I thank Saint Martin the Cavalryman for helping my husband with job. So we could pay all our debts and celebrate christmas holidays with family.

Josefa Molina
Pachuca, Hidalgo

— It’s work…
— The most important thing is work…

To the ghost of Andy Warhol and the attitude of Lou Reed. Keep me on the straight and narrow path of hard work. As Alan Davie wrote to me “Magic (in art) comes from lots of hard work—No easy way!”

25th March 2007

Para el Día de los Muertos. This ex-voto pays homage to my family and ancestors who passed away over many generations of Coupers and the families of my lineage. ( Until July this year, I was 6th generation New Zealander. ) In this ex-voto I use my pop’s prosthetic leg & my great-grandfather’s Rotherdam pocket-watch, one of only objects I brought with me to the USA.

1st & 2nd of November 2010

I, Ambrosio Fernandez, town hall secretary of the Torreón city, dedicate this retablo to Saint Fermin because our town is proud to be the birthplace of Ricardo Montalban, a great actor from «Fantasy Island», «Hawaii Five-O», «Columbo», «Dynasty», «Star Trek», «The Colbys», «The Love Boat», «Ironside» and many other great TV series.

Gilberto Mendoza went for a picnic with his family. Suddenly his son was attacked by a deer which kicked him up in the air. Thanks to Saint Charbel the family managed to scare the deer away and his son suffered only minor injuries.

Empalme, Sonora

My husband invited his mother and sisters to stay for a few days with us. I knew they are very demanding and it’s impossible to please them at the kitchen. I thank Saint Paschal for inspiring me to prepare delicious dishes. And the relatives, judging by their faces, remained satisfied with my cooking.

Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for saving my daughter from rabies.

Feleciana
Mexico City, 1955

I thank the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception for two things. First, for helping me to find a wonderful job. I became a maid in the house of a very rich lady. She pays me well. Second, when she is out I can try on all her shoes, blouses and skirts.

Virgin, help me and make my tits bigger so I would have a lot of boyfriends.

Luisa Gomez, 1991

I was so sad, I lost all desire to live. The my guardian angel came to me. He pulled me out of the darkness and took me to the sky. We flew through our galaxy and saw the light of thousands suns. Before this immense beauty, my life began to make sense again. I decided to be happy and to make everything possible for it. I thank my angel for showing me the beauty of the life.

When I broke my leg, Jose Luis Medina visited me every day. He brought me flowers and chocolates and helped me to start walking again. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for such a caring suitor. I’m even thinking to accept his marriage proposal.

I give thanks to Saint Anthony for giving me enough strength so this rotten bastard who broke into my house got what he deserved. He was so scared he dropped his gun he threatened me with. I thank with this retablo.

Josefina Santillan
Mexico, 1973

The writing on the sweater says «rat».

The tamer Teofilo Rosales thanks Saint Catherine the Martyr because she helped him to tame lions and other wild animals in the circus. They never attack him. On the contrary, he cares about them and they reciprocate.

The Internacional Circus
Matamoros, Tamaulipas, 1966