I give thanks to Saint Jude Thaddeus for granting me the freedom. I was arrested for taking money for the lottery tickets I’d sold. But you know well that I took them to buy Christmas presents for my children. I did it because they’ve never received presents. And today, January 6, my boss found out the truth and withdrew his complaint saying that I’m innocent because he was also a boy once and he’s also a father.

Mexico City, 1968
Melchor Garcia Baltazar

Lupita Martinez was a very pretty girl, and she had two suitors who were fighting for her love. On July 3, 1948, they got in a fight with machetes. She didn’t want to be responsible for a tragedy and asked Saint Michael the Archangel for help. He made it hail so heavy that the guys cooled down and stopped fighting.

I persuaded my girlfriend Juanita to make love right in the field where no one could see us. She was so excited she accidentally kicked me in my balls with her knee. I give infinite thanks to the Holy Child of Atocha for the blow wasn’t very serious as I was afraid not being able to have children.

Arnulfo Martinez ~ Zamora, Michoacan

Thanks, Saint Paschal, because I conquered my husband Jaime with my recipes.

Lucy Camacho

I secretly meet with Juan in an alley. Look after us, Virgin.

Saul, 1971

James Eddy gives infinite thanks to his friends and family for helping him rebuild after the great fire.

Sausalito, California, July 2020

I give infinite thanks to the God of Google Classroom because, although I flunked my geography exam, the teacher got me passed because I did my homework and participated in class. I promise to study for the next exam because I felt awful to flunk it.

Studious pupil of the 5th grade of the primary school

Señor Porfirio thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe because his agaves give a lot of pulque and could save money to buy a donkey to keep on woking and support his family. One thing he asks you is health.

Villa del Carbon, Mexico, December 12, 1990

I dedicate this exvoto to Saint Thomas Aquinas for the literary fecundity of Sister Juana Ines de la Cruz. Not a long time ago I participated in a poetry contest in my town and I took the first prize for reading one of her poems.

Soledad Castillo, Mexico

Ambrosio Herrera was spying on his master’s daughter while she was swimming in the river. Suddenly the branch broke off, and he fell down. He thanks Saint Charbel for he didn’t drown and the girl didn’t accuse him.

Puebla, 1920

I thank the Lord of the Mountain for I didn’t fell on my butt when I peed in the mountain for the first time in my life.

Pascual Ramirez thanks the Holy Face of God for his wife Petra Soto didn’t see him when she converted into a martian because she scared me very much.

Coyoacan, 1979

I thank the Virgin of San Juan for letting me stay alive after a dangerous surgery on my head that put me in a deadly danger. I leave this retablo as a testimony of your miracle.

Fermin Jesus Maria
Jalisco, Mexico, January 6, 2010