christ on Holy Week playing Jesus. Although I had been preparing for months, I was about to faint that day because of strain and heat. I asked the Lord of Chalma to help me and to give me strength to finish the Way of the Cross, and he did so, for which I’m thankfully dedicate this retablo.

Iztapalapa, Mexico City

Don Carmelo Sanchez thanks Saint Martin the Cavalryman for helping his rooster El Giro to win the fight on the town arena and made him win a lot of money to pay his debts.

Guanajuato, 1947

I’m a big fan of selfies. The other day, I went to the zoo and thought it’d be cool to make a selfie with a lion and upload it on Facebook without realizing how dangerous it could be to have a lion so close. I bring this retablo to the Virign of Juquila the Great because thank to my phone’s flash the giant cat got scared and didn’t do anything to me. I promise to be more responsible while making photos.

Alex Ríos \ Oaxaca, Mexico

Because of my overweight, it was always a problem when my husband and I used to get intimate, since he’s thin and I crashed him. One night I was getting so excited I almost suffocated him when I got on top. I give thanks to Saint Pancras because I’m losing weight now. Otherwise, I’m afraid I would have got serious problems in my marriage because of my excessive pounds.

I loved to date many women at the same time. But one of them remained very hurt and did a witchcraft on me so I couldn’t perform in bed. I prayed to Saint Benedict to help me break this bad spell. Thanks to his divine intervention I was back to be the same man as I’d had before. I promise him not to play with ladies’ feelings anymore.

Augusto Ruiz — Saltillo, Coahuila

My friend Eladio and I are known as real men and tough guys, that’s why everybody in the town respects us. We give thanks to Saint Anthony of Padua with this retablo because no one knows about our big secret that we go to the mountains to be free with our love.

Zacarias N. — Chihuahua, Mexico

With this humble retablo, I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for letting me play Our Lord Jesus Christ in the staging about the Passion at the Way of the Cross in Itzapalapa this year. It was a great honor for me, because previous years I had been chosen to play roman soldiers or apostles.

Iztapalapa, Mexico City

I thank Holy Child of Atocha for helping me to keep my great secret. In reality it’s my wife who is the boss in our house and I’m just a henpecked husband. If it became known, it would damage my tough image among the fans and I’d be a joke for my fellows wrestlers. I bring this humble retablo.

The wrestler Black Storm
Tijuana, Baja California

Vicente Castillo dedicates the present retablo to Saint Martha in gratitude for his son Renato managed to shoot his fist deer. Hunting is their family tradition, and he’s very proud of his son.

Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas

I worked as a bartender in a restaurant, but it went bankrupt and was closed. I was left without job. I thank Saint Charbel for I was taken to work in a famous nightclub for men. I’m very happy because apart from making more money, the beautiful girls who work there delight the eye.

Mateo N. — Guadalajara, Mexico