I thank Saint Jude Thaddeus because he let me leave the convent for having fun at the disco.

Gabriela
Tijuana, Mexico — October 2010

My wife loves the cats. She brings every stray cat she found to our house. It’s not that I don’t like that cats. But she used to let them sleep in our bedroom. They didn’t sleep, they played and jumped all night. My wife sleeps like a log, and I started to see hallucinations because of lack of sleep. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because my wife noticed the dark circles under my eyes. She locks the cats in the living room now, and I finally sleep peacefully.

When I lived in the town, the people complained about my animals, because they’re unusual and aren’t like ordinary pets. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because I inherited a country house from my great-aunt. We’ve become much more happier far away from people who treated us badly.

My children were playing on the beach, and my daughter’s doll was taken by a wave. My daughter is a good swimmer so she dived after her doll. But she got tangled in some seaweed and couldn’t get out. I ran to that place where she disappeared but Saint Barbara made so that our brave dog rushed there before me and dragged my girl to the shore pulling by her clothes. I thank the Saint for such a wonderful dog who is a real hero.

I thank Saint Anthony because I met a wonderful man whom I married. Our families get along so we wouldn’t have any problems and our life together would be harmonious. I pray for our love last for ever.

My bedroom was filled with rats. They came out every night, and I was scared to go to the bathroom because they could have gotten in my bed. My cats though were so lazy, they didn’t catch them and slept all the time. Thanks to my prayers to the Virgin of Zapopan she gave me an idea to ask my neighbor for her cat. Her cat got through with the rats in one night. My cats were ashamed and now they stay awake at night and patrol the house so I have no more rats.

R. M. was caught by her mother while masturbating in the tub. She thanks Saint Charnel with this retablo for overcoming the embarrassment caused to her and promises to be more careful.

I went to take the tray with the breakfast for my mummy who was sick. When I was coming down the stairs and seeing that she hadn’t eaten anything. I didn’t notice the Jorgito’s ball. I slipped and fell in a very bad manner. I couldn’t move. I prayed the Virgin of Zapopan to not remain paralyze. And she worked the miracle. I only felt some pain and had few bruises.

The night of February 27, 1963, Casimiro Mendoza and his buddy Austerberto went to have few drinks in the tavern of don Venanzio. On their way back to the ranch they ran into the Death riding on horseback. With great fear, they implored the Virgin of San Juan, and she protected them. The Death passed by without approaching to them.

I had some doubts about marrying Arturo. I asked the Virgin to give me a sign, if I shouldn’t marry him. At the day of the wedding, when we were already in the church as a serious earthquake began. I figured it was a sign form the heaven to not marry Arturo. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for saving me from an unhappy marriage.

May 4, the boy Fidel was swinging and the rope broke. He fell and hit his head. His brother saw him lying like dead and prayed to the Virgin of San Juan so that everything would end well. And that moment, Fidel got up like nothing had happened.

Fidel and Julio Villacamacho
Puebla, Puebla — May 7, 1980

A devil liked to bath in my well at the full moon nights. The water tastes like sulphur after that. I prayed to the Virgin of the Rosary to drive the devil away. The Virgin worked the miracle, and the devil never came back. And the water tastes deliciously now.

Panchita Ordoñez thanks the Soul of Mary because she noticed in time that a thief was taking her turkeys. She chased him, and a scoundrel had to let the birds go in order to run from the Panchita’s stick. So he didn’t take anything.