I came back from my aunt earlier than I had thought and I caught my husband in our bed hugging this shameless dressmaker Rosa. I wanted to kill them with the kitchen knife, but the Virgin of San Juan retained my hand. I thank the Virgin because I didn’t commit a murder. But I took the broom and gave the bastards a good trashing though.

On the Day of the Dead, my grandmother and I went to the town for the mass. On our way back some skeletons from the cemetery began to chase us. They were near us when my grandmother turned and whacked them with her cane. The skeletons fell to pieces, and our dog was happy to see so many bones. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for such a brave grandmother.

San Sebastian, I offer you this retablo, because Veronica agreed to live with me. We thank to you for our happiness. Now we can live without hiding our relationship.

Silvia
Lomas de Chapultepec, Mexico
February 14, 1987

Our mule had always been very docile. But one day when we were going to San Miguel to sell our flowers it got stubborn and refused to walk. More we pushed him, more he resisted. Then we asked Saint Francis for help. And he must have whispered something into the mule’s ear because suddenly the mule began to walk very lively as if nothing had happened. We thank Saint Francis for that miracle.

I put a ladder to fix a hole in the wall. The ladder tilted and pushed some pots. My children were down, right under them. I implored the Lord of Blue Eye, and miraculously the pots fell a few inches from the kids and didn’t hurt them. I thank for that miracle.

I had many disappointments in love. I felt sad and lonely, so I entrusted myself to Saint Anthony of Padua. And one day a young man arrived to the village. I found the love that I had been expecting desperately. I’m very happy now, and I thank for that with this humble retablo.

Remedios Aguilar — Tlaxcala

Oh God, may you be blessed, because I finally met the love of my life at that corner. I don’t care what has happened with her before. I fell in love at first sight. I proposed her, and she accepted me — after so many years of loneliness. I am an orphan, I have no brothers, no sisters, not even a dog—I’ve been all alone. She will fill my life with love and caress.

Juventino Rocha
Mexico City — February 14, 1990

I went to walk with my daughter near the forest at dawn. I noticed how we got surrounded by coyotes. I took my girl and entrusted ourselves to the Virgin of Guadalupe, because the animals seemed to be hungry. With the Virgin’s protection I walked slowly through the coyotes. They didn’t attack, so I was able to go away from there. I thank for this miracle with this retablo.

The Castro sisters went to gather wood and fruits in the mountains. They didn’t notice how they approached the damned cave filled with the demons and their satanic beast. The girls were scared. They entrusted themselves the Virgin of San Juan. They started to walk away very slowly because they say if you’d run the beast would attack you. They thank the Virgin for getting home safe and sound.

Ricardo Palacios was coming back home after a party and ran into some drunkards. They sprinkled him with gasoline and tried to put him on fire. He thanks Jesus Nazarene because he managed to escape.

May you be blessed, Virgin of Guadalupe, for healing Roman. When he found out I was leaving him, he took poison. I’m so sorry about it and I ask for forgiveness because we do love each other.

Julian and Roman
La Roma, Mexico City, 2005

My daughter was coming back from school and met an angry rabid dog. The dog started barking. My girl was scared and thought the dog was going to attack her. But thanks to Saint Quiteria the dog only barked and ate the cookies that my daughter had for her lunch-break. Then the dog left. We thank Saint Quiteria for this miracle because that dog had already bitten many people.