Señora Eduviges Pacheco was switching on the boiler, and it burst into flame putting her hair on fire. She thanks Saint Charbel for nothing bad happened and only her vanity suffered because she was left bald.

My daughter Dolores was already 40 years old. She was the oldest of my 16 children sent me by God and my only daughter. I was very much worried that the poor thing would lose her train and stay an old maid. I put Saint Anthony of Padua head down and prayed him day and night. My daughter met a gringo named mister Maicol and they got married. Besides, she used the dress I wore at my wedding.

Maria del Socorro Lopez
Tepatitlán, Jalisco
April 15, 1963

Vicente Ortega was bitten by a dog when he was coming out from his house. The bites were very bad, and they said he could lose his arm because it wouldn’t heal with the treatment they gave him. He implored the Holy Virgin of Los Remedios, and she granted him with healing. He brings her this retablo, as he promised, with eternal gratitude.

Tacuba, January 20, 1931

My friends and I had an idea of hiring prostitutes via internet for the bachelor party of one of them. I was greatly surprised finding out that one of the prostitutes was my cousin. I thank Saint Charbel because, in exchange of keeping this secret and not telling her parents about it, she will introduce me to her friends and they will give me a special price.

November 21, torrero El Chicuelo suffered a deadly horn wound, and the Virgin saved his life.

January 20, 1967

Boy Arnulfo Fernandez fell into a pit full of snakes. His mother thanks Saint Nicholas for nothing bad happened.

Tehuacan, 1945

Lovely Mother, I thank you for your blessing and for keeping me in form during almost 30 years of my career. After many victories and many sacrifices, I offer this retablo in your honor.

Espectro I
Mexico, 1980

Daniel gives thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe because his buddy didn’t notice him hiding in the closet and didn’t find him with his wife putting horns on him. He swears not to do it again.

Tacubaya, Mexico City
January 25, 1985

Fermin Acosta brings this ex-voto thanking the Holy Heart because a she-devil didn’t do me any damage when she wanted to take me to hell.

Guanajuato, 1941

Jesus Christ talking to David Lynch.

When I was delivering bread an angry dog attacked me and I drop everything on the ground. Thanks to the Holy Heart I just dusted the bread off and nobody noticed it. This retablo is in memory of this.

Silao, Gto., 1965
Luis R.

T. A. loved when her partner spanked her with a sword. But one day it went out of hand and she ended up in the hospital. She thanks Saint Bruno with the present retablo for overcoming the embarrassment of explaining to the doctors what happened since they wouldn’t believe her.

I dedicate the present exvoto to Saint Jude Thaddeus for the great talent of the painter David Alfaro Siqueiros. His vision of social problems and his particular style of capturing the working masses, workers and peasants made him, along with Rivera and Orozco, a distinguished figure of the muralism.