With all my heart, I thank the Virgin of the Solitude for curing my son Pancrasio. He got a bullet in his left leg during a shooting with the troops. I thank with this retablo for he’s alright now.

Encarnacion Campos — Durango, 1918

When I was going back home on my bike, a demon came out from a manhole blocking my way. The Virgin of the Solitude made a wonderful miracle and gave me wings for time enough to fly over the demon and escape.

July 5, 1967

The girl Domitila Ruiz fell into quicksand by accident. She infinitely thanks the Virgin of the Solitude because her brother heard her and saved her with the help of a stick.

My son Pascual was a troublemaker and spent all his time fighting in the canteen for pure nonsense. I worried that one day he might be seriously hurt, so I entrusted him to the Virgin of the Solitude. Little by little he changed his attitude and now he’s a more peaceful man. Bless you.

Socorro López \ Oaxaca, México

We dedicate this retablo to the Virgin of the Solitude thanking for our wedding.

Anselmo Juarez and Otilia Jimenez

I thank the Virgin of the Solitude. I almost lost hope and I thought I’d never love again. But love came back to my devastated heart in the most sweet and passionate way. There will be no more long hours of loneliness that I used to live through. From now on, I’ll have a sweet and wonderful companion with whom I will share the happiness and sorrow—which I hope won’t be a lot—for the rest of my life. Thank you.

I bring this retablo as my eternal gratitude to the Virgin of the Solitude for helping me to overcome this sin, because before I spent my life and my health on drinking all days long in bars and canteens. But now I’m sober and even got a job.

Luciano Mendoza \ Oaxaca

Caledonia Ruiz was giving birth and got scared by some villistas who were shooting. She prayed to the Virgin of the Solitude, and the baby was born well. She gives infinite thanks with this retablo.

Cerritos, San Luis Potosi, 1914

Armando Medina fell in love with antique clock but they were very expensive. He implored the Virgin of the Solitude, and she helped him to get enough money in time to buy them. He’s infinitely thankful for such a particular favor.

I went to work to the capital to earn some money to support my little children. It was hard to stay away from them, and the city life was very difficult. With all my heart, I thank the Virgin of the Solitude with this retablo because I came back to my home town and opened a fruit and vegetable stand. The things are going well, and I can support my family.

Abundia Zapata — Chignahuapan, Puebla

The stylist Carmen Mejia went partying and the next day came to work still not sobered up. There, by mistake, she colored a client’s hair in silver-white color and was fired for that. She thanks the Virgin of the Solitude for it all ended like this and she wasn’t denounced.

With the promise “to be together till death do us apart” the boy Marquitos and his father Jose Antonio Villaseñor took off from Mexico with the illusion of prosperity. In Reynosa, Tamaulipas, together with 70 others people without documents, they got in the trailer of a truck going to Houston, Texas. After few hours of terrible agony, they were found hugging each other but with no life in them like 11 others Mexicans and 5 more Latin Americans. They all died asphyxiated and dehydrated. They were left without mercy by the mean smugglers in the town of Victoria, south of Houston. Morning of May 14, 2003, when I heard these painful news, I entrusted their souls to the Holy Virgin of the Solitude and the Lord of Chalma. I also ask to protect those who escaped the death.

Alfredo Vilchis Roque, Mexico City, 2003

My husband and I thank the Virgin of the Solitude with this retablo for allowing us to perform the Son Jarocho dance every weekend in the city center and in the arcades. It fills us with pride to keep our traditions alive and to share our music with the tourists who visit the beautiful city of Veracruz.

Inocencia Cruz and Pascual Dominguez