Virgin of Guadalupe, I dedicate this retablo to you in the name of the women cowardly killed in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. I ask you, with all my heart, to repose their souls in the paradise, for the sake of their families’ comfort

Mexico City — January 25, 2004

With this retablo, we thank Saint Jude Thaddeus, from the bottom of our hearts, for a very good fish season. Thanks to that we managed to open our fish shop at the city market. So now we can help our parents. May you be blessed.

Juan & Simon Lima
Veracruz

I thank Saint Francis for hearing our prayers. My son and I went to USA as illegal immigrants, but we got lost. Luckily, we were found by the immigration police, so now I can tell about that.

Juan Gutierrez

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After my husband’s death I was so deeply in grief. But the Virgin of Guadalupe brought my husband’s soul back as a cat who one day came to my kitchen. I know it’s him, these are his eyes, the same lonely look and something else. When I saw the cat, I got overwhelmed and filled with emotions. I was so excited. I can’t tell anybody about him because people would say I’m crazy — and it can be the truth. However, the most important thing is that I’m very happy with the cat.

Adalberto Martinez was tired after work and when he was passing by the cemetery he lay down to have a rest and fell asleep. He was awake because of loud laughs and music. He saw that the dead men had risen from their graves and had a party. Adalbert entrusted himself to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Thanks to her he managed to escape unnoticed, because he was afraid they’d invite him to party and he would die out of fear.

Jasinta Dominduez was afraid to go at parties because she was fat. With this retablo, she thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe because she helped her to overcome her shyness, so now Jasinta dances at every party.

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I give thanks to the Saint Francis, because, since I was a little girl, I have been able to communicate with the birds. Wherever I go I’m never alone, because the birds found me and keep me a company. With their songs, they make me happy.

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Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for helping me to celebrate the 15-year birthday of my my daughter Teresita. Because of lack of money, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to organize something for that special day.

Concepcion Toledo
Queretaro

I, Vicente from the José López Portillo neighborhood, lost my job. I had no education, so I decided to pursue the american dream and went as illegal immigrant to USA. I heard a lot about it from my neighbors. During the river-crossing my two guides, whom I had payed, left me to the mercy of fate. In a danger moment when I almost got caught, I prayed to the Our Lady of all Mexicans. She helped me and I arrived to USA. I promised her a retablo. After many troubles, things were getting better. Now I’m coming back home and I keep my promise.

Mexico, 1990

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We thank Saint Anthony because we have got married after many difficulties. Our wedding was very beautiful and the saint blessed our marriage.

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My old shoes’ soles were cracking. Since it had been raining for a few hours, I didn’t want to ruin my new shoes, so I decided to wear my husband’s boots. But they were so big, that I stumbled and fell in a puddle. I hit my back, and it was so painful. I was scared that I’d be bedridden for the rest of my life. My prayers to the Virgin of Zapopan were heard though, and I recovered pretty soon.

On behalf of myself and my friends, Hernesto and Germano, I, Rogelio Fernandez, thank Saint Rose of Lima for a necessary inspiration to create a very cute and successful travesty-act. So now we are in tour in the south of Mexico.

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R. M. was caught by the police for necrophilia. He thanks Saint James because the judge sent him to the psychiatric institution and not to the prison, where he would have been treated very badly.