Virgin of Guadalupe, thank you for your favors. I got involved with a real psychopath without knowing it. Suddenly he became mad with no reason. He was speaking incoherently and asking me whom I’d been cheating on him with. I told my father about Javier but he answered me that it was my fault that I’d got mixed up with a man like him. In the end, Javier stripped me down, tied my arms around a tree and flogged me. My father was coming by, he saw Javier beating me and shoot him in the leg. I was saved.

Maria Zoto
Tlaxcala, 1969

The picador Nemesio Gomes thanks Virgin of San Juan with this retablo for his wound has been healed. He was injured when a bull hit him in his butt cheek.

Tlaxcala, 1929

Pregnant Ramona Barrales was scared by some carrancistas fighting in the bar. She thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe because she gave birth to her baby without problems.

Tlaxcala, 1912

Notes:
The Carrancistas were the revolutionary followers of the president Venustiano Carranza during the Mexican revolution.

As I was spending all day working at my master’s house, I thought I’d never find a fiancé. I asked Saint Anthony pf Padua for help, and few days later met Leopoldo, a new baker in the neighborhood. Now we are together, and I’m very happy. I dedicate this retablo.

Rufina Bonilla, Tlaxcala

Virgin of San Juan, thank you for your help. I went to the cattle yard to give some water to Chaparro (The Shorty). That’s how I call my bull because he wouldn’t grow. I didn’t notice he wasn’t tied, and I thought he was sleeping as usual. But the bull chased me and pierced my leg. The wound wasn’t deep but the blow was so strong, I was kicked out of the yard.

Jacinto Felix
Tlaxcala, 1975

Sr. Macario gives thanks to the Virgin of Ocotlan for saving his sheep from dying of a strange disease that was killing the animals. It was impossible to find a cure. That’s why he made this retablo thanking for the received favor.

October 25, 1945
Tlaxcala, Mexico

Saint Thomas Aquinas, thank you for your favors. My bull broke the rope and went away. I was looking for him. When I finally found him grazing and tried to lasso him, he attacked me with his horn. Then my father came—he knew I went for our stud bull. Thank to my father and Saint Thomas the bull didn’t kill me.

Grecian Garcia
Tlaxcala, Mexico, 1969

Since my cousin came to live with me, she was constantly flirting with my boyfriend. She used to put her mini-skirt every time he was coming to me. I’m thanking the Virgin of San Juan for my cousin moved back to her town and my boyfriend never payed her attention. I’m feel myself calm and happy now.

Azucena Godínez
Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala

My donkey Filemon was very stubborn. He refused to go neither forward or backward. He stopped halfway delaying my work in the fields. I entrusted myself to Saint Anthony the Great, and he worked a miracle. My donkey pays me attention, and I have no problems with him anymore.

Lauro Hernandez
Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala

With all our hearts, we thank Saint Martin the Cavalryman for the miracle of opening our own bakery. We couldn’t open it for a while due to lack of money. But now we have many clients and orders, and we dedicate this humble retablo for that.

Anselmo y Meliton Hernandez
Apizaco, Tlaxcala

Inocencio Fernandez, being well drunk after consuming a lot of mezcal in the bar, began to see many skeletons around him. One of them asked Inocencio “Why you are alone?” It was the Death in person who tried to take him. He thanks the Lord of the Wonders for he could escape, running out of the bar, safe and sound before he died on that November 2. He promised to amend his ways.

Huamantla, Tlaxcala

My father was very strict with me and didn’t trust me. He thought I was flirting with clients in our poultry-shop instead of hard-working. But one day, came a young man whom I fell in love with. I thank Saint Anthony because my father saw his good intentions and he listened to his heart and realized that my happiness is the most important. Now we are going to marry.

Clara Sanchez
Tlaxcala

I give due thanks to Saint Anthony of Padua because Romualdo Reyes, the most handsome guy in the town, payed attention to me and asked my father for my hand in marriage. Despite my neighbors’ jealousy, our love will be growing more and more.

Remedios Pascual
Tlaxcala