Every time when it was raining my wife put all the animals inside the house so they wouldn’t wet and sick. Then my wife went to sleep peacefully, and I couldn’t close my eyes. I was afraid that an egg might fall on my head or the pig would start licking my face. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because we finally saved enough money to build a shed and a henhouse. Now the animals sleep there without getting wet, and I don’t have them around my bed.

Señora Maria offers these flowers and this retablo to the Lord of Chalma because her husband Antonio passed through a dangerous head surgery. He was between life and death, and now they thank for this favor.

January 25, 2000

I dedicate to Saint Jude Thaddeus the present retablo in honor of the great actress Maria Felix better known as “La Doña”. Her beauty and her boldness in playing the roles of women with strong character made her a legend of Mexican cinema.

Mexico

The grandmother Macaria’s house is very big and very old. When we came to stay with her for few days, my girls went to the bathroom which was far from their bedrooms. On their way they met a ghost that was wondering around the house. They were very frightened. They were shaking and couldn’t speak. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for they have recovered from this fear and they even want to see the ghost again.

I dedicate this humble retablo to Saint Jude Thaddeus asking him for the eternal rest of hundreds of firefighters died trying to save people on that tragic September 11, 2001. I’m also asking for nothing of this kind would happen ever again.

Catalina Villanueva warmly thanks Saint Jerome with this retablo because they let her go to Europe with her boyfriend. There they could go to nudists beaches without worrying of being recognized.

My sister and I bring flowers to our grandmother’s grave on her birthdays. This time we went at the cemetery at night, and got there with the moonlight. We met some skeletons over there. They left their graves to get drunk. They met us with great joy and wanted to dance with us. We were scared and prayed the Virgin of Zapopan. She helped us to escape from the dead so they didn’t chase us. We thank for that.

Enrique Perez woke up with a thief in his room. He thanks Saint James with this retablo for he managed to grab his gun and shoot him.

I thank Saint Maroun with the present retablo because no one found out about my big secret I’ve been keeping for years. When I just got married I had an affair with a young milkman and got pregnant from him. I managed to fool my husband and all family explaining that my boy was born with red hair because of my great-aunt, so nobody found out about my infidelity.

Eduviges R. ~ Oaxaca

Jesus Encarnacion Lopez loved rock and created his own death-metal band. But because of lack of technique he damaged his vocal cords after screaming too much. He thanks Saint Jude for he has recovered after some stinky herbs treatment.

Señora Raquel Huerta thanks Saint Francis with the present retablo because her dog shelter has helped to foster many dogs that are having new home now.

I was a very insecure girl being overweight and developed many complexes. It made me feel very lovely, and I got very depressed. I thank Saint Rita for putting aside my prejudices and for inspiring me to take pole dance classes. It helped me to lose weight. Now I’m very happy with my new figure and my new life.

Angelina Chavez \ Cancun, Quintana Roo

Carolina Ortega came to sleep at her boyfriend’s apartment, and the next morning his dog didn’t recognized her and bit her buttock. She thanks Saint Helen for her boyfriend didn’t kill the dog since it wasn’t the animal’s fault.