Enedina Abascal dedicates the present retablo to Saint Anthony of Padua thanking him because she met Ponciano, the love of her life. She was a soldier, and they fought together at the times of the Revolution. When the fight was over, they could get married and were very happy.

Torreon, Coahuila

I enjoyed going outside in the patio to read. One day a little girl came to me and asked me to read for her. Now I have many kids who come to listen me reading, and I love it very much. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because the children and the books alleviate my loneliness.

Ofelia Martinez thanks the Child of Atocha with this retablo for she made good sales and saved enough money for a beautiful altar in honor of her late son.

Holy Mother Virgin of Guadalupe, may you be blessed for curing my rheumatism so I can go back to work with my flowers here in Xochimilco. When no remedy would help me I prayed to you, and you cured me.

Merejildo, local of this town
December 12, 1990

We were chatting and forgot that we left a pot with mole on the stove. We were cooking it to sale. Then we went to the market for turkey, and when we were back, we saw that the pan had been completely on fire and almost burnt our kitchen. My friend and I desperately prayed Saint Paschal for help and began to extinguish the fire with the pot with water. We managed to do so avoiding big fire, and we thank the saint.

Petra Cosme and Ramona Tlachi / Cuetzalan, 1949

10:30 pm, in the town of Pinotepa Nacional, the earth began to tremble, the buildings were collapsing, and the sky went green. I entrusted myself to the Father Jesus and avoided certain death. I dedicate the present small retablo in gratitude.

Plutarco Figueroa

We thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for helping us to get to the United States when we were crossing Rio Bravo. The current was strong, and the river was dragging us so we couldn’t swim. But you helped us, and we got to USA to find job and earn some money to live.

The Martinez family
Los Angeles, California, July 20, 1940

I was working at my masters’ house all day long and didn’t think I could find a boyfriend. I ask Saint Anthony of Padua for help, and he sent me Felix, new baker in our neighborhood. Now we are together, and I’m very happy with our big love. I dedicate this retablo with great faith.

Reynalda Martinez — Mexico, 1957

I thank the Virgin Mary for my ultra compact Bell and Howell Two Twenty eight mm. camera.

Pedro Aguilar was traveling around Amazon. He went where he shouldn’t go and was attacked by piranhas. He thanks Saint Patrick for getting out in time.

Gerardo Ochoa was sleeping in his bed when he was stung by two scorpions. He thanks Saint Anthony the Great with this retablo for curing him and promises to clean his house more often.

My great-grandmother is so old, she couldn’t remember how old is she. One day she asked me to let the birds that lived in her house free. They were making so her happy but she said I must to do it so the birds would open the path for her soul since she was thinking she was about to die. I freed the birds, and they flew to the sky. But later they all came back, they stayed in my great-grandmother’s garden and kept making her happy flying in the trees.

Rosa Martinez had high fever for three days. She saw monsters made of transparent jelly. They wanted to devour her and opened their mouths that went to nowhere. Rosa thanks the Virgin of Zapopan for her temperature went down and she don’t have these horrible nightmares anymore.