On the Saint John Day, when it was getting dark, an evil goat appeared to my old man and slobbered him. My old man entrusted himself to Saint Ignatius whom I give infinite thanks for no harm was done to him and he only spent four days in fear.

Puebla, 1902

On the day of the blessing of the animals, I sent my children to the town so the priest would bless our small animals. When they were returning home, a huge eagle thought that our animals looked very delicious. It flew down to catch any of them, but as they already had the blessing they were protected by it, and the Virgin scared the eagle who flew away with an empty stomach.

I got lost in Sonora desert on my way to the United States. After two days of thirst and hunger, I implored Saint Charbel, and I found water between rocks. Then I stuffed myself with some lizards, and after that I was saved. I’m infinitely grateful for that.

Remigio Peres, 1940

I thank the Virgin because thanks to my work as a seamstress I am able to support all the doggies I take from the street, and they give me a lot f love and keep me a company.

There were some strange plants growing in my flower pots. They looked nice, so I let them grow. Then I noticed that the plants were eating insect. That was intriguing. But then they tried to catch my cats. I prayed the Virgin of the Rosary to protect my cats. I was going to throw these plants away, but my neighbor, a teacher, offered me good money for them. He wanted to take them to the school because they were rare specimens.

My daughter liked to swing on a huge tree near the river. One day I saw an ocelot right on the branch which the swing was hung on. I ran, but I was far from there. I was praying to the Virgin of Guadalupe, and thanks to her the animal didn’t attack my girl but jumped to another tree where there were many squirrels, and then it went away.

Barbara Lopez Garcia put her new dress on to go to the town celebration to conquer Antonio Padilla’s heart. But on her way she met don Agapito’s dogs which are always angry like their owner. The dogs pulled her dress and almost tore it apart, but then Antonio came to help her and scared the dogs away. When he saw her so heartbroken, wearing the tore dress, his heart melted and he proposed to her right away. Barbara thanks the Virgin.

My cat Marujo every night goes to hang around and comes back very late and all beaten up. His girlfriend Julieta worries a lot about him. I ask you, Virgin of Gaudalupe, for my cat Marujo and entrust him to you. Make him behave well not to let Julietta worry.

My wife used to take all our cats into bed when we were going to sleep. I couldn’t sleep nor do my matrimonial duties while a black cat was staring at me with his yellow eyes. Then I implored the Virgin of Guadalupe, and thanks to her my wife stopped bringing the cats into bed. Now we sleep and enjoy ourselves alone, and I thank for that.

One dark night, I was coming back from the San Juan fair with my donkeys. Suddenly the sly was lightened with many lightnings. With that light I could see that I was near a cliff and almost fell off with my donkeys. I thank the Virgin of San Juan for the miracle of lighting up my way and saving my life.

Ausencio gives infinite thanks to the Lord of Chalma because his cow Pancha is safe after a strong foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the village that was killing all the animals. He thanks for that.

April 2, 1947, Mexico

Foxes had been eating our turkeys. Then the Virgin of Zapopan gave an idea to my daughter to buy some geese. The geese bit the foxes and chase them away. We thank the Holy Virgin because the foxes never came back.

I tried to cross the desert and get to the another side. I walked meaninglessly for many hours, and then I began to feel sick. I decided to take a rest. I sat down, and a scorpion stung my hand. I though I was going to die. In that moment, a devil himself appeared before me and offered to save me in exchange for my soul. I prayed the Virgin for help… and managed to get to the hospital alive. I give thanks.

Ruperto, Sonora, 2020