After looking for my husband in every bar, I found him very drunk with his buddy the devil. Thanks, Virgin of Juquila.

Petra Lopez
Oaxaca, 1967

Tereso Villegas worked in a bar where the men treated him rude and disrespectfully. He prayed to Saint James, and now they treat him nicely. He thanks for that with the retablo.

Mexico, 1968

The Night of the Dead I was walking down the street. To my surprise, near the bar I bumped into a group of skeletons. They had a party and they invited me to join in. I prayed to Saint Jude for protection. The skeletons disappeared, and I went my way. I offer the retablo for this.

Espiridion Gonzalez

Petronila Romero offers this retablo to the holy Child of Atocha thanking him because thanks to his help and some punches her husband stopped going in the bar.

Tlaxcala, 1920

I give thanks to the Handsome Peralta. My family arrived at the bar to stop me from spending my fortnight salary on drink. But it was my fucking money! So I prayed to the Handsome, who came from the heaven and scared the shit out of them. And I continued to drink in peace. Thanks you, Handsome!

Jorge Ramirez offers this retablo to Saint Jude Thaddeus thanking him for the success he had with his bar. He sells pulque of all flavors and it’s popular with the young people.

Rafael Diaz were drinking in a bar when robbers arrived. He thanks the Virgin of Juquila with this retablo because they didn’t check his underware where he hid his half-month pay.

With this drawing, I want to thank Saint Francis for the miracle he made. Your slave Juan Luis Rubert had some drinks in the bar. On the way back, I was riding a horse and hit my head on a badly planted tree. I fell off the horse and broke two ribs and one leg. On top of everything I was stung by a viper.

However, that moonless night Saint Francis heard my prayers. He sent me my neighbor Geniero, who was passing by on his donkey. He took me to the hospital where I met Dr. Paty and fell in love with her.

Mexico City — December 2013

Inocencio Tapia was drinking in the bar. He had so much mezcal, he started to see skeletons. They surrounded him, and one of them asked: “Why are you alone?” It was Death in person who tried to grab him. Inocencio gives thanks to Saint Michael for he managed to run away safe and sound and not kicked the bucket. It happened on November 2. Inocencio promises to behave well.

Tlaxcala

My husband changed for the worse. He began to visit bars and ladies of easy virtue. I was afraid to lose him, so I prayed to the Virgin for a change in his behavior. Finally I had an idea. I said to him that if he’d continue to flirt with dames, I would not cook for him anymore. And I cook really good. He thought it over and broke off his bad habits. I thank the Virgin of San Juan.

The sisters R. & A. M. found good job fighting in oil in a local bar. They thanks Saint Rita of Cascia with this retablo for they are doing very well.

Thanks to the Archangel of Justice because “Guadalajara” won The Classic match against “América” with all its damn foreign players. My father-in-law threw me out from his bar because I won the bet against him and now he’s going to shave his head. But I’m cool to celebrate this victory here because I’m a real “Chivas” fan in my heart.

Notes:
“América” and “Guadalajara” (commonly known as “Chivas” (goats in spanish) because of the goat-mascot) are Mexican professional football clubs. “The Classic” is a football match between them.