With this humble retablo, I’m infinitely grateful to the Lord of the Wonders who, all these years I’ve been working as a midwife, has been guided my arms with his light to bring healthy babes to this world. May you be blessed.

Vicenta Tepox
Chignahuapan, Puebla

I’m a terrible cook. Thats why my mama used to say I’d never get married. But thanks to Saint Paschal I found a husband who cooks marvelously. He adores cooking, and it is his passion. He prepares delicious dishes for me and our kids. I thank Saint Paschal, the patron of cooks.

Cesar Morales used to sleep with the daughter of a farmer. But one day the father caught them and pierced a Cesar’s leg by the pitchfork. He thanks Saint James with this retablo for healing.

When I was very sick, the Death in person came to my bedroom. Horrified, I prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan so that she’d scare the Death away. The Holy Virgin gave courage to my dogs, and they attacked the Death. The Death felt the dogs gnawing the bones and disappeared without taking me. I thank the Holy Virgin.

As I was spending all day working at my master’s house, I thought I’d never find a fiancé. I asked Saint Anthony pf Padua for help, and few days later met Leopoldo, a new baker in the neighborhood. Now we are together, and I’m very happy. I dedicate this retablo.

Rufina Bonilla, Tlaxcala

Jaime Telles brings this retablo to the Holy Child of Atocha thanking him for finishing his studies and becoming an ophthalmologist. The thing are going well.

I left my daughter Petronila to look after her little brother. She brought him to fly kites with his friends. She had to tie her shoelaces and gave a kite to a very small boy. He was taken up in the air. I thank the Virgin for they were able to catch him and nothing happened to him.

1944, my friend, the artist Frida, was in poor health. I prayed to the Holy Child of Atocha, and my friend got better. Now she’s very happy, and I made this retablo thanking for it.

Mexico, 1944

That dark night in November, my family and I had to ride through the cemetery. We got scared as many skeletons, ghosts and dead men appeared to us. They looked threatening. We thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for her protection and because she gave our horse more speed so the dead didn’t get us.

One morning, my brother and I went fishing. Suddenly some sharks approached us. We were so frightened, we turned pale. We entrusted ourselves to Saint Peter, and one by one the sharks went away. We thank for that, with much devotion, bringing this retablo.

Aurelio and Ponciano Benitez
Tampico, Mexico

Catalina Ramirez brings this retablo to Saint Francis thanking for getting a job in an erotic restaurant. She has fun and gets good tips.

I thank the Virgin of Mercy for inviting famous modern art collectors to my studio. They took all my sculpture to a gallery in Hermosillo, although they still haven’t paid me a dime.

Leon, May 1963

I wanted to add more realism to my character from the pastorale, and I had an idea to put more flares. By accident, I put the tail of my costume on fire. I thank Saint Michael the Archangel for one of my companions acted fast and found an extinguisher. If not I would have got all burned because everybody was thinking it was part of our performance.

Carmelo Rodriguez
Toluca, State of Mexico