The Virgin and a dolphin saved me from the attack of an octopus.

Angelica X was a stripper, and she liked to perform with a boa. But one day it almost choked her. She thanks Saint Francis with this retablo for she was saved in time and promises to leave this profession.

The night of November 16, 1974, all the dogs began to howl. We went out and saw the Weeping Woman floating over our houses. We entrusted ourselves to the Virgin of Guadalupe, and thanks to her this vision vanished in the night.

The girl Maruja Perez was afraid of spiders. She entrusted herself to Saint Nicholas and overcame this fear. Now when she founds a spider in her room she has no fear. She’s infinitely grateful for that.

I thank the Virgin of San Juan because I managed to sell all my turkeys and to buy two pigs. Then I sold the piglets they made and bought a goat and some laying hens.

Protect my friend, the snail. Girl Garasi.

Casimiro Garcia went to gather wood and saw a flying saucer. He entrusted himself to Saint Patrick whom he thanks with this retablo for protecting him so nothing bad happened with him or his donkey. He only pissed his pants out of fear.

Zacatlan, 1948

A trio of devils were having fun hurting my cats. I thank the Saint Francis for giving my broom a celestial power so I could sweep those infernal creatures away and saved my cats from suffering.

I have a passion for the photography. Above all I enjoy taking photos of animals. That’s why I went to the zoo. I wanted to have a better picture of a rhino, so I came too close to it, and my camera fell right near it. I thank Saint Charbel because the animal ignored me and didn’t do anything when I, absolutely frightened, had to go down for my camera. I promise to be more careful.

Benjamin Sandoval \ Puebla

Señorita Angelica Suarez was dusting books when scorpions began falling on her. She thanks Saint Rita with this retablo for having recovered after many stings.

There was a hole in the wall in our garden, and crocodiles from the river were getting through this hole. Some of them even came to the kitchen attracted by the tasty smells of my dishes. I didn’t like having crocodiles in the house, so I prayed the Virgin so my husband would fix the hole. He had been telling me for months he would do it but never did. I thank the Holy Virgin because my brother-in-law felt sorry for me and fixed the hole with stones and cement. Now we don’t have crocodiles anymore.

A terrible devil rode around. He brought devastation and destruction. He put the forests on fire, killed poor creatures, until one day the Virgin of Guadalupe gave me enough courage to face the devil. I stayed on his way and poured the whole bottle with holy water on him. The devil became a smoke and evaporated. We thank the Holy Virgin for delivering us from the devil.

Sr. Jacinto gives infinite thanks to the Lord of Chalma because his dog Nico could stop his son Francisco’s horse that went crazy and ran dragging his son. I prayed you, and you saved him from dying. I bring you this retablo thanking for this favor.

Ixtlahuca, Mexico
August 14, 1985