Rodrigo had promised me that he would come back to marry me, and I waited for him and even prepared my wedding dress. But he didn’t return. Nevertheless I kept waiting. People laughed at me for waiting so long, but I waited and waited until one day Rodrigo came back. Although we weren’t the same as before we still loved each other. I thank the Virgin because finally I’m happy after wanting so long.

Thanks for Romeo got out of the habit of drinking pig milk that was for piglets.

I, Raulito Contreras Avila, dedicate this retablo to you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for chasing away flying animals with very angry eyes from my room. I’m living alone and I’m very weak. They really scared me because I am gay since I was little. But you helped me.

Tijuana — November 11, 1980

At the dawn, I saw a giant “duende” with strange beings. Thanks to the Virgin they never came back.

1970

Duende is a mythological creature, similar to elfs and goblins.

I kept drinking and was always totally wasted so neither my family nor my friends loved me anymore. I asked the Virgin of Guadalupe for helping me to get out of this bad habit. Because she granted me with this miracle I’ve ordered this retablo to thank her. I promise not to drink again.

Federico Cuevas
Mexico, 1969

When my boss sent me to deliver bread on bicycle I was distracted by a stupid girl and dropped all the bread. I prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe so that my boss didn’t fire me. Because she worked this miracle I’m offering her this retablo.

Juan Nepomuceno Cruz
Mexico, 1978

Felipe Ortega was repairing his slate roof when suddenly he was hit by a lightning. He was taken to the hospital. He thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe because he survived.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for I can earn my living deign what I like to do, to make people laugh. Not everyone can live as I do. And this life makes me feel happy.

I, Petronila Arriga, dedicate this ex-voto to the Virgin of Guadalupe for healing me because I hurt my tit while grinding corn. And thank you, Saint Paschal, because my mole didn’t turn bitter after that.

Puebla — July 8, 1937

I give thanks to the Virgin for healing my sleepwalking husband. I couldn’t sleep either because I was always preoccupied that something would happen to him.

June 1967

Virgin of Guadalupe, I thank you for giving the fortitude to El Zope (“The Vulture”) to cut my umbilical cord, and to doña Maria to offer me her help. I’m asking you to guard and protect my baby and all this guys because they aren’t bad people.

Alma
Mexico, 25 July 2000

Señor Nicolas gives thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe for not losing the fingers on his left arm when he cut himself working in his butcher-shop. In gratitude he brings this retablo.

January 11, 1990

During the earthquake on August 5, the church was cracked. But by an extraordinary miracle of the Virgin two halves of it turned back in one piece and the church became intact again. All the inhabitants of the town give thanks for witnessing this miracle.