I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because my dog Casilda accepted stray kittens that came to my garden. The dog even licks them and let them climb on her, so I could give them milk and pet these poor abandoned animals.

Graciela Cervantes thanks the Virgin of Help because after 10 years of relationships her boyfriend Arturo finally proposed to her on her birthday, April, 16.

I dedicate this retablo to Saint Ursula for helping me to play a bunch of Fleetwood Mac songs.

I thank the Virgin of Zapopan, because I inherited the carousel from my grandfather, at which he worked all his life. All my childish fantasies were about that carousel. I rode my favorite horse and imagined [...] Now I can quite my dull job and dedicate myself to the carousel. I look at the children who ride horses similar to those I used to ride, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to make them happy.

The girl Ofelia Tellez was attacked by vampires while playing in a cave. She got rabies. Her parents thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for the timely medical intervention.

As much as she tried, Federica Villegas wasn’t able to prepare chiles en nogada. She asked Saint Paschal for help. Now she cooks it very well and thanks for that.

Puebla, 1920

I give thanks to the Virgin of Zapopan for letting me arrive to my 29 years staying a virgin and overcoming the temptations of the flesh.

Gabriela
Tijuana, Mexico
November, 2014

Raquel Flores and Elena Ortiz thank the Virgin of San Juan because they won a bikini contest in Acapulco and they were even offered modeling contracts.

I thought I didn’t like pets. But one day someone left a basket full of kittens behind my house. They were so helpless, and my heart softened. I couldn’t leave them over there. I fed them and decided to keep the kittens for a while. But I loved them and felt attached to them. Now they keep me company, because I live alone with no family. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe.

The don Roque’s dog was furious. One day my daughter came to his yard, and the animal jumped on her. But after it smelled the girl, the dog didn’t do anything to her. And I know this miracle was made by protection of Saint Quiteria.

Ernesto Ortega was caught having sex with the housemaid. With this retablo he thanks Saint Raymond because she wasn’t fired and he was only sent in a boarding school.

My two step-sisters and I thank the Virgin Mary Help [of Christians] because thanks to her compassion we had a splendid idea to dedicate ourselves to the female wrestling. We got lucky and we won all the fights. So now we don’t have to work as prostitutes.

Puebla, 1981

Gregorio Morales went to visit his girlfriend and met the Death who was riding her gaunt steed. Gregorio entrusted himself to the Virgin of Zapopan for not being taken by the Death, because he was so young and hadn’t experienced many things in his life. The Virgin made him invisible for the Death’s eyes. The Death passed by without noticing Gregorio. He thanks for that with this retablo.