Virgin of Guadalupe, I thank you for quitting this vice of marijuana addiction although it happened in a very macabre manner—with seeing all those skeletons in my madness.

Campeche, 1944

I dedicate this retablo to you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for saving me from dying when I hang myself. The dog opened the door in my room so my family noticed what I’m doing and pulled me down.

Eluterio Martinez
Tacubaya, Mexico City, 1960

I dedicate this retablo to Saint Martin the Cavalryman as a gratitude because thanks to my job as an organ-grinder I could support my children and it’s a very good feeling to make the people around feel happy with my music which follows me everywhere.

Gumersindo Lopez, Mexico City

My daughters hate to bath and always ran away from me. It was really hard to keep them clean. So I prayed the Virgin of San Juan for help, and amazingly she made the miracle. My girls love water now and don’t want to get out of the bath.

I thank the Virgin of the Assumption because thanks to her I received by correspondence the title of gymnastics instructor. It will allow me to enjoy the best beaches of Acapulco in the company of young men of my age without being molested by the vice squad agents.

Catarino Menendes was going through the cemetery and met his mother-in-law’s soul. She wanted to grab him, so he prayed Saint Jude for protection. The old witch didn’t get him, and he thanks for this mayor favor although he lost his sombrero hat and his bottle of tequila.

Puebla, 1915

My puppy was born with three heads. Thanks for it has made it to adulthood.

Three cubans spent a month in open sea. Dehydrated by heat they finally arrived to the beaches of Mexico.

Señora Alma Rosa Martinez caught a horrible facial herpes and wanted to die. But she prayed to the Virgin of San Juan and got cured. She thanks and brings this retablo.

Working in the field is hard, but the birds make my day when they fly over me, sit on my shoulders and sing to me. And I talk with them. Ever since I was little the birds looked for me. They feel good around me. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for this miracle of coexistence.

Señorita R. found a job as an art model for one artist. Thanks to these earnings she managed to get back to her studies again. She brings this retablo to Saint Raymond thanking him for granting her this favor.

Modesta Cruz Orozco brings this retablo to the Virgin of Guadalupe thanking for all her favors.

February 25, 1940

When my sister and I noticed a storm coming we bring the animals to the shed. We just put the donkey in when the storm began. It was so strong we couldn’t go out and run to the house. We heard the walls cracking and prayed the Virgin of Paloma so that the shed would withstand under the wind and rain because it seems it going to be blown off any minute. We thank for it withstood and protected all of us.