1959, Petra Sanchez came to Mexico to work as a housemaid in a house in Las Lomas. She thanks Saint Pancras because she met Cantinflas there and he even danced with her.

I give thanks to the Archangel of Justice for I left this disgraceful life I led before suffering insults and abuse from authorities and putting my health in danger. You sent me a man who met me and found out about my past. He fell in love with me and me too. We got married and live very happily.

Margarita, La Doña before
It happened here in Merced, Mexico City

I wholeheartedly thank the Holy Child of Atocha because when I was a little boy I met the great Roberto Gomez Bolaños, Chespirito. Don Roberto’s fabulous talent gave to Hispanic America unforgivable characters like Chavo from the 8, Red Grasshopper, Chompiras and many others that played an important part in the childhood of many people.

Jasinto Romo, Mexico City

I give infinite thanks to Saint Augustine for having met a good man who loves me and wants me as I am. He’s just made me a marriage proposal, and my past as prostitute didn’t affect him. Because of my type of living, I didn’t imagine I’d find love, and now I’m very happy with the opportunity to have a family.

Selene R. ~ Tijuana, Baja California

A seamstress Domitila Betansos brings this retablo to the Virgin of the Solitude giving her thanks because she met the painter Frida who gave her a great present—a sewing machine that she lacked so much.

Puebla, 1939

Thanks to Jesus Malverde for meeting Mavi who treats me like a queen here in Mazatlan.

Cony Valencia

A young man Juan Garcia fervently thanks Saint Anthony with the present retablo because when he was swimming in the river he met a beautiful woman and now they are going to get married.

My daughter Dolores was already 40 years old. She was the oldest of my 16 children sent me by God and my only daughter. I was very much worried that the poor thing would lose her train and stay an old maid. I put Saint Anthony of Padua head down and prayed him day and night. My daughter met a gringo named mister Maicol and they got married. Besides, she used the dress I wore at my wedding.

Maria del Socorro Lopez
Tepatitlán, Jalisco
April 15, 1963

For all those who sin for love

I thank the blessed souls of the purgatory for meeting this precious woman. Her charm and experience gave me confidence and healed my painful affliction that made my masculine pride suffer. Now I can satisfy my wife without any trouble, and she never found out about my visits to this house of pleasures.

M. R. — Mexico City, 1960

Virgin of Guadalupe, we thank you for we met each other 10 years ago in New York and made our love official. But today, after knowing about Donald Trump winning the US presidency, we decided to return to Mexico in fear of being deported and humiliated by his threatening and discriminatory ideas.

Ramon & Rosa, Puebla, 14–11–2017

I thank Saint Sebastian that I have finally found my master, and I only live to serve him and please him in everything. He makes me happy by exercising his dominion over me, and I submit to him, and only to him I give myself unconditionally.

Lilibeth W.
Oslo, Norway, March 2019

Altagracia Martinez thanks Saint Matthew with this retablo because being a stripper she managed to meet a politician who has made her his lover, treats her like a queen and even got her a small house.

Virgin of Guadalupe, I’m offering you this retablo for getting me out from the life of prostitution and abuse. I met a good man who loves me and doesn’t care about my past. He proposed to me and I’m letting know about my happiness.

Laura M. The Hot Girl
Merced, Mexico City, 20006