Fortunately, I was’t in my boat when these mermaids tried to abduct me. I thank Saint Mary.

Yucatan, 1951

Juaquina Carrion ran into her old man sleeping and beat him up. She kicked him so bad she thought he’d die. She prayed the Virgin of San Juan and her old man got cured. She thanks for that although he keeps on loafing.

Puebla, 1920

Corn demons came to my house. Thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe I swept them out.

June 3, 1974

With this retablo, I thank Saint Tatiana the Martyr for helping me to understand chroma keying in zoom.

Natasha Krankova, Korolyov, Moscow region

I got this great idea to propose to my Chabelita in a trajinera-boat at Xochimilco. I thought it would be very romantic. But then I got so nervous I slipped and I fell into lake. I give infinite thanks to Saint Anthony of Padua because I didn’t lose the ring—it fell inside the boat—and, despite this embarrassing moment, my fiancée said “yes” which made me very happy.

Ramiro Tellez, Mexico City

Agapito end Heraclio Vasquez thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for they did well in their aztec dance performance. They offer this retablo for the received favor.

Concepcion B. was caught by her boyfriend while having sexual conversations on her cell phone with another man. She thanks Saint Rita with this retablo for nothing serious happened and he forgave her.

I ask Pachamama for the courage to live the life with vulnerability, compassion and the heart opened to the world.

Notes:
Pachamama, or Mama Pacha (Mother Earth) is a goddess of earth and fertility in South American Indians mythology.

The demon of the gluttony possessed everyone in the house. We ate without a break whatever comes to hand. We became so fat that I couldn’t get in my dresses. Then I asked Saint Paschal Baylon for a help. The saint took mercy upon us, and our voracious hunger started to decline thanks to the fact that the saint chased the demon out from our kitchen. Now we are eating much less and are losing weight.

The factory where I worked was closed down, and I was left without a job. But one friend told me there was a job. Saint Jude, I beg you to look after me.

Lorena Aspetia

Saint Raymond, thank you because my buddy didn’t notice me under his bed where I hid myself avoiding a trouble to be seen with his wife when he arrived home. I offer you this retablo for the received favor. I ask you for forgiveness and swear to avoid such situation that insults our friendship, because to insult a friend is to insult for ever <...>

Carlota Valdez got slightly sick and went to bed early. Suddenly she saw that she was being attacked by red devils who began to torture her with their tridents. She prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan, and the Virgin sent a group of angels to chase the devils away. The devils ran away scared of their luminous presence.

God bless this fine home.