We were chatting and forgot that we left a pot with mole on the stove. We were cooking it to sale. Then we went to the market for turkey, and when we were back, we saw that the pan had been completely on fire and almost burnt our kitchen. My friend and I desperately prayed Saint Paschal for help and began to extinguish the fire with the pot with water. We managed to do so avoiding big fire, and we thank the saint.

Petra Cosme and Ramona Tlachi / Cuetzalan, 1949

Since I didn’t know how to cook my dishes always turned out horrible. I was in despair and asked Saint Paschal Baylon for help. Little by little my cooking skills were improving. Now my husband is very much satisfied with my food and even has bought me new pans and pots. I give thanks for that.

Felipa Cordero
Cuetzalan, Puebla

One evening, when I was in the mountains, it started raining very hard. My sheep got so scared they ran and lost me. It brought me a deep sorrow, and I implored to Saint Francis of Assisi with all my faith. Three days later, I found my sheep in the field. They were alright and no one missing. I give thanks for such a big miracle.

Silvestre López ~ Cuetzalan, Puebla

Margarito Navarro thanks Saint Jude Thaddeus with this retablo for protecting him during the performance of this antique ritual of the flying-men. He inherited this tradition from his father and grandfather and now keeps it alive.

Cuetzalan, Puebla

My old man Pancrasio used to drink in the bar with his friends. I was very desperate because he couldn’t stop and I had to pick him up and drag home so he wouldn’t drink anymore. I asked the Lord of the Wonders to help him to quit this bad habit. And with his help my old man amended his ways and started to work better.

Felipa Castrejon
Cuetzalan, Puebla, 1937

There was an epidemic in the village that infected the animals. With all my faith, I entrusted myself to the Virgin of Guadalupe so that she would save my animals. They were saved, didn’t got infected and stayed in good health. They are all I have, and I thank you. May you be blessed, Virgin.

Eufrosina Reyes
Cuetzalan, Puebla

Ignacia Castillo offers this retablo to Saint Paschal Baylon as a sign of gratitude for helping her get a job as a cook in the ranch “Los Gorriones” (“The Sparrows”). As a test of her skills, she was asked to prepare tortillas and mole. The masters liked how it tasted. And it was rumored that they were very strict about food. So now everybody is happy with her cooking.

Cuetzalan, Puebla, 1949