Protect me, Virgin, from a magic book. When I open it the creatures appear.

I give infinite thanks to Saint Anthony of Padua for sending a good woman to my life. I got married very young, but got a bad wife. She left me for another man. I became very disappointed and took refuge in my carpenter job for many years. But one beautiful day I met Carmelita and I believed in love again. We are very happy. May you be blessed.

Cayetano Aguilar \ Zacatecas, Mexico

Genoveva Campos was performing a typical regional dance and fell off the stage. She thanks Saint Pancras with this retablo for not breaking her bones. She only felt little bit embarrassed.

Since I have a good body, a friend of mine invited me to work at his club as a stripper. I accepted the offer because I’d earn very good money this way. One night I was frightened to see one of my aunts in the first row. My family didn’t know what I was doing. I thank Saint Michael the Archangel because my aunt agreed to keep my secret and I promised not to tell about the places she loves to visit.

Ricardo M. ~ Guadalajara, Jalisco

Agustin Fernandez was fishing in his boat, and a mermaid appeared to him. With great devotion, he thanks Saint Peter with this retablo for he managed to escape before falling for her charms.

Nayely gives infinite thanks to the Lord of Chalma for letting her find job as prostitute to support her family and to pay for her son’s heart surgery whom she loves so much.

January 25, 1985

I love spicy food, but my Conchita was always overdoing it by putting too much chili in her dishes. I asked Saint Paschal for his divine help because I couldn’t take the food so spicy any longer. Now my wife knows the right amount of chili.

Casiano Hernandez
Puebla, Mexico

Señor Antonio Velez thanks Saint Nicholas for helping him to pass a professional lawyers exam, although he hadn’t been prepared very good. He brings the present retablo for such a particular favor.

A terrible devil rode around. He brought devastation and destruction. He put the forests on fire, killed poor creatures, until one day the Virgin of Guadalupe gave me enough courage to face the devil. I stayed on his way and poured the whole bottle with holy water on him. The devil became a smoke and evaporated. We thank the Holy Virgin for delivering us from the devil.

I, Jeremy Yocum, dedicate this retablo to the Virgin Protectress because despite the fact that I have no idea about music and to being incapable of playing any instrument, me and my fiancée Amanda make a living as vibraphonists. So far we haven’t had any complaints about us doing playback in our shows. The audience think that it is us playing Mambas and Cha-cha-cha.

The brothers Pacheco, Luis and Susano, often fought. One day Guicho hit Chano in the head with their father’s drum. He thanks the Child of Atocha he wasn’t beaten to death.

Sr. Jacinto gives infinite thanks to the Lord of Chalma because his dog Nico could stop his son Francisco’s horse that went crazy and ran dragging his son. I prayed you, and you saved him from dying. I bring you this retablo thanking for this favor.

Ixtlahuca, Mexico
August 14, 1985

We thank Saint Anthony for a beautiful wedding and we played it being in love. We hope we’ll be happy and, with the saint’s blessing, we’ll have healthy children.