I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because after so many years my children and my grandchildren finally come to spend the Christmas with me. I clean from the Nativity scene figures from dust, and my husband gets a beautiful Christmas tree. I’m so happy to decorate it with my grandchildren, like I did with my children at the times. Thanks for so many happiness and love.

My daughters and their cousins went to the garden for some fruits but accidentally touched a wasp honeycomb which was hanging on a bottom branch. The wasps were furious, and they flew after the girls. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because she miraculously protected them and the wasps didn’t sting the girls nor the dog that was walking with them. The girls ran over very much frightened and without fruits, after such an accident.

It was late when we left the wedding celebration of our cousin Filemon. We were riding back home, and the devil himself appeared to us. He blocked our way and wanted to take us with him. But since my brother and I always wear the Virgin of San Juan’s medallions, we showed them to the devil, and he didn’t dare to come closer. He vanished with a smoke leaving the sulphur stink. We thank the Virgin for protecting us.

When we were returning from the work, my buddy Simon and I had a chilling encounter near the cemetery walls. A headless bride appeared to us. She was wondering looking for her lover. We thank the Virgin of Zapopan because the ghost didn’t see us and passed by blasting us with freezing air. I’ve got more gray hairs after that, and Simon now stutters.

Every January 17, I ask my new pupils to bring their pets to the class. Usually there are cats, dogs or some turtle, rat or parakeet. But this year one boy brought a crocodile. I thank the Virgin of San Juan for the animal didn’t attack anybody and the boy’s father took him away as soon as I called him. I grounded the boy for one week for being careless.

I was coming back from the Xochimilco market in my boat feeling very happy because I had bought at a very good price five beautiful piglets to start breeding pigs with. My boat was old and quite damaged, so it started drowning because of the big weight. My piglets and I started drowning also. Thanks to the miracle of the Virgin of Zapopan—whom I’m very devoted to—we managed to float until we were saved by a tourist trajinera-boat. Although I lost my boat, I’m grateful that we are still alive and didn’t drown.

One day I bought a very strange plant at a garage sale. The plant grew very fast, and I noticed there were less flies in my house since I’d got it. I thought it was the plant’s odor that scared them off. But one day I was watering the plant, and it suddenly grabbed my cat. It even started to tangle me up. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because I was able to get free from the sprouts and to liberate my cat as well. I’d better plant just geraniums. They are harmless and immune to pests.

My son Ramon used to tease Saul Algumedo’s dogs. But one day the most angry dog started chasing him. The Holy Virgin of Zapopan protected the boy, so he climbed up a tree. The dog just tore his clothes. But Ramon doesn’t tease dogs ever since.

Puebla, 1970

My brother was very jealous and was scaring out all my suitors. I was worried and afraid that I might end up like an old maid. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan with all my heart because one day came the revolutionaries and took my brother to fight with them. So now I can relax with my beloved one.

Yolanda Garcia \ Piedras Negras, Coahuila

Every time when it was raining my wife put all the animals inside the house so they wouldn’t wet and sick. Then my wife went to sleep peacefully, and I couldn’t close my eyes. I was afraid that an egg might fall on my head or the pig would start licking my face. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because we finally saved enough money to build a shed and a henhouse. Now the animals sleep there without getting wet, and I don’t have them around my bed.

The grandmother Macaria’s house is very big and very old. When we came to stay with her for few days, my girls went to the bathroom which was far from their bedrooms. On their way they met a ghost that was wondering around the house. They were very frightened. They were shaking and couldn’t speak. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for they have recovered from this fear and they even want to see the ghost again.

My sister and I bring flowers to our grandmother’s grave on her birthdays. This time we went at the cemetery at night, and got there with the moonlight. We met some skeletons over there. They left their graves to get drunk. They met us with great joy and wanted to dance with us. We were scared and prayed the Virgin of Zapopan. She helped us to escape from the dead so they didn’t chase us. We thank for that.

My husband and I were riding to the La Aurora ranch to show her new grandson to my mother-in-law, doña Eulalia. On our way the clouds darkened the sky, and the thunderstorm began. Suddenly a lighting hit a tree just in front of us. We thank the Holy Virgin of Zapopan for protecting us. The lightning didn’t hurt us and only burnt my husband’s eyelashes. The baby got scared, but we arrived to La Aurora safe and sound.