Jose Rios was tending his sheep in the mountains when the thunderstorm began. He thanks the Virgin of Zapopan because he could hide with all his animals in a cave that he miraculously found thanks to the Virgin.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe with this retablo because I managed to execute the mission imposed on me by mr. Madero. With these great, brave women and with their tricks, we managed to transport successfully the arms and the ammunition in trains—from the border with Texas to Piedras Negras, Coahuila—to protect the “San Luis” plan.

A. Aguirre Benavides
October 1910

My children are stupid and very careless. They liked to tease the don Simon’s bull so that the animal would chase them and they would have to run fast and in this manner could fly their kites better. I was very preoccupied about all this. I thought the bull might reach them and would hurt them. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because the bull finally got tired chasing them—since my children are too much stupid to listen to reason—so they stopped bothering the animal.

Doña Felecitas always meddled in the other people’s life, especially in her daughter-in-law Lupita’s. The poor girl didn’t know how to defend herself because her husband always defended Felecitas. He used to say that the mother is sacred and whatever she says or does is also sacred. One day Felecitas came to complain about shirts that had been supposedly badly washed. She wanted to hit her, but Lupe became furious and belabored her mother-in-law who was left stunned. Afterwards, Lupe, scared and confused, asked help from the Holy Blind Child. Her husband didn’t find out what happened. And her mother-in-law actually doesn’t bother her anymore. She even address to her politely and gently.

Lupita Anacleto
Puebla de Atempan, Puebla, 1987

Thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe for saving me from the beatings from a damned gangster who left me almost dead. I dedicate this retablo for that miracle.

Mexico City, 1990

The Teodoro brothers and Lucio Garcia thanks Saint James the Apostle because they rooster El Giro won over the White Cock which had never lost a fight before. With the money they won they payed off their debts.

Aguascalientes, 1949

Virgin of Guadalupe, thank you for helping me to quit my masochism obsession. I asked my partner to whip my ass with a belt because only this way I felt myself really satisfied.

Carlos Jalil
Mexico City, 1960

When I came out of my house to go to the church to marry my beloved Juan, I slipped on a banana peel that one of my sisters had thrown on the ground. There were a lot of puddles around because it had rained the night before, but the Virgin of Zapopan worked the miracle so I fell at the dry spot and didn’t soil my dress. To ruin my wedding dress few minutes before the most important moment of my life would’ve been horrible. I thank the Virgin because everything went well and I got married without problems.

I sold the oranges at the market and bought the piglet. I rode my donkey holding the piglet, when we fell into a pit. I fell down and the donkey with the piglet fell over me. I couldn’t move. I thought we were going to die down there in the dark. But thanks to Saint Francis a muleteer was passing by. He heard my screams, and he helped me out. I bruised myself but I was safe. The donkey and the piglet, since they fell on me, were also alright. I give thanks.

The music teacher Laura Rodriguez suffered a lot because the girls in the school where she gave lessons were horrible and very unquiet. She thanks the Virgin of Zapopan because now she can retire and with this money—together with her savings—she thinks about buying a piano to give private lessons to people who appreciate the music and can sing.

I thank Saint Cyprian because he helped me to bewitch Quinberly Esmid. I, being very ugly, gave her a potion given to me by a sorcerer from Catemaco. She fell in love with me and now she’s my wife.

Lamberto Ferreira de los Monteros
Chichimequillas, Guanajuato, 1969

Virgin of Guadalupe, I ask you, from the bottom of my heart, do not let mr. Osama bin Laden to attack U.S. again, especially with nuclear bombs, because my children work there, in Los Angeles, California. Let the piece reign and no war, My Holy Mother.

Silvia Hernandez
September 11, 2001