I had an accident in the circus, but you protected me, Virgin.

1979

Rafael Sanchez thanks the Virgin of Juquila with this retablo for the big banana crop this season, although two men were hospitalized after being bitten by banana spiders.

I give thanks to the Holy Wrinkled Child for helping me to kill the chupacabra that was eating my sheep and almost ravaged my ranch.

Lupe Jares, 1996

Thanks to the Virgin of Nazi I finally managed to kill the extraterrestrial who harassed me every night in my room.

Doña Chata, 15th June 1999

I thank the Holy Child Alcoholic for saving me from choking to death in my own vomit when I got drunk because my wife left me.

Luis Mauro, 14th February 2001

Rosa Guzman used to scavenge in a trash dump. One day the devil appeared right from the trash and attacked her. She thanks Saint Michael for protecting her.

I give thanks to Saint Quiteria of Frexeiras for not allowing the fire to burn my house down.

Maria Jose da Silva
Correntes, Pernambuco

Señora Librada brings this retablo for the miracle of saving my cow. Hoof-and-mouth disease killed a lot of animals in the town of Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosi. But I entrusted my cow to Saint Francis.

1945

Micaila Perez almost made the mistake of running away with her boyfriend who was a criminal. Her mother, Demetria Pantoja, prayed to the Lord of Chalma. He showed his protection making the daughter to reconsider it. Mother thanks for this.

Cholula, 1928

Oscar Robledo saw in his sleep that he and his friend went out for a drink and Oscar started to touch and feel him. He thanks Saint Rita for this dream because he realized that he’s gay and now he feels free.

How wonderful I managed to fucking leave Juan Alfredo. And now I can do pilates, coaching, yoga, family constellations therapy, bikram yoga, speeding. I can take homeopathic medicine, sit on the maple syrup diet and talk with my slutty girlfriends about all this stuff.

Your slave Deliria Fastidio (Delirious Irritated).

The writing on the arm: «Berlusconi, I love you.»

Petronila Romero offers this retablo to the holy Child of Atocha thanking him because thanks to his help and some punches her husband stopped going in the bar.

Tlaxcala, 1920

I give thanks to the queen of my fatherland, Saint Mary of Guadalupe, for giving me health and a job to tell these stories about the revolution that goes on even now. This great woman, Elin Luque, opened the doors of the Casa Lamm for me. She is doing a marvelous work saving and protecting the value, customs and tradition of the Mexican exvoto. Because the art is a miracle that never dies. Till I have faith, hope and love, I swear my brushes speak for my fatherland.

Alfredo Vilchis Roque
Corner of the miracles
Minas de Cristo, Mexico
January 2011

Elin Luque Agraz is an art historian, curator and director of the Casa Lamm Cultural Center in Mexico.