To the Holy Virgin of San Juan, I dedicate this retablo thanking for protecting me from the immigration police when they were running after me. I entrusted myself to her and was able to get to Rio Bravo, hide myself and cross it. With her blessing, I came to California and got a job. I saved good money and opened my tacos shop here in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco.

Your devoted Isidro O.
June 17, 1990

I dedicate this retablo to La Llorona (The Weeping Woman) because who among us hasn’t taken their grief and stood contemplating it, beside a body of water.

I went with my daughters to gather some herbs growing almost at the top of the mountain. They were very good for our grandma’s rheumatism. When we were coming down and passing at the narrowest part of the road, some birds, trying to catch insects and small snakes in the rocks, caused a landslide and a rain of stones. Stones were flying around us, but miraculously not one hit us. The stones were falling and tumbled down near us. We thank the Virgin of Zapopan for the miracle of protecting us from this rain of stones.

The nun Marcela Gonzalez brings the present retablo to Saint Paschal Baylon thanking him for his help in elaborating the excellent rompope which they produce and sell as it helps a lot to the convent.

Puebla, 1920

1914, at the station of Momospan, Justina Ramos found herself in danger of being hit by the train. She implored Saint James and didn’t die. Since she was saved from sure death, she gives thanks with this retablo.

I thank Saint Paschal, a patron saint of cooks, because with his divine inspiration I became a very good pastry cook. Together with my daughter we make cookies and cakes. We’re earning a living for our family, and we are doing good.

Holy Virgin, may I, even drunk, not forget you.

2011, Tzintzuntzan, Michoacan

Saint Jude, please, do not let my neighbor Paty keep perverting my son Facundo.

Dora Villanueva

I went to Los Capulines ranch to sell some embroidered blankets and I took my baby with me. Señora Luz bought the blankets but on my way out the geese saw me. Since they didn’t know me they got very angry and started chasing me. I was afraid they would hurt my little baby, and I implored Saint Quiteria. Thanks to her the geese didn’t harm us. They were only running around and making a lot of noice. I thank the saint for her protection because the geese can be very furious and dangerous.

Our Lady from Talpa, I’m going to thank you for letting me get control of my legs again. I couldn’t walk for almost a year because of an accident when I fell down the stairs in my house. Nothing would help me, and I implored you. Now I’m leaving this wheelchair.

Juana Virginia
Talpa, Jalisco, December 15, 1930

In 1917 in Chiautempan my buddy caught me on the mat with his wife. He started to shoot at us. I give infinite thanks to Saint Jude because bullets didn’t hit me. She took them all.

Erasmo Ruis

I left the uni and, while walking, was checking my facebook on my new cel that my daddy gave me on my b-day. Suddenly a robber jumped on me, grabbed my phone and ran away. Thousand thanks to Saint Jude Thaddeus because a super cool cop was passing by. He caught the dude and returned me my cel. I promise to Saint Jude to be more careful because this experience wasn’t cool at all.

Katy Perez ~ Puebla

Victor and Cesar Martinez, we dedicate this to Saint Francis because we were fucking scared when that damned nagual appeared to us and gave us a tremendous chase. It even made us sober up and shit so tremendously that nothing could stop it. But now we are safe and healthy. We promise not to drink anymore.

San Francisco Chimapla, State of Mexico
October 4, 1990