Take fresh hot bread, salty, sweet and with butter.

I offer this exvoto to Saint Jude Thaddeus as dispensation for having broken my promise not to eat sweet pastry. I beg his pardon because if not it’d be easier for me to change my religion then to give up pastry. I beg for pardon doña Conchita Madalena whom I’ve promised to have a great body this year.

2021, Mexico City

Eufrocina Salazar thanks for not getting stuck in the trip when she took an overdose.

Mexico, July 19, 1958

I thank Saint Valentine because Sonia agreed to marry me when I proposed to her while having a threesome.

D. G. C. 14–Feb.–2009, Mexico City

Luis Manuel Ramirez, together with two investors, managed to create a very successful tequila brand which starts taking the world. That’s why he made this retablo to witness his gratitude to Saint Martin the Cavalryman.

My wife, beside keeping me as a servant, enjoyed beating me because she was very violent and had a temper of thousand devils, and I lived in great fear. I give infinite thanks to Saint Maria Goretti for giving me courage to report domestic abuse to the police and to divorce her gaining my peace and dignity back.

Bonifacio Godinez — Tepic, Nayarit

When I almost lost everything, I managed to overcome my sinful wish of betting all my goods. Thanks, Saint Charbel, for helping me.

Sigfrido Peña

Since it’s February, I wholeheartedly thank the Virgin of Gaudalupe for giving me the opportunity to enjoy and be entertained by the most beautiful sport in the world. I dedicate this retablo to the greatest figures in the wrestling—El Santo, Blue Demon, Mil Mascaras.

Ruben Mica, Mexico City, 2019

Thank you Jesus for I didn’t kill my grandma after I jumped wearing my supergirl cape. I really thought I could fly. But now I know I can’t believe everything I see on tv.

Flying girl, 6 years

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for I managed, without any “coyote” guide’s help, to get to the other side and to come to Los Angeles.

Raul Padilla

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 this devilish burning her food gave me. Now my wife knows to put the right amount of chili.

Casiano Hernandez ~ Puebla, Mexico

I beg for a favor, Child of Atocha, so that my nephew Benjamin Nuñez who is about to go to school would stop being so naughty.

Tita Avendaño

Josefina Reyes and her son Ramon Reyes dedicate this retablo to the Lord of Sacromonte for granting them with the luck that her son Ramon Reyes survived after being shot by some bandits, who attacked us, when he refused to give them his money. Seeing what a tragedy happened, we implored you to deliver him from death, and, by a miracle, the bandits went away, and I was able to save my son’s life. I offer this retablo for that.

Tlaxcala, 1931

I dedicate the present retablo to Saint Rita, with deep gratitude, for granting me a miracle of being selected to the National Folk Ballet. I’m very glad to perform my country’s traditional dances.

Alma Ruiz, Mexico City