The fall of 2004, like every other fall, my brother and I went to the corner of the alley to pick up walnuts from don Lucho’s tree. We hit the tree with stones, and the walnuts were falling down. One day in April that year, I was looking up to see falling walnuts, and a stone hit me in the face. All my face was in blood. While I was crying, my brother and a fatso were dying laughing and clapped imitating the sound of the impact. I have this bump left by the stone till this day. I also have tattoos and a wound in my heart. I thank the life because without this scars I wouldn’t be who I am.

I, Punkychico, La Granja, Zona Sur, 2004

Arturo Sanchez was cleaning the cages of his gamecocks, and on of them attacked him and almost pecked his eye out. He thanks Saint Charbel with this retablo because the eye was saved, and he promises to devote himself to something else.

We dedicate the present retablo, with deep gratitude, to the Lord of the Wonders for always giving us his protection during our performance of the Dance of Huahuas. We perform it for many years, and thanks to his blessing we have never had any falls or accidents.

The Toxqui family — Zacapoaxtla, Puebla

I’m not gossiping, I’m just a communicative person.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because this gossiping Lucha stopped insulting me. I, Maria de los Angeles, from Mexico City, 2000.

Barbara Lopez Garcia put her new dress on to go to the town celebration to conquer Antonio Padilla’s heart. But on her way she met don Agapito’s dogs which are always angry like their owner. The dogs pulled her dress and almost tore it apart, but then Antonio came to help her and scared the dogs away. When he saw her so heartbroken, wearing the tore dress, his heart melted and he proposed to her right away. Barbara thanks the Virgin.

Felipa Ortiz was pregnant and was about to give birth, but she was worrying because she didn’t have money to pay to a midwife. She fervently thanks the Virgin of San Juan because Frida the painter paid all the expenses of the childbirth.

Puebla, 1940

I thank you, Saint Isidor Laborer, for pulling the rains off our neighborhood and for I could close the gate to my hallway to protect my house from the deluge in our block, as it happened with my neighbor who couldn’t celebrate her niece Michelle’s first communion because of that.

A grateful Mexican
Cuautepec BB, Mexico City, August 2014

Rodrigo Meneses made bandits angry by not cooperating with them, and they tied him to the railway tracks. He fervently thanks the Virgin of San Juan because he was able to get out before passing of the train.

My husband was a football fan. He used to come home and turn on the TV first thing to watch his games. He didn’t pay me any attention and never had time for the intimacy. I was so desperate, I even thought about asking for a divorce. I fervently prayed Saint Charbel, and little by little my husband’s sport fever went down. Now he’s a more loving and, above all, fulfilling husband.

Sandra Cruz — Torreon, Coahuila

My cat Marujo every night goes to hang around and comes back very late and all beaten up. His girlfriend Julieta worries a lot about him. I ask you, Virgin of Gaudalupe, for my cat Marujo and entrust him to you. Make him behave well not to let Julietta worry.

The city I live in is destroyed. The people walk over the ground and burning tires. Doesn’t matter who did it, it is what we’ve got. One night I had a dream that Saint Rose hugged me while I was crying and told me: “The most beautiful barricades are on my chest, you shall be for fuel to the fire and the one who will take it, but you have to follow the message on the walls which lead you to the south.” I thank Saint Rose and Girl of Carmel for looking after the workers and the artists, neighbors, my friends from Neozona and all those who take mini-bus on your avenue.

June 2021, 27 1/2 Santa Rosa
Jayson Hernandez, Granja Sur

Raul Martinez thanks the Virgin of the Solitude with this retablo because she helped him to save enough money to buy a hearing device to his grandpa. His life has become much easier.

I dedicate the present exvoto to Saint Marinus in gratitude for my husband hasn’t found out about my secret relationship with his son—my step-son. I married for financial reasons because I was always poor. But it’s his son whom I madly and passionately in love with. Our love will always be forbidden, but we’ll cherish it with great discretion.