I dedicate this retablo to Saint Nicholas of Bari for the talent that the actor Bruce Davidson has. When I was a child I saw the movie “Willard”. As a result, I have a deadly fear of rats. I hope Bruce doesn’t suffer from the same fear after having shot this horrifying but marvelous movie.

Cesar Lopez — Mexico City

Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, because my surgery went well and I already can keep on playing soccer.

Americo Sanchez

We felt horror and anxiety of dying suffocating because of lack of air and terrible heat, locked up inside the trailer for more than four hours from Laredo to San Antonio, Texas. We made two holes with a knife to breathe a little bit because there were 70 of us, immigrants going to the United States in search of job. I thank the Virgin of San Juan because I managed to arrived alive to the destination. I pray for those who didn’t—let they rest in peace.

Immigrant, August 2017

My husband Ramiro fell in love with the butcher and ran away with him. I beg you, Holy Child of Atocha, not to let him come back. Finally I’m happy.

My family members criticize me for studying philosophy in the university for more than 15 years. I thank Saint Jerome for there is this wonderful magic weed that helps me to understand the philosophic concepts. I don’t care what people say and I don’t care about studying so long because with these trips I’ll become the greatest philosopher of the new millennium.

Mexico

For all those who sin for love

I thank the blessed souls of the purgatory for meeting this precious woman. Her charm and experience gave me confidence and healed my painful affliction that made my masculine pride suffer. Now I can satisfy my wife without any trouble, and she never found out about my visits to this house of pleasures.

M. R. — Mexico City, 1960

Rafael Aguilar thought it’d be easy to rob passengers in a bus but they disarmed him and were going to lynch him. He thanks Saint Jude because the police arrived in time and saved him.

A woman appeared from the corn and healed all the animals. Thanks for this luck.

I have always been a very serious and calm man. But when I got to my 50 I realized I hadn’t enjoyed many pleasures of life. One day I went crazy and fulfilled my fantasy of being with three women at the same time. I’m infinitely grateful to Saint Expeditus for inspiring me to do that because now, when I’m locked up inside in quarantine, it’s comforting to know that, although I was older, it was real fun.

With this retablo, I testify my gratitude to Saint Paschal Baylon for giving a great taste to my dishes, especially to mole poblano and chiles en nogada.

Puebla, 1910

Women together, not even dead. Holy Virgin, make all the dead women rest in peace.

I give thanks to the Holy Daughter of Putin because thanks to the food sanctions we won’t suffer from obesity. August 2014.

Thanks, Virgin of Guadalupe, because my daughter Juana came back home after running away with her boyfriend.

Matias Cruz