I thank Saint Liberata. When I was performing at the Plaza in Tabasco, the bull Fanfarron got me badly. But I was lucky—I got only one leg amputated and one eye removed. I’m recovering quite quickly so I could back to bullfighting as soon as possible.

Señora Catalina Naranjo didn’t know how to maintain her dog shelter. The dogs ate too much, and she couldn’t afford it any longer. She prayed Saint Francis for help, and then the soap factory people offered her to work together on the animal care. She thanks with this retablo.

March 15, 1966

My doggy and I were admiring the view from the top when the edge of the cliff went down. We fell down. Suddenly I realized that I’m flying like a bird. I got a couple of wings on my back. I looked at my dog, it also got little wings. We landed softly near my grandfather’s house which was right under the cliff. I thank the Holy Virgin for this incredible miracle, which I don’t talk about to not pass for crazy.

Gregorio Meneses was sleeping why he felt something weird. He switched on the light and saw himself surrounded by enormous spiders. He entered into panic. He thanks Saint Jude Thaddeus for surviving this scare, and now he’s going through therapy.

I went to swim to the sea and immediately got so cramped, I went to the bottom. I had no air to breathe, and then dozens of crabs surrounded me and began to pinch me with their pincers. I thought I was going to die not only of lacking the air but, moreover, pinched by the crabs. But instead the crabs pulled me up to the surface and dragged me to the beach. Now I know it was a miracle made so I wouldn’t drown there.

Señor Antonio thanks the Lord of Calma because he managed to find the cows of his master safe and sound, so he won’t be thrown in jail accused of stealing them. He brings this retablo thanking for the received favor.

October 17, 1980

I dedicate the present retablo to Saint Michael the Archangel thanking him, with all my heart, for he always accompanies me at my work as a picador. During all my years in this profession, I didn’t suffer from any grave accident, nor did my horse Sparky. So I feel blessed.

Abelardo Rosas
Apizaco, Tlaxcala

My sons are very naughty boys. One day they got into the Jose Piña’s rancho to steal some fruits. They even brought a ladder. However, they didn’t know that Jose had bought police guard dogs. The dogs chased the boys up the tree and didn’t let them go down. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because Jose Piña saved them and the dogs didn’t bite them.

I thank Saint Jude Thaddeus for saving my cows from a flying saucer that appeared while we were at a party.

Antonio Perales Valle, 17th October 1969

My cat had formed a bad habit of peeing on furniture. One day he even peed in my bed. My wife got so angry, so she gave me an ultimatum. She said if the cat peed once more I would have to choose between him and her. I loved them both so I prayed for a miracle to the Virgin of Guadalupe. And I got it. Virgin made my cat understand that he mustn’t pee in the house and now he pees only outside. I thank for this astonishing miracle.

When we were visiting the grand-mother Martina my son went chasing a rabbit. They went far from the house and got lost. We were looking for them for hours but with no success. Then we entrusted them to Saint Christopher, and he made the miracle. A muleteer met the kids and brought them home. We thank the saint.

April 30, 1930, we were performing in Villahermosa, Tabasco. During the lion taming act the tamer received a strong scratch and even his clothes were torn and his skin was cut. The furious animals was about to attack him again and we thought it should kill the tamer. But suddenly the Holy Virgin made a miracle and saved his life.

The Maravilla circus
Matias Lopez Espinosa
Villita de Guadalupe, October 30, 1932

The girl Lucy walks around with her freakish animal. Thanks for she’s not crazy.