The other night my friend and I went to the bar to drink some tequilas. But we lost control, and after a while got so drunk and sentimental talking about our fails in love that when we realized what was going on we were very close one to another and ready to kiss. We thank Saint Raymond for we have our conscience back and didn’t do it. We have stayed being friends as always.

Juan N. and Silverio S.
Jalisco

Pablo Telles tried to make a new weightlifting record and hurt his knee in this attempt. He thanks Saint John Bosco with this retablo for his recovery although he won’t lift weights ever again.

I used to love to reunite with my friends on Thursdays to play cards. Then we began to play really high stakes, and I got this feeling of gambling. One time I almost lost my husband’s car. Fortunately, I won that round, although I was frightened. I realized I’m addicted to gambling and I can stake anything to play. I promised to the Virgin if she helps me I would cook sweets every time I have temptation to play again. The Virgin gave me strength, and I do not play anymore but have opened a pastry shop.

I was going to be a trapeze artist, following our family tradition. But I wasn’t very good. Then one day I found out that I charm the fierce animals with my voice sound. So I began to work with big cats. They act as little kittens when I talk with them with sweetness, and they do everything I say. My act with the fierce animals has had a great success, and my animals love me. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for this gift.

I dedicate this retablo to Saint John Bosco thanking him because my husband is such naive and innocent and he doesn’t know that when he goes to his work I’m secretly seeing my ex-boyfriend. I do not like cheating on him but I married him pressured by my parents and our marriage has always been pretty boring.

Sonia N.
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon

Holy Face, I thank you for your favors. They said that the abandoned house is so scary because they hanged one man there at the time of the Mexican revolution. I didn’t believe it until one day I got so frightened that my body was paralyzed. I went home and fell off the horse. I had a small heart attack. I give infinite thanks for I managed to save myself from death.

Jaime Moreno
Monterrey, Mexico, 1958

Holy Child of Atocha, thank you for your favors. One hot summer morning, we went for a picnic in the state of Michoacan. While my wife was preparing some food, I was wetting my legs in the river. Then I felt a horrible pain. I was stung by a venomous snake. My wife promptly put me in the car and drove to a doctor office. Miraculously, I was saved. I entrusted myself to the Holy Child and now thank him.

Lucio Mora, 1957

We thank the Virgin Mary for we had made it to the other side without getting caught, although my brother Carlos caught the flu. Now, after 10 years in States, we got our documents and we aren’t illegals anymore. We ordered to build a new house for our mother who never wanted to go with us. That’s how much she loves her grandsons, so she preferred to stay with our sisters.

Agustin & Jose, 1956

1927, during the celebration of the town day in Zacatlan, a son of doña Cleta Sandoval fell of the fortune wheel. She thanks the Holy Child of Atocha for the boy resist the hit and didn’t die, although he remained little bit dumb.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for helping me to find a job of mariachi here in Garibaldi after being kicked out from a butcher shop where I had worked before. As I promised, every morning now I sing to you.

Tiodoro Aguilar from Xochimilco
December 12, 1970

Chucho Ramirez was robbing a church. But he repented when an image of Saint Francis suddenly talked with him. Chucho thanks for this miracle after which he gave himself to the police.

Virgin of Guadalupe, thank you for hearing my prayers. I didn’t let my sister to meet with Juan because he was known as a womanizer and drunkard. But he wouldn’t listen and decided to run away with him. They sat on a horse. I ran for her and grabbed her arm. The horse jolted and dragged me. A year later my sister came home in despair and with a baby in her arms. Turned out Juan kicked her out.

Paola Salas
Guanajuato, 1949

Ofelia Martinez went to work early morning and saw an UFO landing in 100 meters from her. A couple of aliens came out of the ship and began to play with dogs. But then they noticed that they were being observed and quickly went back. The ship silently went up and flew away. Ofelia thanks Saint Michael the Arcangel for protecting her and brings this retablo as a testimony.

Mexicali, 1967