I was coming back from the market when a man in a black hat attacked me with an onion peeling knife. But then suddenly two dogs—not too big, but very brave indeed—jumped on him, because they don’t like people in hats. I was saved, and I thank the Holy Virgin for that.

Maria Lopez

Our horse “El Potro” (The Colt) broke both his front legs. We entrusted him to Saint Anthony the Great, and thanks to his divine intervention—and to our care as well—he’s got recovered Now our old friend rans happily over the ranch, and we dedicate this retablo for that.

Epifanio & Don Remigio Contreras
Aguascalientes

My son Arturo loved to play with the monkeys that lived near our house. But one day they took him to the roof. He was laughing and having fun, but I was afraid he could fall and brake his neck. I prayed to Saint Jude Thaddeus, and one monkey, probably seeing my anxiety, came down with my son and passed him into my arms. I thank the saint for this miracle.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe. I came to Mexico City from Aguascalientes to become a matador. Two years later, I had a performance in a town in Guerrero. During the fight I stumbled and I fell right on the bull’s horn. It pierced through my ribs, I got head injury and brain concussion. I thank for my recovery.

Pedro Arreola
Aguascalientes, 1979

When I discovered that my boyfriend is a nagual who can turn into different animals I got scared. I was about to leave him. I thank Saint Francis because he helped me to realize that being different doesn’t make a person better or worse but just different. When I suddenly understood it my boyfriend turned into a giant cat.

After my husband’s death, my children and I had financial problems. I was desperate and didn’t know what to do. But the Virgin of Guadalupe sent us different animals which we found one morning near our house. There were some chickens and a cow—they didn’t belong to anybody. I started to sell eggs and milk, and it helped us to survive until I found a good job. I thank the Holy Virgin for those animals that literally fell from heaven.

I was doing laundry and fell asleep. Suddenly I was awoken by my dog barking. I opened my eyes and saw some martians trying to tie me and take me to their ship. I started screaming. The extraterrestrials got scared and ran away. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for my dog woke me up in time and, I think, even bit those martians.

I was coming back home after buying a piglet, when a devil made my horse to stumble on the rocks. That devil had been following me for days, doing his shenanigans. There were a lot of cacti in that place where my horse stumbled. But thanks to the Virgin nor the horse, nor the piglet, nor I fell into them but landed on the grass. After that accident I bought a medallion of the Virgin of Zapopan, and the furious devil had to leave me in peace.

My daughter Laura is a real beauty but when she got angry she cursed like a sailor. I was so ashamed and embarrass for her, I prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan. One day my daughter was about to curse but instead there were frogs, snakes and little devils falling out of her mouth. Now she speaks rather cautiously, chasing the right words and trying to speak politely. I thank the Virgin for this miracle.

My daughter was sick. I brought her at the yard so she would take some sun, and then I left to the kitchen. Later, I saw some stray dogs came to her. These hungry dogs had beaten a lot of people in the village. I was paralyzed with fear when I saw them around my daughter. I couldn’t move. But my girl wasn’t scared, she even gave them some bread. The dogs ate it and ran away. Thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe for this miracle.

You saved me from that giant octopus which attacked me at the open sea.

Jose, 1971

The new neighbor had an enormous and angry dog that scared my cats. I was afraid that one day it could kill one of them. I prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan, and thanks to her the neighbor didn’t last long and found a better house on the other side of the town. So my cats were saved from this beast.

I escaped safely when an ape chased me. Thanks to the Virgin.