Daniel gives infinite thanks to the Holy Lord of Chalma for saving his life when the brakes in his truck failed on the way from Cuernavaca. He thanks for this favor.

April 15, 1989, Mexico City

A wooden doll came to life and rebelled against me, and you helped me to control it. Thanks.

My friend and I went on our bikes 15 km from our village to eat mulberries. When I picked the berries I was so delighted I lost my awareness and didn’t notice a pit. The pit was deep, and I fell into it on my belly and my spine arched. Thanks to the Guardian Angel I didn’t break in two pieces and didn’t ride home with my knees backwards.

I dedicate this simple retablo in gratitude to Saint Philomena for walkways protecting me in my job as a sex-worker. Some of my friends had bad experiences with some clients because women are exposed to many dangers in this profession but we have our motives to do it.

Zulema R. ~ Xalapa, Veracruz

My ex-husband kept bothering me and scaring off my suitors even many years after his death, and you, Virgin of the Solitude, made him go away for ever.

Julia — Oaxaca, Mexico, 1969

December 18, 1972, in Monterrey, I was fighting for the national championship. After two falls, I was feeling I couldn’t do it. But my faith in the Holy Heart gave me strength to win over my opponent. I wholeheartedly thank with this retablo.

Blue Demon, 1973

Virgin of Guadalupe, I ask you, please, so that my girlfriend Rosalba Perez wouldn’t make me suffer and wouldn’t go to the beach to dance with her friends because it makes me jealous.

Our mariachi band singer got sick, and we didn’t know what to do. So our violinist Lupita offered herself to substitute her and she told us that she sings beautifully. We were surprised because it wasn’t true and, instead of singing, she screamed like a dog run over by a car. With all our hearts, we thank Saint Cecily for our main singer recovered her health because those days with Lupita were a real torture and we were frightened to be kicked out of the restaurant we played in.

Mariachi “Sun of Tlaquepaque”, Jalisco

Miraculous Black Christ, we thank you for we keep staying together despite our many differences.

Jose Maria & Candida

Oscar Ballesteros brings this retablo to Saint Elias with gratitude of managing to get a great collection of guns.

Virgin of Guadalupe, thanks for you favors. With great pain in my heart but this was my decision—I had left my husband. I love him very much but I couldn’t live like this. I had to obey his orders and let him beat me with sexual objects to get him satisfied because he is a sadomasochist.

Maricarmen Dario
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, 1968

I dedicate this humble retablo to Saint Jude Thaddeus for the program “Chavo from the 8”. My brother and I were very much entertained with the program when we were kids. Although I’m an adult now, I’m still enjoying watching it—now with my children.

Carlos L. ~ Mexico City

The night of February 22, 1913, I looked out the window after hearing the noise made by two cars. Everything looked very suspicious so I kept watching. I saw two men cowardly murdered. I didn’t know then that it was the president Francisco I. Madero and the vice-president Pino Suarez. I was scared because there was a big commotion and everyone who passed was arrested for interrogation. Today, after 5 years, I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because I’m alive to tell about it.

P.H.R. — Mexico, 1918