All the red fruits and vegetables in my refrigerator were mysteriously disappearing. I was intrigued until one night I went to the kitchen for a glass of water and found out that a vegetarian vampire was the thief. I thank the Virgin of San Juan because my dog barked and growled and bit him. The vampire got so scared, he never came back. So it wouldn’t occur to him to change his diet and to suck my blood.

On the Night of the Dead, our friends, my husband and I were going to the capital. We stopped to have a rest and to eat in a remote village in San Luis Potoci. We noticed there was a hall where the celebration was going on. So we decided to dance a little. But at the midnight all the inhabitants of the village turned into skeletons. We got scared and ran away. We thank the Virgin of San Juan for the dead men didn’t do anything to us.

When my husband and I went to visit our relatives in Veracruz we had to go in a boat by the river. Then some giant crocodiles began to surround us. It was getting harder to row because of the stones and mangroves. But thanks to the Virgin of San Juan we managed to get to the house of our relatives safe and sound and no animal attacked us. We offer this retablo to the Virgin.

1939, my wife got pregnant and I had no job at the time. So I became a shoeshiner and that way I met Frida, the artist. Having found out about my problem, she helped me. My wife gave birth to the baby, and I’m infinitely thankful for this to the Virgin of San Juan and to Frida.

Mexico City

We went to the grandfather’s ranch. There was no toilet in the house, so we had to go to use the latrine at the corral. That night, my daughters went there, and they saw a horrible ghost on their way. The poor children got sick from terror. I prayed to the Virgin of San Juan, and thanks to her the girls recovered from the fright very quickly.

Graciela Rios rented one of her rooms as a lab to one scientist who worked with animals. One night she heard strange noises in the cellar. She went to look what it was and saw two giant rats. They escaped from the lab and were eating her provisions. Graciela thanks the Virgin of San Juan because she was able to catch those monsters. And she asked the scientist to work only with plants, otherwise she’d kick him out.

Señorita Laura Guzman was attacked by a criminal but she was saved by three cats who jumped on the villain. She thanks the Virgin of San Juan for sending her these divine creatures.

Everyone in our family has a musical talent which we are very proud of. However, we were highly disappointed in our son Mario who hadn’t inherited a good ear for music and is awful in playing the instrument he chose. He hadn’t inherited my wife’s wonderful voice as well. He sings horribly. But his teacher has discovered that he’s a mathematical genius. We thank the Virgin of San Juan for our son has a talent.

Everybody loves my cooking. They always asked me what’s my secret. I always laugh but tell no one because it’s the little angels from the Virgin of San Juan who come to help me and give the last touch to my dishes—putting some salt, or some coriander, or parsley. I thank the Virgin of San Juan for this supernatural wonder of sending her angels to help me.

I was going in my carriage, when the Death appeared before me. She told me, “Give me a ride!” I was scared for my life and prayed the Virgin of San Juan. She delivered me from this horror, and I dedicate the retablo.

Jalisco
November 3, 1961

June 15, 1942, seven o’clock in the evening, the Ruiz sisters, Rosa and Carmen, were coming back home and got scared when a robber with a pistol attacked them in an alley behind the market. They entrusted themselves to the Virgin of San Juan, and thats’ why the robber didn’t kill them. He only took their bags with some money and the missal. The sisters thank because he didn’t hurt them.

I was lost in the desert with my donkey. We were dying from insolation and thirst. Suddenly I saw many angels coming to us. They flew to take us to the heaven. But then I realized they weren’t angels but vultures. I prayed the Virgin of San Juan for help, and some travelers in a truck noticed us. They took us with them and gave us water. I thank the Virgin for saving our lives.

My daughters had become very mischievous and disobedient. But since we adopted an ugly homeless dog and gave it a good bath and got rid of fleas, the girls’ behavior has improved a lot. They are happy with the dog. They discharge their energy playing with it. Although the dog is ugly, it’s very kind and affectionate.