We thank Virgin Mary for those phenomenal Italian neorealism movies.

I asked for a lifeguard job without knowing how to swim. I thought it wouldn’t be very difficult and I could meet nice girls on the beach. But one day I almost drowned trying to save a lady who, I thought, was drowning. But she was only doing some exercises. I thank Saint Peter because the lady knew how to swim and she saved me. So I’d better sell coconuts on the beach.

Cayetano Dominguez
Acapulco

Alberto Mendez was on the ferris wheel and had a heart attack. He thanks the Virgin of the Solitude with this retablo because he was helped promptly and his life was saved.

Sandra Mendez suffered from overweight and felt so lonely. She prayed to Saint Anthony, and he sent her a boyfriend who likes the food as much as she does. Sandra thanks for that with this retablo.

I thank Saint Katherine because I found an original William Burroughs’ unpublished manuscript at a yard sale in Tangier.

I was in my drugstore when the Zapatistas arrived and took my wife and my mother-in-law. I thank the Holy Child of Atocha for they didn’t see me.

Santa Ana Chiautempan, 1914

My husband Celerino was a sleep-walker. He used to run out at night to dance naked in the field. I was afraid that somebody would see him. Also I was ashamed that the Virgin or the saints could see him nude. So I prayed to Saint Lucy, because she is blind and couldn’t possibly notice my husband’s nudity. She made a miracle, and now my Celerino sleeps at night and doesn’t run.

August 9, 1958

With this drawing, I want to thank Saint Francis for the miracle he made. Your slave Juan Luis Rubert had some drinks in the bar. On the way back, I was riding a horse and hit my head on a badly planted tree. I fell off the horse and broke two ribs and one leg. On top of everything I was stung by a viper.

However, that moonless night Saint Francis heard my prayers. He sent me my neighbor Geniero, who was passing by on his donkey. He took me to the hospital where I met Dr. Paty and fell in love with her.

Mexico City — December 2013

One night I heard strange noise on the roof. I was scared that it might be thieves. I peeped out the staircase window. To my surprise, and to my fear, it were extraterrestrials. They were taking my family’s clothes. I prayed to the Virgin so that the martians wouldn’t notice me or my sleeping baby and so that my husband would come back home. I thank the Virgin of San Juan because the extraterrestrials went away without doing any harm to us. But since we were left without clothes, I had to buy new ones — and that I very much like to do.

I dedicate this retablo to Saint Francis of Paola because at my debut night in the Savoy theatre I was frightened that there was no one in the audience. But it turned out that a very famous producer Andres M*ta bought up all tickets to my show and I had to perform only for him. Don Andres promised me that I’ll be a star and would have a tremendous success.

Juan Carlos Reynoso had a fear of heights. To overcome it, he got in parachuting. Wit this retablo, he thanks the Merciful Lord because he dealt with the problem.

My second husband and I thank Saint Brigit because we won the first prize in the lottery. With the money we bought a very big and beautiful boat on which we are sailing to Puerto Vallarta.

Barbershop «Gold Fringe»

I thank Saint Jude Thaddeus with this retablo because he didn’t leave me when I so needed him. I was going to close my shop, because of lack of clients. But one day a deputy came to my shop and asked for a haircut. He was so pleased with it that he recommended me to his family and the friend from high society. And my life changed.

Basilio Trejo
Mexico City