Gregorio Morales went to visit his girlfriend and met the Death who was riding her gaunt steed. Gregorio entrusted himself to the Virgin of Zapopan for not being taken by the Death, because he was so young and hadn’t experienced many things in his life. The Virgin made him invisible for the Death’s eyes. The Death passed by without noticing Gregorio. He thanks for that with this retablo.

We had a hail storm in July. Hailstone were as big as eggs. We thank Saint Francis for we managed to bring all our animals in the house before they died from cold and the smaller ones smashed by hailstones.

Maria Rodriguez was washing clothes on the river and saw a cardboard box full of newborn puppies. Some evil man had thrown them into the water. Maria immediately saved the puppies. She thanks the Virgin of San Juan because they are alright and now the puppies are the joy of her house.

My kids were attacked by dogs on their way to the school. The animals jumped on them, and my kids entrusted themselves to the Virgin of Zapopan, to whom we always pray. The dogs only took sandwiches from the bags and didn’t bite the kids. We thank the Virgin for that.

Josefina and Rosalia Gonzalez went to visit an aunt in Santo Tomas. A very nice stray dog followed them with her puppies till their house. Josefina and Rosalia adopted them. They give thanks to the Virgin of San Juan because now these animals keep them company in their solitude and protect them from the thieves.

My daughter and I went to the night performance in the circus. When we came out we saw the cages with the animals. And there we met a lion who had escaped. Thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe the lion only roared, sniffed at us and then went away. I’m sure he didn’t like my perfume and it didn’t whet his appetite. We thank the Virgin with this retablo for saved us from being lion’s dinner.

I thank the Lord for Maine lobster.

The Virgin sent me a dream in which I was playing with a giant dolphin and felt so happy. After that dream I decided to study marine biology because I understood that it’s my vocation. Now I’m very happy with the sea animals. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan.

I became a widow when I was young. When my children grew up, got married and left, I felt lonely. I adopted some cats so that they would keep me a company. I gave so much love to my animals. One day my daughter got divorced and came back with my granddaughter to live with me. Now I’m even happier, because my granddaughter shares my love to the cats. We coddle them together. And I thank the Virgin of the Rosary for these moments of joy.

A truck with pigs crashed in another truck right in front of our house. The truck doors opened, and all the pigs ran away. The truck drivers managed to catch every pig except one. One pregnant pig was hiding in our house. We thank the Virgin of Zapopan for we have four pigs now.

When I married Lupita, I discovered that she was a terrible cook. She either burnt the food or served it raw. So I had only a kiss for breakfast before going at work. I became thiner and thiner, and our dog, who got all the wasted food, became fatter. But thanks to the prayers to Saint Paschal Baylon, my Lupita finally learned to cook, and now I eat well. I thank for that.

Saint Isidore, thank you for bringing us the rains. My cows were dying without water and there was no place to graze them.

Felipe & Fidel
Metepec, Mexico
June 7, 1990