My friend Pancho and I were drinking aguardiente (“firewater”) and made a bet who would pass the night at the cemetery. I was so drunk, I felt brave, so I agreed to do so. But at the midnight, the ghost of my late buddy Rogaciano Mendez appeared. I was so scared, I immediately sobered up. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Amador Ramirez
November 2, 1952
San Juan Nuevo, Michoacan

Danisia thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe because her son Martin didn’t poison himself when he swallowed some pills. She brings the retablo.

January 21, 1985
Mexico City

I was very tired when I came back home. I was going to take a bath. I noticed that my husband had already filled the tub. I thanked the Virgin of Guadalupe for his care and attention. I began to wash off my make-up and then I saw a giant octopus in the mirror. I turned over. There was an enormous horrible octopus in our tub. It turned out that my husband, who is an oceanologist, had put it there for studying. It gave me the shivers to think that I might have gotten in the tub with the octopus and it might have grabbed me with the tentacles. I almost fainted. I thank the Virgin for protecting me.

Virgin, help me with Ramiro who never leaves his room.

When I was swimming I was attacked by a giant octopus. He grabbed me with its tentacles and I fell like I was going to die. I prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Suddenly the octopus let me go, and I managed to escape and recover my breath. I thank the Virgin.

Virgin of Guadalupe, don’t let mister Osama bin Laden attack the United States again, especially with nuclear bombs, because my relatives are working over there, in Los Angeles, California. Let there be piece and no war for we all are your sons. Bring them to their senses for the good of humanity.

Jesus, Mexico City
September 30, 2001

I thank the Virgin for giving me strenght to live and to help my partner.

Luis H. P. 1977

An extraterrestrial landed near our house and began to hypnotize my son in order to abduct him. But thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe our dog began bark. It distracted the extraterrestrial, and my son was able to run into the house. And the extraterrestrial took only a hypnotized chicken.

Evaristo and his wife Maria thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe because their pig is feeling well after giving birth to her piglets. They bring this retablo for that.

December 1, 1978

When I was on safari in Africa, I felt like peeing. I went to a tree. So I was peeing, and suddenly a viper appeared. It wanted to bite my manhood. I implored the Virgin of Guadalupe. She heard my prayers and shooed the viper away.

Chimaltenango, 1969

I went to see the wrestling when it came to our town. During the flight of El Demonio, I noticed that he was falling right on me. I implored you, Virgin of Guadalupe, and you saved me. He fell on another wrestler.

Victoria Lopez
Oaxaca, 1969

May you be blessed, Virgin of Guadalupe, for saving me from dying when I recklessly got into car being totally drunk.

Antonio, Mexico City
September 16, 1975

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because my buddy forgave me after catching me with his wife in their bed. I ask for your forgiveness but I couldn’t resist.

Pancho
Mexico, 1970