I, Atilano Ramirez, give thanks because I escaped from the attack of a three-headed crocodile.

Tabasco, July 10, 1939

I was coming back from fishing in my boat when I accidentally got myself into a part of lake I didn’t know well. Suddenly I stumbled upon three huge crocodiles. I got very scared because I had nothing to defend myself. That’s why I implored Saint Francis of Assisi for help, and then, by a miracle, those dangerous animals went away. I give thanks for that.

Rufino Villanueva — Tabasco, Mexico

I, Casimira Sanchez, thank Saint Francis of Assisi because my husband won the booby prize with me. Being so excited in the circus he didn’t even see that a dark black man who stayed near me touched my hand and that three our kids look like him.

Huimanguillo, Tabasco, 2011

I thank God because after that sexual rape my little sister went through she came out well of the hospital where they did her an abortion. To continue the pregnancy would have put her life in danger because she is still a girl to become a mother. Today she started smiling again.

Patricia, 25 years — Tabasco

When I decided to get an abortion, I asked God and the Virgin of Guadalupe to help me so that everything would go well. Later I met new friends and told them that I felt guilty for all that had happened. Thanks to them I understood that God doesn’t judge, that God is love and that I can take decisions in conscience.

Ana, 19 years — Tabasco

I had very bad luck in love and didn’t have a girl. One day I was looking through my grandfather’s things and I found his lotion “Siete Machos”. I remembered my grandfather telling me how it worked for him since he had a great success with women. I applied the lotion, but to my bad luck it only attracted old ladies and women over 40. I thank Saint Nicholas of Bari because the effect of the lotion finally has gone away. Otherwise, they didn’t even let me walk on the street.

Jorge Estrada ~ Villahermosa, Tabasco

Raymundo Alatriste, a watchman at the archeological zone in La Venta, Tabasco, saw a flying saucer. It had a transparent cabin on the top, so he could see the extraterrestrials inside. It also had a sphere at the bottom, but metallic. The UFO was shining brightly and blowing a green steam. After making few rounds it flew away. Raymundo entrusted himself to Saint Martin de Porres and offers him this retablo.

Tabasco, 1967

I’m a single father. After my wife died I took charge of my little Mary. She had a desire that we’d dress up as her favorite fairy princess on her birthday. But I was afraid that the guest would laugh at me. I thank Saint James the Apostle because instead of laughs I received congratulations for this act of father love.

Rafael Corona ~ Villahermosa, Tabasco

The day of my debut in the circus, I felt stage fright and didn’t want to perform my trapeze act. Then I entrusted myself fervently to the Virgin of Guadalupe, and little by little my nerves got settled. I went and did my routine with no problem for which I dedicate this humble retablo.

Carmelo Reyes \ Villahermosa, Tabasco

My neighbors were gossiping that my friend flirted with my husband. One day when I met her near the laundry sinks on the roof I grabbed her hair. Thanks to Saint Raymond, those rumors turned out to be pure lies. I made up with my friend, and the gossiping neighbors won’t upset us ever again.

Francisca Cruz ~ Villahermosa, Tabasco

I thank Saint Liberata. When I was performing at the Plaza in Tabasco, the bull Fanfarron got me badly. But I was lucky—I got only one leg amputated and one eye removed. I’m recovering quite quickly so I could back to bullfighting as soon as possible.

April 30, 1930, we were performing in Villahermosa, Tabasco. During the lion taming act the tamer received a strong scratch and even his clothes were torn and his skin was cut. The furious animals was about to attack him again and we thought it should kill the tamer. But suddenly the Holy Virgin made a miracle and saved his life.

The Maravilla circus
Matias Lopez Espinosa
Villita de Guadalupe, October 30, 1932

10-years old Ricardo Ramos was playing and went in the woods too far from Sanchez Magallanes. There he saw a flying saucer. The UFO was flying over him and then landed. Ricardo saw a girl inside the ship. She showed him her strange toys. They were all different sizes. After having played for a while they said good bye to each other and were ready to go home. The girl gave a small box to Ricardo as a goodbye gift. The box performed different miracles. Now Ricardo has grown up, and he dedicates this retablo to Saint Michael the Archangel.

Tabasco, 1912