One beautiful night, I have to camp. I was assembling my tent when I saw witches flying over me. Thanks to my prayers to the Virgin of Guadalupe they didn’t notice me so I was saved from being bewitched.

Amador Ramirez
“The crazy goat” ranch, Tequila, Jalisco
June 5, 1989

Retablo by

— tagged with and , and , #

My girlfriend’s parents didn’t like me visiting her. So I secretly started to climb a ladder to get to her balcony. But one night my mother-in-law accidentally pushed the ladder when she opened the kitchen window to scare some dogs fighting near the house. I thank the Virgin of the Rosary, because my mother-in-law was smitten with remorse, so I’ll be able to visit my girlfriend as soon as I get out of the hospital.

My son Jose was playing an angel in a school play, and his rope broke down. He fell down, hit his head and lost his conscience. When he woke up he decided he was really an angel. I payed to the Virgin of Zapopan so that my son came back to his senses. Three days later, the Virgin worked a miracle and Jose got his memory back. I thank the Virgin because otherwise his behavior was very dangerous while he was being an angel—he was constantly trying to fly off the roof.

Leonilda Tovar was walking absent-mindedly down the street and accidentally her leg got stuck in a storm drain. She thanks the Virgin of the Solitude for she was helped very quickly and didn’t suffer any serious injuries.

Retablo by

— tagged with and , #

With devotion, I’m thanking the Virgin of Guadalupe for a miracle that I’m still working in my shoe-repair shop. I had some difficulties in my business and was ready to close my shop. But now everything’s going well again. Sometimes I had so much work, I can’t cope with it.

Remigio Garcia
Puebla, 1960

Retablo by

— tagged with and , , , and #

I dedicate this retablo to Saint Barbara for giving me the inspiration to create my own miniature village in the sale of the great Giorgio de Chirico.

Retablo by

— tagged with and , #

Nicolasa Huerta gave birth to her baby who turned out to be dead. She asked Saint John of the Cross for a help, and her baby was back to live. She brings this retablo in sign of her infinite gratitude for this great miracle.

Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, 1909

I thank Saint Isidor the Labourer because it’s finally raining after a long drought. Now my cows won’t die from thirst and hunger without grass and water.

Unfortunately, my husband Nicanor was a real drunkard. I had enough going after him in a bar and taking him home. I asked the Virgin of Zapopan for help. She worked a miracle. She appeared to my Nicanor in dazzling effulgence while he was sitting at the bar and told him: “Don’t ever drink, my son! Because you make others suffer.” My husband was mesmerized by the Virgin’s beauty and her intervention. He stopped drinking and became a more responsible person and a better worker.

Sign at the entrance: “Women and men in uniform not allowed.”

Saint Thomas Aquinas, thank you for your favors. My bull broke the rope and went away. I was looking for him. When I finally found him grazing and tried to lasso him, he attacked me with his horn. Then my father came—he knew I went for our stud bull. Thank to my father and Saint Thomas the bull didn’t kill me.

Grecian Garcia
Tlaxcala, Mexico, 1969

The teacher Josefa Alvarez thanks the Virgin because when she stumbled and fell back of the platform she didn’t get hurt for she landed on Felipe Barajas. She also thanks because Felipe didn’t get hurt very much either.

June 6, 1967

Retablo by

Alejandro Guzman thanks Saint Jerome for he was accepted for a job at the oil platform after a long time, so now he can finally get married.

Retablo by

— tagged with and #

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, I’m bringing you this retablo thanking for curing my husband Filemon Garcia of horrible diarrhea with high fever. It all began after one drunk night he had. My husband was dying and no remedy could help him. But I entrusted him to you, and he’s cured now.

Dominga
Chimalistac, Mexico City
December 12, 1930