I thought my husband snored a lot. I couldn’t stand this noise. But one day when my husband was away I heard the same snore. I looked under my bed in fear and found out it was a house demon who slept calmly and snored with all his might. I sprinkled some holy water under the bed, and the devil ran away frightened. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because the devil didn’t come back. My husband is also grateful to the Virgin because he thought that it was me who snored.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because the hospital cleaning lady arrived right in time before the doctor would have raped me taking advantage of my helpless condition.

Felipa Gonzalez

I love swinging over the cliff. It gives me the feeling of flying like the birds. I thank the Blessed Sacrament because I haven’t had accidents by my negligence, and I thank for this wonderful feeling of freedom.

I thank Saint Paschal Baylon because my husband and my son enjoy cooking. So I eat delicious dishes and have more time for other things.

I went to the town to collect some money in order to pay to the workers from my rancho. I was followed by some suspicious evil-looking men. I entrusted myself to the Virgin of Zapopan and she made my horse run like a lighting. It ran so fast, we left those men behind. They were probably bandits. I thank for such a wonderful miracle and dedicate this retablo.

October 25, 1959

I met Jose the Caveman in the wrestling. After fighting together we fell in love with each other and became a couple. The problem was that Jose was very jealous for every stupid thing. We ended up fighting and wrestling at home. I was afraid our relationship wouldn’t last, so I prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe. She helped me to convince the Caveman that I love only him and no on else. He’s much calmer now and less jealous.

With this retablo I want to thank the blessed French Interior Ministry that diagnosed me with deafness and exempted me from military service. Deafness that I really didn’t have. Okay, maybe a little bit.

Felipe Mendez was cleaning thing with gasoline in his workshop. Suddenly he caught fire. He thanks Saint Charbel for he was extinguished and he only burned his arms.

I went to put flowers on my grand-grandmother Lupita’s tomb. I stayed there sharing my problems with my grand-grandmother and didn’t notice when night fell. Suddenly some skeletons appeared and asked me for a dance. I almost fainted, but the skeletons were real gentlemen—thy held me and literally dragged me with them. I prayed to Saint Michael the Archangel, and he appeared with his shining sword. He frightened the skeletons so much, they ran to their tombs.

I thank Saint Charnel for saving me when the cords of my parachute broke while I was practicing extreme sports with my friend La Chequio at Valle de Bravo.

Toluca, 1994
Barbara Pietrasanta

I’m a very liberal man and—I may confess—I’m a very good at performing the ballads. I do it with sensuality. But when after my concert on the Day of the Dead three skeletons came to my bedroom I had enough. Also I got scared and prayed Saint Michael the Archangel for help. Thanks to the Archangel the skeletons were satisfied with a couple of songs and my autographs on their CDs. I literally had to push them out because they wanted to kiss me goodbye.

Enrique Romero was sold stolen jewelry, and he was thrown in jail. He entrusted himself to Saint Michael, and the mix-up got cleared. He brings this retablo in gratitude.

Carlota Valdez fell ill with fever. The night she felt pricks. She saw a lot of little red devils. They jumped on her bed and pricked her with their tridents. Carlota thought it was the end and the devils came after her because she used to gossip a lot with her friend Lupe. Carlota prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan promising not to gossip again if the Virgin would save her. The Virgin sent a ray of light that frightened the devils. They disappeared, and the next morning Carlota woke up alive and feeling better.