We were going by the old road to Lagos de Moreno late at night, and the ghost of a bride appeared to us. She was wondering around looking for her groom. We were so scared, our hair turned white. But thanks to the Virgin of Zapopan’s medallions which our grandmother had given to us and which we had been always wearing on our necks the bride didn’t notice us. They said she takes all the men she met and drags them to her grave.

My husband brought me a beautiful ara parrot from Chiapas. It was so smart, it even learnt to say my name. It wasn’t accustomed to live in the house though, and on the third day it flew away to the field. I went for the parrot and finally found it. However, don’t know how, we ended up in a labyrinth of prickly plants. With the bird in my hand I tried to get out but the thorns didn’t let me out—my clothes and my hair was caught up. In despair, I prayed the Holy Spirit, and then the miracle happened. The plants seemed to open a passage for me and I got out with the parrot without many scratches. My dress was little bit torn though. I give thanks.

I was doing my laundry on the river. I was thinking over all my life problems and didn’t notice that one shirt had been taken by a current. I dove after it—it was my husband’s best shirt. I grabbed it and there underwater I felt calmness. Everything around was quiet and silent. My body relaxed, and I let the water to carry me. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for she made me react before I drowned. I got out few miles down the river with a great wish for life such as I had never had before.

I used to work as a magician’s assistant for many years. Then I deiced I had enough. The main reason was that the magician was very clumsy. He could drop me down during the levitation routine hurting me very bad. Or when he was sawing me I was always scared he might really cut me in half. I thank Saint Helen for she helped me to make up my mind, take all the acts we used to do and create my own performance routine. I became one of the few female magicians. I have a big success, and I’m constantly asked to perform at different events.

June 15, 1942, seven o’clock in the evening, the Ruiz sisters, Rosa and Carmen, were coming back home and got scared when a robber with a pistol attacked them in an alley behind the market. They entrusted themselves to the Virgin of San Juan, and thats’ why the robber didn’t kill them. He only took their bags with some money and the missal. The sisters thank because he didn’t hurt them.

I met my friend Carolina and we started to chat. Suddenly some cats began falling on us. They were fighting on the roof. When they fall they hit a flower pot and it fell on my head. I began to see double after the blow. I saw non-existing tings also, strange buildings, odd people and weird animals. I prayed the Holy Virgin to heal me. I thank her because two days later everything was back to normal.

The neighbor’s dog was very angry and had already bitten few people. One day it came to our yard and approached my daughter who was playing. My daughter didn’t get scared, and it discouraged and calmed the dog. The dog even licked my daughter’s face. Meanwhile, the dog owner and me were running towards them in fear of something bad could happen. I thank Saint Quiteria for protecting my daughter.

My daughter Luisa was afraid of the birds, even the canaries. One day after school, she had to bring something to my friend. At the friend’s house the geese attacked my girl. They chased her. Luisa got scared and prayed to Saint Rosalia. The saint protected her from the angry geese—they managed to bite her only once—in her leg. I dedicate this retablo thanking the saint, because the geese might be very dangerous.

The Gonzalez family was visiting the town party. When they were coming back home after 9 p.m., they were attacked by robbers. They told the bandits they didn’t have any money. The robbers got even more angry and were treating to kill all the family. The Gonzalez entrusted themselves to the Virgin of San Juan with their hearts, and the attackers let them go without doing any harm.

San Juan de los Lagos
August 28, 1917

All my family kept telling me that I have to lose weight. They told I was of at I’d never find a husband. I tried to lose some pounds, but I couldn’t do it. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because, despite my weight, I’m always in cheerful mood, I laugh and sing. Thanks to that the most handsome guy in town fell in love with me. I can always make him laugh and he forgets about his problems. We had a wedding, we are happy, and the love has even helped me to lose some weight.

The Martinez sisters went to the river for laundry. The water was warm so they decided to bath themselves also. Suddenly they found themselves surrounded by crocodiles. Thy came out of blue but thanks to the protection of the Virgin of Zapopan the sisters were able to get out of the water before being attacked and eaten by those giant creatures. They thank the Virgin.

The day of my wedding, the dogs didn’t recognize me because of the wedding dress and start bitting it. I was afraid they were going to tear the dress and prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan. Thanks to her my grandmother scared the dogs away, and they left me in peace. I thank for they didn’t tear my dress and my wedding was very beautiful.

My husband Filemon died many years ago. Nevertheless he has keeps visiting me every his birthday to taste what I cook for him since he always loved my food. I thank Saint Paschal Baylon for having made me such a good cook. And I thank for the opportunity to see my beloved husband, although in such peculiar manner, so I never forget him.