I thank and order to make this retablo to the Holy Niño Fidencio and Holy Girl Aurorita for giving me the gift to fell madly in love when Ali went with me to a bonsai expo. When I saw her, I was completely captivated. Now we buy plants together, save dogs and always go to drink pulque.

They didn’t accept me in the village for being gay. So I decided to go to the city. But I had no money, and I didn’t know anyone there. I thank Saint Sebastian who send good people on my path. They give me food and shelter. Although I had to devote myself to prostitution for several years, thanks to that I managed to do surgery and also paid my studies. Now I lead a quiet life, I had a good job and enjoy my identity as a woman.

Demetrio Vargas went to swim. I fainted, but a mermaid piggy saved my life from drowning.

Veracruz, December 4, 1955

Regino Suarez wanted to impress his neighbor and climbed a pole to save a cat. He’s infinitely thankful, with this retablo, to Saint Francis because he didn’t fell down, although he got scratched all over, but the girl granted him her friendship.

I want to thank Our Lady of Guadalupe with the present exvoto for having met mr. Smith, the owner of the fields where we pick up tomatoes. He is a good man, and he treats us well, and he doesn’t exploit me or my fellows who work for him. He pays us excellent salary which I use to support my family back in Mexico.

Felipe Gonzalez — Florida, USA

So, almost at 12 at night, Katrina appeared to me on the highway. She asked for a ride. Before such a horrifying scene, I entrusted myself to the Holy Heart of Jesus, and it helped me. Katrina immediately disappeared bursting with laughter. This retablo is in gratitude.

Tito Martinez

Saint Francis, thank you for your favors. I remember when I met Damian he was a very timid boy. I told him that he has a baby-face, but it turned out that he was the same age as me. He was very shy, and when I talked with him he went beet red. One time some University fellows invited us to a party. Most of them brought their girlfriends. Damian asked me why I didn’t bring mine. I told him that I don’t like women. Then he said “What a coincidence, neither do I”. That’s how we became a couple. I thank for having fallen in love.

Osvaldo Gomez, 1966

I’m an art lover, and I especially enjoy the surrealistic paintings of the gray Spanish artist Salvador Dali. I dedicate this exvoto to Saint Luke, thanking him for the talent of this great artist, so influent in XX century, author of my favorite painting “Christ of Saint John of the Cross”.

Mexico

I asked my husband not to take this road, but he did. Thank God, I had some good wine which helped me to get rid of bad thoughts and I behave like an angel.

Because Bernardo Pacheco, a turner, came to work being hungover, he stumbled and hit his snout against the machine. The bleeding wouldn’t stop, so he implored Saint Patrick and got healed. He gives infinite thanks for that.

I give thanks to you, Saint Christopher, patron of travelers, for granting me a trip to the beach with my friends. We arrived well and not one bastard cop nor any soldiery stopped us or told anything about being happy in our manner at the beach. Thank you for that, Saint Christopher. We all need to go to the sea.

Virgin of Juquila, I thank you for giving me strength I needed to win this race. I was trying so hard.

Zimatlan
Odilon Cortez, May 18, 1960

Thanks for the donkey didn’t catch me.