I thank Saint Michael for not letting me assault my wife when I went on a drinking spree.

Juan Espina
Michoaca, Mexico, 1904

I dedicate this retablo to Saint Michael the Archangel for the incredible career of the legendary actor Andre Robinson. His capacity of playing all types of roles is incomparable. From subtle and intelligent characters to the most twisted villain you can imagine, mr. Robinson is always fascinating in his performance.

Samuel Lopez, Mexico

In one eruption he unites birth and death. He is not man, he is not a god either. He is not me, he’s more than me, his belly is the labyrinth in which I find myself, being him. That is a monster. — Andre Masson

We stood terrified, staring at the devil dog with a man’s face. We froze for only a moment before we took off running, screaming and arms flailing back to the safety of my best friend’s home. His mother had warned us not to go out after dark, but we thought she was just a crazy bruja (not an evil one, more the healer type) and of course we didn’t heed her. She had an excessive need to protect her children from Evil. For this reason she seemed to invite it. Upon reading her home we exclaimed what we had seen. Immediately she made us kneel as she prayed fervently to St. Michael for his protection and she blessed us with holy water. I thank him for saving us but we couldn’t be consoled.

1983 — Ruben Urrea Moreno

Gonzalo Rodriguez, a.k.a. Vampire, used to take too much ecstasy. One day he was listening rock, and the devil appears to him during his trip and began to lick his feet threatening to eat him up. Gonzalo thanks Saint Michael the Archangel who helped him to get out of his hallucination and promises not to take drugs anymore.

I’m a big fan of “Hellraiser” movies. But one night I was walking down an empty street, and Pinhead, one of the cenobites characters in the movies, appeared to me. I thank Saint Michael the Archangel because, although he tried to catch me, I managed to escape. I don’t know if it was a product of my imagination or real but this experience scared me a lot.

Carlos Dominguez
Nuevo Leon, Mexico

I’m a very open-minded man and—I may admit—I’m a very good at performing the romantic ballads. I sing them with much sensuality. But when after my concert three homosexual martians came to my bedroom telling they love me I had enough. I got scared and prayed Saint Michael the Archangel for help. Thanks to the Archangel the martians were satisfied with a couple of songs and my autographs on their CDs and photos. Finally they went away, although I literally had to push them out because they wanted to kiss me.

Vicente Medina had a recurrent nightmare when he was bitten by devils. He implored Saint Michael the Archangel and stopped dreaming this nightmare. He thanks for that with this retablo.

Saint Michael, give us protection from this hamburger eater.

I was smoking a lot, and my wife always complained that our house smells of tobacco. I often got out of my breathe after walking or going up stairs. One day when I puffing out smoke horrible monsters came out of my mouth. They wanted to catch and devour me. I thank Saint Michael the Archangel because after several days of these visions I stopped smoking. Now I feel much better.

On All Saints’ night, I was walking down the street and suddenly saw a ghost carriage approaching me. To my great fear I heard the driver inviting me to take a ride with him. I prayed Saint Michael to save me, and eventually the ghost disappeared. I bring this retablo for such a great miracle.

Victoriano Sanchez \ Zacatecas, Mexico

Inocencio Fernandez was in the bar, being well drunk after a lot of mezcal. He began to see many skeletons around him. One of them asked him “Why you are alone?” It was the Death in person who tried to take him. He thanks Saint Michael 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.

Since I have a good body, a friend of mine invited me to work at his club as a stripper. I accepted the offer because I’d earn very good money this way. One night I was frightened to see one of my aunts in the first row. My family didn’t know what I was doing. I thank Saint Michael the Archangel because my aunt agreed to keep my secret and I promised not to tell about the places she loves to visit.

Ricardo M. ~ Guadalajara, Jalisco

November, Day of the Dead, a unrested ghost appeared to me. I immediately sobered up and prayed Saint Michael whom I thank now for protecting me so I can escape this danger.

Lucas Perez
Cholula, 1917