A martian got in Margarito Ruiz’ house. Margarito gave him a head-butt like a ram and knocked the martian down.

Mexico, March 29, 1979

I thank the South Cross for coming back well after being abducted.

We dedicate this retablo to Saint Sebastian the martyr who saved us and our little house during a flood on the Chiapa river.

The Cruz family

James Eddy had been a loyal customer of First Republic Bank since 2003, and had paid the bank in excess of one million dollars in mortgage interest over the course of his 16 year relationship. He had always been their greatest advocate. In the year of 2019, in the City of San Francisco James noticed some discrepancies in his checking account, which were later authenticated as not having been caused by anything he had done. Unbeknownst to James, an unauthorized person was writing fraudulent checks on his account, using their own name. When he discovered the anomalies and brought the discrepancies to the attention of his bank, rather than correct their own mistakes and offer an apology, which James would have accepted, they unceremoniously permanently closed ALL of his checking accounts. After a period of recovery, James petitioned Saint Matthew Apostle, the patron saint of financial matters, for assistance. Matthew instructed James first to spread the gospel and then to use his creative energy to warn others about their actions. Matthew counseled James to be thankful that this relationship had been severed given the bank’s unfaithful ways and the abandonment of their most basic fiduciary duties. James offers this retablo to commemorate the miracle of his survival and Saint Matthew’s divine intervention.

December 27, 2020, San Francisco, CA

When I was five, a turkey ran after me in the yard. It bit me and chased me up to a tree. It was gobbling loudly and shaking its horrid thing. I prayed my Guardian Angel, and my mommy saved me from this monster.

I’m infinitely thankful to Saint Anthony of Padua, with the present retablo, for bringing back my Ponciano alive. He was gone with general Zapata’s troops to fight and I was afraid I’d never see him again. But now we are together and happy with our six kids.

Clementina Cruz ~ Chilpancingo, Guerrero

I was fishing in Puerto Angel when I was attacked by a blu shark but thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe I was able to dodge.

Julio Rios

Miraculous Holy Child of Atocha, I dedicate you this exvoto for letting me be happy. I, Roberto Pilar H., am a faggot, and since I was a little boy I loved men. Now I found love with Carlos A., and we live together.

Coyoacan, April 13, 1975

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, we offer this retablo in your honor for delivering us from dying in the desert when we were going for our American dream but were caught and beaten by the immigration police. We ask you to protect our fellowmen who go looking for a better life.

The Sanchez brothers, Mexico, 2016

With the present retablo, I thank the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe for Frida Kahlo’s tenacity and will to live. In spite of her illness and physical pain that troubled her all her life, she had courage and talent to express her feelings through her art which remains valid till our days.

Holy Virgin, help us with our donkey who wouldn’t walk unless we bring him fruits.

I’m a carpenter and make traditional wooden toys for many years now. I wholeheartedly dedicate the present exvoto to the Holy Child of Atocha thanking him for these toys aren’t forgotten, and I also ask that, in spite of the modern and technological toys, the parents of this generation would buy my toys because they encourage creativity and imagination.

Mexico

At the end of the year, in my lands, I met a stray dog, in which I saw bad intentions. It was approaching to bite me. As I saw its fangs, I prayed to the Lord of the Lightnings, who seeing me playing on guitar heard my prayers and protected me.

Gil Perez
Zacatecas, MMX