A couple of devils were having fun molesting my cats. I thank the Virgin for giving my broom a celestial power so I could sweep those infernal creatures away and saved my cats from suffering.

We went fishing at dawn. Suddenly we heard laughs and music. Then we saw a boat on which a lot of skeletons were celebrating the Day of the Dead. They called us to join their party. We prayed the Virgin of Guadalupe, and thanks to her a strong wave took us away from them. We managed to come back home safe and sound.

In the last months, my daughter had horrible nightmares. She used to wake up frightened and crying. I was praying to the Virgin of Guadalupe so that she’d deliver my girl from those scary dreams. Few days after, my daughter stopped seeing them. Now she sleeps calmly and wakes up fresh and happy. I thank the Holy Virgin.

I dedicate this retablo to the Virgin of Guadalupe thanking for I’m a wrestling idol.

Lightning from Jalisco

It happened in 1970, in San Lorenzo Tezonco. We thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for our corn crop. In spite of strong frosts the year, it was very abundant. We were praying to you as we do every year, and now we thank.

Romula and Simon

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because the hospital cleaning lady arrived right in time before the doctor would have raped me taking advantage of my helpless condition.

Conchita Benitez Rojas
Chimaltenango, 1967

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

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because El Mistico won the wrestling championship over the Atlantis at the Arena Mexico.

An UFO took all the prostitutes in the city. Thanks for they didn’t take my cousins.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because I’ve been able to support my kids by selling fruits. They don’t lack food and can study.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for having a garden, and butterflies and birds in it, and the breeze on my skin, and the sunlight over my face. I know many people live in giant grey cement buildings or in some dry deserted places. They don’t realize what is the silk of the flower petals, or the wind singing through the branches of trees. I’m very lucky and I’m grateful for that.

We thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for we have met the love and happiness in this house in beautiful Mexico. We have only pleasant memories of its culture and traditions and it will be forever in our hearts.

Victoir and Erve di Rosa
Lomas de Chapultepec, Mexico
August 2002

Notes:
Erve di Rosa is a French artist and a Mexican culture lover. He helped Alfredo Vilchis to create his retablo book.

One night the famous martians arrived. Thanks to the Virgin they were nice persons.