Susan Elizabeth Chen & Jonah Marcel Gilbert Daniel van der Beke, who got married on March 26, 2003, in Bath, England, thank St. Joseph, a patron saint of Belgium, New York, travelers, immigrants and married couples, for two years of their marriage. Also they thank for the Jonah’s Green Card that permits Susan and Jonah live together in New York, with their books, music and their cat Cassie.

Susan Elizabeth Chen & Jonah Marcel Gilbert Daniel van der Beke
March 26, 2005

Laura and Catalina Peña were in a bad financial position. So, since they were good pastry cooks, they had an idea of selling cakes. They thank St. Paschal Baylon, a patron saint of cooks, because now they make enough money to support themselves and even to save something for hard times and also for having fun sometimes.

We forgot the reason we dedicating this retablo to Virgin Mary.

I was participating in the quebradita contest with my group. At the end of our routine, my partner and I did the final pose, and my pants cracked. I was scared that because of me we were going to be disqualified by the judges. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because they didn’t notice this embarrassing moment and we won the first prize.

Consuelo Muñoz, Sinaloa

Some she-demons appeared to Francisco Romero by night and seduced him. But with St. Francis’ help he managed to get rid of them. He thanks for such a great favor with the present retablo.

I thank the Virgin of San Juan for the privilege of keeping my own little paradise in my garden. My flowers and my birds help me to relax from the everyday life problems and bring me beauty and harmony.

At the Christmas party in the neighborhood I drank a lot of punch with liquor. I didn’t notice how I got into the piñata event and there I was kicked right in the head. I give thanks to Saint Charbel for nothing bad happened to me and I got only the lump that disappeared within few days.

Pascual Garza — Monterrey

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for letting me arrive in time to not allow my kitty to make a mistake listening the indecorous offers from an ugly stray cat who had approached her. My kitty is very refined, and I want her descendants to be from a pedigree cat, — not from any cat. I’m going to find a fiancé worthy of her.

It’s the Virgin of Guadalupe in the caption, but it’s the Virgin of Zapopan in the picture.

Karina Andrade thanks St. Charbel for winning the erotic dance contest in the club where she works. Thanks to that her revenues have grown significantly.

Gaspar Zarate felt himself as Superman and he threw himself from a second floor in order to impress the ladies. But he only broke both of his legs and few ribs. He thanks St. Jerome, for he is receiving treatment and his injuries have been healed.

Lorenzo and Susana Morales were selling oranges and tomatoes. But at one ranch they were attacked and bitten by angry dogs. They were scared that the dogs might have been rabid, so they entrusted themselves to the Holy Child of Atocha. They thank because three months have passed by and they have no rabies.

Alejandro Chavez caught a shark. He though it was dead, so he put his hand in shark’s jaws. The shark bit him. Alejandro thanks St. Peter for saving his hand from a serious surgery.

I give infinite thanks to Saint Francis for giving me the magic ability to communicate with animals. Because of that I’m never alone. Wherever I go animals always found me and keep me a company.