I liked my neighbor, and she responded me. But she had a grumpy and violent father. He was very suspicious and kept an eye on her. One night I climbed to her room to see her and made some noise. Her father heard and came running with a pistol. I prayed Saint Jude Thaddeus, and he gave me an idea to pretend being a sleep-walker. The neighbor believed in to and let me go. I thank for such an exceptional favor.

Onesimo Carreto
Zacatecas, 1959

Samuel Rodrigues fell in love with two mermaids. They enchanted him with their singing. He couldn’t eat, he couldn’t sleep, he didn’t want to work but spent all days long at the bottom of the laguna. Until one day he saw the mermaids eating with their big sharp-toothed mouth. He thanks the Virgin of the Rosary for delivering him from those monsters’ spell.

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My restaurant is always full because I am, in all modesty, a great cook. But when I close my place at night, here come my favorite clients—stray cats from the neighborhood. I give them milk and feed them with the leftovers. I thank Saint Francis because during the day I earn money and get praised for my dishes and during the night I receive gratitude and caress.

I thank Saint Francis of Assisi because during all this time I haven’t received anything more serious than small cuts and bruises caused by my godfather known as Elvis the Knife Thrower. In spite of improving his act, he still has to practice a lot. And I keep living in fear.

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I found an egg, and suddenly a hand of a monster showed out of it. I thank for the whole monster didn’t get out.

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Because of a bad fight she had had with her husband, the painter Frida was feeling weighed down. I prayed the Virgin of the Solitude, and the painter got better. She found herself happy playing with her pets, and I thank for that.

Alicia Ruiz
Mexico, 1945

Raul Lopez thanks Saint Paschal for he didn’t faint at the moment of sacrificing of the pig for the celebration of his godson. Raul is afraid of blood, but it was him who had the honor of killing the animal according to the tradition.

I thank Saint Quiteria of Frexeiras for saving Josinho, Jeovaneo, Ginaldo, Je Alves Eduardo Galindo from death.

Otaciano Montes Belo
08-09-2000, Sao Bento do Una, PE

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Saint Teresa of baby Jesus, thank you for helping me to recover. One moths ago a brick fell on me on the street, and I fell and injured my back. Later I was called to join the Mexican wrestling team. At the ring, I felt my spine cracking. It was so painful, and I might have remained paralyzed. But thanks to the surgery I’m good.

Manuel Reyes
Mexico City, 1957

The neighbor’s dog was very angry and had already bitten few people. One day it came to our yard and approached my daughter who was playing. My daughter didn’t get scared, and it discouraged and calmed the dog. The dog even licked my daughter’s face. Meanwhile, the dog owner and me were running towards them in fear of something bad could happen. I thank Saint Quiteria for protecting my daughter.

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Yolanda Rivera was hired as a wet-nurse. But the baby had teeth and used to bite her. Yolanda thanks Saint Paschal Baylon because she has found another job and doesn’t have to suffer from this baby anymore.

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Jose and his son Daniel thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe for giving them strength to cross the Arizona desert and fulfill their American dream—find a job and make some money to support their family back in Mexico.

January 25, 1995

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I offer this retablo to Saint Rose. I decided to visit very famous lesbian tattoo artist in Tijuana to make a surprise for my husband’s birthday. But when my hubby saw my body all covered in tattoos he freaked out and kicked me out. He didn’t want to know me anymore. But the most amazing thing was that after this I came back to Tijuana and went to the lesbian artist with whom I had already started falling in love. Now we’re living and making tattoos together.