When I saw a ship, I decided to swim near to wave to the handsome sailors. But suddenly I felt something grabbed my leg. I saw a giant octopus with its tentacles. Then I noticed another one. It was approaching with clearly bad intentions towards me. I prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe, and thanks to her the octopus let me go and went to another octopus. I suppose they fell in love. And I went to the coast as quickly as I could.

My boyfriend went to work abroad. I had no news from him for a while, so I was sad. I asked St. Francis of Assisi for a sign. And one day a flock of birds flew over to me and told me good news about my boyfriend. I thank St. Francis for I was able to communicate with the birds.

Oralia Nava

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because I was tested negative for AIDS, so I can continue to work as a prostitute to pay for my husband’s spine surgery and to provide for my family.

Magdalena Rubio
Merced, Mexico City, 1990

I was on summer vacation in Acapulco, and I went to dive. As usual, I had a bad luck and my foot got stuck in corals. Thank God, no less than the Mexican Scuba Diving Champion was passing near by. He was gallant enough to offer me his oxygen tank, and now he’s going to marry me.

We thank Saint Anthony because he gave us enough for allowing us to live in love without any worries. We never lack food on our table, and we have a nice little house that shelters our great love. Also we have a beautiful family and many good friends. We couldn’t ask for more.

With this retablo the girl thanks Saint Nicholas of Bari because she saved enough money to buy this huge doll’s house which she so liked.

Carolina Contreras

Rafael Lujan mounted on a stubborn stallion and rode it to the edge of the ravine. He couldn’t restrain the stallion, and in this dangerous moment he invoked the Virgin Mary. She saved him from certain death, although he lost the hat.

I was on the roof when an UFO threw a light on me. Thanks, nothing bad happened with me.

Ricardo Meneses thanks the Virgin of Solitude for the miracle of saving him when his parachute failed to open until the very last moment.

Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for letting me see my favorite band, the Beatles. I have all their albums and I sold everything to come to the USA to see them performing live.

Jose Luis Almazan
Mexico, 2 March 1969

“The Golden Mask” is thanking the Virgin of San Juan with this retablo because he fairly won the wrestling championship. His rival, “The Sinister Ghost”, wanted to beat him with a trick but “The Golden Mask” noticed it and quickly applied a camel clutch oh him and defeat him.

In the name of all women in the world I dedicate this ex-voto to the Holy Cross for those women who were cowardly killed in Juarez, Chihuahua. I ask you with sorrow in my heart to receive their souls and present them to paradise. And let this evil stop. Protect women from it. May all the women be blessed. One more Mexican is asking you.

Alfredo Vilchis R.
Minas de Cristo, Mexico, 2004

The train came off the rails and was going to hit Salomon *** and his cows when the amazing miracle was happened. Salomon saw the angels coming down from the sky to stop the train and avoid the tragedy. No one died, no one was hurt. Salomon offers this retablo in gratitude.