I liked to paint but I was afraid of not having enough talent to become a professional. But one night Frida Kahlo appeared in my dream and encouraged me to paint. I give infinite thanks to Saint Thomas Aquinas for that dream. It was the inspiration I needed to do what I loved the most—painting.

Amelia Lara ~ Mexico City

A trio of devils were having fun hurting my cats. I thank the Saint Francis for giving my broom a celestial power so I could sweep those infernal creatures away and saved my cats from suffering.

When Juaquina Ramirez went to the lake for water she almost fainted being frightened by the headless man. She thanks Saint Pancras with this retablo for he protected her and she suffered no damage but only pissed herself from the fear.

Puebla, 1914

I was a very jealous man. My jealousy went to extremes when I saw my beautiful wife reading a letter. I thought it was from a lover. The demon of jealousy clouded my mind and made me take the gun and point it to my wife. But then I felt two small hands pulling the gun aside. Later I found out that the letter was from my wife’s grandmother. I realized it was the Virgin who sent a little angel to save me from this horrible crime. My wife forgave me for being such an idiot.

I considered myself the ladies man of the neighborhood, and I enjoyed flirting with the girls passing by the street. But the other day I was fooling around with a blond, she turned around, and, to my great surprise, I saw that she was a man. I thank Saint Sebastian because this embarrassing moment didn’t affect my reputation. I promise to be more respectful with the women.

Calixto Gallardo \ Toluca, State of Mexico

Gilberto Martinez loved when his wife gave him lashes. But one day she got out of hand and gave him hell. He thanks Saint Elias for healing up and promises to control his fetish.

My father didn’t like that I had a boyfriend, so Alejandro and I had to meet secretly. One night we were at the cemetery where no one could see us. We were sitting on a grave and talking when we heard a music. We saw the dead leaving their graves and having a party. They played instruments and danced. We were very much frightened. We thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for we could escape and the skeletons didn’t see us.

Eusebia Maldonado was sick with fever, and many little red devils came to her. They climbed to Eusebia’s bed and pricked her with their tridents. She though she was going to die and the devils came to take her to hell. Although she had sinned, she didn’t think she’d sinned so much to suffer this harassment from the devils. She prayed the Virgin of Zapopan for protection, and the Virgin appeared in her splendor and scared the devils away. They left Eusebia in peace and ran back to hell.

I dedicate this humble retablo to the Virgin of Guadalupe with eternal gratitude for saving the life of my son Manuel. He worked as a waiter in a restaurant in the World Trade Center, but on that September 11 he woke up sick and didn’t go to the work. Thanks to this miracle the Virgin saved him for me. My mother, I ask you for eternal rest for those innocent souls who died on that tragic day.

Socorro Alvarez

Alicia Ramos brings the present retablo to Saint Paschal Baylon and thanks him for helping her to win the traditional cookies contest at the town day. Now she’s famous all over the state.

Carlos Tepoz wanted to impress a chick by carrying many sacks with fruits but screwed his knees and neck. He thanks the Virgin of Juquila for he can walk again, although the broad didn’t pay any attention to him because he’s ugly.

I have a passion for the photography. Above all I enjoy taking photos of animals. That’s why I went to the zoo. I wanted to have a better picture of a rhino, so I came too close to it, and my camera fell right near it. I thank Saint Charbel because the animal ignored me and didn’t do anything when I, absolutely frightened, had to go down for my camera. I promise to be more careful.

Benjamin Sandoval \ Puebla

The Tapia bothers, Aquilino and Sabino, wholeheartedly thank Saint Martin the Cavalryman for opening their own bakery. For many years they worked as bakers and dreamt to open their own shop one day. With the saint’s divine help, after many years of hard work, they made their dream come true, for which they humbly thank with this simple retablo.

Toluca, State of Mexico