As promised, I bring this retablo to the Holy Child of Atocha for the miracle of winning my first mask for mask fight, taking down the tough Red Scorpion with a “hurracarana” throw. It was the most important fight in my career.

The Great Chameleon
Zacatecas, 1986

Saint Jude Thaddeus, thank you for the happiness you gave me. I was looking for a partner so long and then I met Enrique, a boy from the capital. We began to date. I found the real love with him. Before him I had been treated very badly and bullied. My father had even kicked me out of house at midnight with a thunderstorm outside.

Oscar Muñoz
Acapulco, Guerrero, 1962

All the kids turned into animals. Thanks to the Virgin they came back to their normal state.

My boyfriend left me and went to another woman. I was depressed. I was going along the cliff and thinking to jump to the sea so I could end with this love pain. I was looking down at the waves crushing on the rocks and suddenly I slipped and fell down. While falling I realized that I definitely don’t want to die and no men is worth to be smashed over rocks because of him. I implored the Virgin of Zapopan and fell into the sea between the rocks. I could swim out. I thank for this miracle because now I could love again and find someone who’s better then that one who dumped me.

We offer this retablo thanking Saint Francis for the miracle of finding that spoiled bull of our master so we won’t be kicked out of the hacienda. We are very grateful.

Julia and her son Bernave, 1949

The Ramirez sisters thank Saint Cecily for they finally managed to save enough money for the instruments. Now they have a rock band, and they have many gigs.

My husband got a job in Veracruz, and we moved to live in a wild place full of various animals and rattlesnakes. But the worst were the monkeys. When they came down from the trees to drink water they stole laundry. I was desperate. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because my husband got another job and we moved back to the civilization.

The young man Enrique Lozano accidentally shot an arrow in the buttock of his neighbor. He thanks Saint James because the wound wasn’t very serious and he was forgiven. He promises to be more careful.

With this humble retablo, I thank Saint Patrick because my husband hasn’t found out about my love affairs with the young and handsome plumber. My husband’s unique interest is watching his soccer games all day long, and there’s no attention for me. So I have to satisfy my woman needs with a real man.

Sofía N. ~ Torreón, Coahuila

Aurelio Madero, the bassist of the rock band “The Guerrillas of Rock”, got his hair on fire at the end of a gig when the sparklers at the end of his guitar exploded. He was very frightened. He thanks the Holy Child of Atocha for his face didn’t burn and he just lost his full head of hair.

Tecate, Baja California

The Diamantes brothers thank Saint John Bosco for letting them to win the couple championship. Now they start to earn big money and strike terror into their rivals.

I decided that we were going to visit the grand-mother Refugia who lived all alone and very far away. So I went with my children but on our way we were caught by a thunderstorm with many lightnings. I was afraid they would hit us. I prayed the Virgin of Zapopan, and she protected us <…>

My boy Miguelito ate so much sweets he felt pain in he stomach. It was so painful he screamed and cried. No remedy helped him. I prayed to the Holy Child Doctor of the Sick for help, and with his divine help—also thanks to the doctor who consulted us—Miguelito is healthy. I give thanks.

Vicenta Tellez
Toluca, 1966