I went to Los Capulines ranch to sell some embroidered blankets and I took my baby with me. Señora Luz bought the blankets but on my way out the geese saw me. Since they didn’t know me they got very angry and started chasing me. I was afraid they would hurt my little baby, and I implored Saint Quiteria. Thanks to her the geese didn’t harm us. They were only running around and making a lot of noice. I thank the saint for her protection because the geese can be very furious and dangerous.

We were brought to a very strange king. Thanks for he didn’t hurt us.

All our friends and relatives came to our wedding. Besides that, dozens of doves flew over to celebrate with us our union which is only to tell the world how big our love is. From now on we are going to live for each other in a small house, and we will keep on being happy like we have been.

My daughter Lourdes loves the music. She also likes the birds very much. When she’s playing her flute, the canaries began to sing, and also the parakeets and the cockatoos who sing very strangely but beautifully. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because my daughter is such a sensitive and talented girl.

My patrons asked me to cook some mole and two turkeys. I was feeling bad to kill birds. I thank Saint Paschal because I convinced my patrons to have another dish and they even gave me those two turkeys as a gift. I took them back to my hut, and I’m very glad.

Carmela Jimenez

Oaxaca, Mexico

I’ve had a dream in which I was caught and yelled by the birds. I won’t be catching birds anymore.

I came from the carnival celebration and was attacked by a rooster. Thanks for I won this fight.

Don Carmelo Sanchez thanks Saint Martin the Cavalryman for helping his rooster El Giro to win the fight on the town arena and made him win a lot of money to pay his debts.

Guanajuato, 1947

A giant crocodile came out of the river. Thanks for the herons calmed him down and he didn’t do any harm.

I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for having sent me the warning about a hailstorm coming. Having this presentiment, I had time to put all my animals inside the house. Otherwise, they would have suffered and got sick outside. Together we passed a calm night, warm and safe.

The animals from our farm went sad and lost their appetite. We didn’t know what happened with them. They stopped eating, and we were scared they would die. So we entrusted them to the Holy Child of Atocha who miraculously intervened, and the animals recovered and look better than ever. The hens lay many eggs, the cow gives much more milk, and the piglets look fatter. We give thanks.

Teofilo Martinez’ canary, which was very important to him, was stolen while he went to the bar to take a leak. He implored Saint John Bosco and the next day found the bird. He’s happy to be with it and gives thanks.

Puebla, 1945

I loved to read poetry aloud to feel the resonance of the words. But my husband and children didn’t want to know a thing about poetry and ran away. One day I went near henhouse to read alone. Chicken and hens came to me and sat around to listen. Ever sine I go to read to the chicken, and it seems they are always enjoying the poetry. I thank the Virgin for the miracle of giving me this audience.