One evening I heard my cats being very restless. When I looked at them I was quite surprised to see the little red devils torturing my cats to divert themselves. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for giving me strength to sweep those damned creatures out so I could liberate my cats from suffering.

Petra Soto
January 10, 1979

It happened in 1953, during the running of the bulls in Huamantla Tlaxcala, Mexico. Young man Francisco de Marquez S. was running in front of the bulls, and one of them gored him. He was badly injured and, finding himself in this predicament, implored to Our Holy Virgin of Guadalupe. He got recovered promptly, and he left this testimony in the city of Puebla.

Dear Saint Christopher, protect me today in all my travels along the road’s way, give your warning sign if danger is near so that I may stop while the path is clear, be at my window and direct me through when the vision blurs from out of the blue, carry me safely to my destined pace, like you carried Christ in your close embrace. Amen.

Neda Contreras

I thank the Holy Heart because I learnt to work with a yoke and don’t need my drunk husband anymore.

Daniel thanks the Lord of Chalma for giving him a second chance after this terrible earthquake that took place on September 19, 2017, and for all help offered by Mexican people to be rescued alive, and for the help of the doggy Frida.

Polanco, Mexico City

One day I was fumbling around the garbage dump and saw my dog Spike digging up something from the trash. I’m infinitely thanking the Virgin of San Juan for the thing I found was a gold Rolex watch. By selling it, my loyal friend and I ate like king for a good while.

Doroteo Lopez \ Tlaxcala, Mexico

The demon of the gluttony possessed everyone in the house. We ate without a break whatever comes to hand. We became so fat that I couldn’t get in my dresses. Then I asked Saint Paschal Baylon for a help. The saint took mercy upon us, and our voracious hunger started to decline thanks to the fact that the saint chased the demon out from our kitchen. Now we are eating much less and are losing weight.

I thank Saint Francis of Assisi with this humble retablo because I fulfill my dream of opening my own shelter for stray and abandoned cats and dogs. I feel very much fulfilled helping them to find new families where they receive the love they deserved.

It turned out my life was full of melancholy and boredom. My Guardian Angel sent me a kitten, and my world has turned upside down. Now I run after the kitten from morning till night to calm his mischievous nature. I thank the Angel for not letting me plunge into the vortex of apathy.

I went to look for some lost sheep when suddenly filthy demons crossed my way and began to torment my horse that got very frightened. I implored Saint Barbara, and then she came with her shining sword and chased the demons back to where they belonged. They ran to hell, leaving us in peace. I’m thanking for this miracle.

One night I felt like I was flying. I saw that I had left my body and my spirit was drifting away. I tried to return but I couldn’t. I began to submerge into lethargy and let take me away. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because my cats felt that something was going wrong. They began meowing, touching me and licking my face. It reanimate my body, I came back and woke up.

Thanks for I won against the most intelligent monkey and saved my red horse.

I’m a big fan of selfies. The other day, I went to the zoo and thought it’d be cool to make a selfie with a lion and upload it on Facebook without realizing how dangerous it could be to have a lion so close. I bring this retablo to the Virign of Juquila the Great because thank to my phone’s flash the giant cat got scared and didn’t do anything to me. I promise to be more responsible while making photos.

Alex Ríos \ Oaxaca, Mexico