It was very hot so the Parra sisters went to the river for swimming. They were happily splashing around when they noticed that they were surrounded by crocodiles. Only thanks to the Virgin of Zapopan’s protection they managed to escape from the water without being bitten by the horrible animals. They thank for that with this retablo.

The Carlota Valdez’s house was filled with bats. They were flying over her bed and brought her nightmares. Carlota was scared that they might be vampires and could suck her and her cat’s blood and that she and her cat would become living dead for ever. Carlota was so distressed, she prayed Saint Quiteria for protection. The saint worked the miracle, and the bats flew to live in another place. Carlota thanks for that with this retablo.

Gudelia Garcia went to hang the washing. She didn’t see the marbles her son left on the floor and she slipped on them. She fell on her back. She couldn’t move and though she’d stay paralyzed. She entrusted herself to Saint Blaise, and he worked the miracle. She was able to stand up right away. She felt pain but there were no serious consequences.

A very strong rain caught us on our way back to the town. I was scared that with all this water the river might exceed its banks, how it had happened before, and would drag me and my children. I prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan, and she miraculously stopped the rain. The sun peeped out from behind the storm clouds, and the clouds were gone.

I was swimming when I suddenly felt that someone was pulling me down. I saw two mermaids, they grabbed and tried to pull me to their domain. I felt dizzy because of lack of air. I implored Saint Barbara, and she came to help me. She made the mermaids let me go. I fainted. When I woke up, I was on the beach. I thank for this wonderful miracle that saved my life.

My job and my everyday life are little bit boring. But I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for teaching me how to day-dream. So while I’m working I submerge in the sea of stars and the angels take me to wonderful and unforeseen places. In that way my work became more bearable. And my colleagues are puzzled why I’m always smiling and in a good humor.

Since my boyfriend nor I had a car to go in the country for a picnic, we decided to have it at the cemetery. We ate and talked, but when we saw the dead men leaving their tombs and coming to us, we choked with sandwiches. Only thanks to the Virgin of Zapopan’s protection we were able to run away from the skeletons which almost surrounded us. We thank because we escaped.

I always dreamt that one day my price, a handsome man with black eyes, would come to me riding gracefully his white horse and nothing would stop him, that he would take me in his arms and say to me that he love me. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because the man of my dream came—although not for me but to buy a land from my father. But when I saw him on his white horse I understood it’s him. He also saw me and fell in love at first sight. I thank for we will be happy forever.

One night my husband and I went for a walk, and we had a macabre meeting. We saw some skeletons who had left their tombs. They had a noisy party, they were drinking and dancing. We thank the Virgin of Zapopan because our dog got very excited seeing so many bones. It rushed for them and distracted the skeletons, so we could escape and ran to our house. The problem is that the dog came back later with a big bone and buried it in the garden.

My daughter had very bad luck with her boyfriends. All of them turned out to be scoundrels and traitors. I thank because she finally met a decent guy who loves her and wouldn’t make her suffer, like others did. Now they have got married and will be happy together. I thank Saint Anthony.

I went to the town to collect some money in order to pay to the workers from my rancho. I was followed by some suspicious evil-looking men. I entrusted myself to the Virgin of Zapopan and she made my horse run like a lighting. It ran so fast, we left those men behind. They were probably bandits. I thank for such a wonderful miracle and dedicate this retablo.

October 25, 1959

I went to put flowers on my grand-grandmother Lupita’s tomb. I stayed there sharing my problems with my grand-grandmother and didn’t notice when night fell. Suddenly some skeletons appeared and asked me for a dance. I almost fainted, but the skeletons were real gentlemen—thy held me and literally dragged me with them. I prayed to Saint Michael the Archangel, and he appeared with his shining sword. He frightened the skeletons so much, they ran to their tombs.

Carlota Valdez fell ill with fever. The night she felt pricks. She saw a lot of little red devils. They jumped on her bed and pricked her with their tridents. Carlota thought it was the end and the devils came after her because she used to gossip a lot with her friend Lupe. Carlota prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan promising not to gossip again if the Virgin would save her. The Virgin sent a ray of light that frightened the devils. They disappeared, and the next morning Carlota woke up alive and feeling better.