It seemed an easy thing to rob an old abandoned house. But I didn’t know that the house was haunted. Suddenly the furniture began to move by itself, the doors and windows opened which gave me goosebumps. I dedicate this retablo to Saint Benedict because I escaped safe and sound from this house. I promise I’d be a good man and won’t steal ever again.

Elias R. — Queretaro, Mexico

Panfilo Guzman brings this retablo to the Souls of the Purgatory because no one has seen how I like dancing with my pig Ququis.

Zacatecas, 1947

We were brought to a very strange king. Thanks for he didn’t hurt us.

I’m thanking, with all my heart, the Virgin of Guadalupe for keeping our family tradition of knitting. My mother and grand-mother were weavers and they taught me since I was little girl. My serapes, huipils and rebozos are highly valued among the foreign tourists who buy them when they visit my town.

Obdulia Trejo ~ Chiapas

Thank you, Virgin of the Rosary, I was able to convince my fiancé to get back to the church for his own good.

Josefina — Oaxaca, Mexico, 1962

Blessed Holy Heart, thank you because he returned to me after—they were telling—he had gone to a woman but it wasn’t true. Now he’s here as you promised me.

Richi — Interlomas, Mexico, 2007

I give thanks to the Holy Cross. We were going to San Felipe square when suddenly Filemon, my donkey, got mad from fear and created a real havoc. Then the señor gendarme wanted to arrest him but the donkey was carrying all my goods. But God spoke to his heart, and he let us go.

Disappointed in love, Jose Chavez got involved in booze. He implored Saint Pancras in such a predicament, and now he gives him proper thanks because a new hope has appeared in his life. He only asks, having jumped out of the frying pan, not to get into the fire.

Puebla, 1925

To you, Virgin of Guadalupe, I entrust to rest the lost souls who appear in the bar.

A strange plant had grown behind the wall fence of my garden. One day my cats were lying on the border enjoying the sun, and the plant caught them. I ran to help them but the plant trapped me as well. Thanks to the Holy Spirit I had big garden scissors in the pocket of my apron. I cut the stems and freed my cats. Later my husband pulled the plant with roots.

Virgin of Guadalupe, I entrust my boyfriend Cayetano Macias to you, look after him because he’s gone in a six-month trip.

Esperanza Acevedo

Maria Concepcion Andrade, devoted to the Virgin of San Juan, brings this retablo with great devotion asking for the recovery of the painter Frida. She thanks for that in advance.

Mexico, 1945

Cristobal Rodriguez was in the field, and some horrible eyes appeared to him. They didn’t stop following him, and he was very much scared. But he implored the Holy Heart, and you delivered me.

Michoacan, 1922