I give thanks to you, Virgin, for helping me to bear all that enormous weight on my shoulders.

Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for healing my knee that I injured in a fight.

Blue Demon, 12–XII–65

We were on the beach when suddenly a giant octopus came out the sea and was about to grab Mariana with its tentacles. But thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe the music, that I played on the guitar, distracted the octopus and calmed it down. It listened while we slowly moved away with me keeping playing the octopus’ favorite melody.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe and the Lord of Chalma because I survived after being stubbed by my buddy who thought that I was flirting with his girlfriend.

Luis Manuel Plata
Mexico City — December 12, 1997

I went fishing but got lost in a storm. I was in the open sea. I was afraid that I’d die from thirst. But the Virgin of Guadalupe sent me two beautiful mermaids. They dragged my bot to the shore. I thank the Virgin for protection and saving me.

Genaro and I began to sell flowers on our donkey. Thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe things went well. Now we have four flower shops and we put our kids in good schools and the University so they could become architects and doctors.

My daughter went to ride her pony at the ranch. She met a horned viper. The pony was so scared, it got on its hind legs and my daughter fell of right to the viper. Thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe’s miracle the viper didn’t bite her. Only looked at her and then went away. We thank the Virgin for saving our daughter from the deadly poison.

I bought cool old glasses on a market. But when I put them on I saw that all people were skeletons. I was scared. But when I took the glasses off it all came back to normal. When I wore them I saw only skeletons. I thank the Virgin for it happened because of the glasses. I wouldn’t want to see only skeletons all the time.

I was doing my act on the wire when I suddenly had a strange feeling of solitude up there. I started to lose my concentration and, therefore, my balance. Then I felt invisible hand put me back in balance. I was able to get to the end. I know it was the Virgin of Guadalupe who saved me, because I always entrust myself to her.

February 17, 1962

A strange giant bird with teeth came every night to eat my chicken and rabbits. I protected them with the broom, but when I went to sleep, the bird always managed to stole some animals. I prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe, and thanks to her intervention that prehistoric bird left my animals in peace and went back to the mountains where it had come from.

My personal life was a real chaos. I was sad and depressed. But then my uncle gave me his old jeep. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for he did so. Because now, with sun in my face and the wind in my hair, I have no depression, and the speed makes me feel free and happy.

Virgin of Guadalupe, thank you for not letting a client cut me with a bottle when, on our way to the hotel, he realized that I’m not a woman. I entrusted myself to you in this danger and now I’m all right.

Paco, “The Beauty”
Merced, 1999

Alicia thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe because her husband didn’t find out that she cheated on him with his buddy. She is very sorry and offers this retablo in gratitude for the favor. She swears not to do it again.

January 25, 2000
Tacubaya, Mexico City