I pray to my sweet Jesus to help me fulfill my dream of triumphing as a bullfighter an NYC’s Carnegie Hall.

I thank Saint Liberata. When I was performing at the Plaza in Tabasco, the bull Fanfarron got me badly. But I was lucky—I got only one leg amputated and one eye removed. I’m recovering quite quickly so I could back to bullfighting as soon as possible.

I dedicate the present retablo to Saint Michael the Archangel thanking him, with all my heart, for he always accompanies me at my work as a picador. During all my years in this profession, I didn’t suffer from any grave accident, nor did my horse Sparky. So I feel blessed.

Abelardo Rosas
Apizaco, Tlaxcala

With all my faith, I dedicate this retablo to Saint James the Apostle for protecting me from being kicked by a bull. I got an angry bull, and only thanks to the saint’s divine intervention nothing serious happened.

Carmelo Trujillo
Guanajuato

During the third bullfight at the arena Plaza Mexico, the Blueyed bull jumped over two barriers right over where we were sitting and almost fell on us. We implored the Angel of Justice and an armed man courageously pushed the bull out. I ordered this retablo for we avoided a tragedy.

Sunday, July 30, 1989

The picador Nemesio Gomes thanks Virgin of San Juan with this retablo for his wound has been healed. He was injured when a bull hit him in his butt cheek.

Tlaxcala, 1929

That day, February 13, 1944, the bull Zapatero hooked Silverio Perez between his legs and threw him over the head on the ground. Silverio got hurt badly. Then the bull kept dragging him all over the arena. We were all praying the Virgin of Guadalupe for Silverio. We were feeling his pain as ours because he had brought glory to us. We thanks for Silverio is recovered.

His fellow townsmen from Texcoco
May 10, 1944

Ponciano Guzman brings this retablo to the Holy Child of Atocha for always helping him in bullfighting.

Queretaro, 1920

German Quiroga dedicates this retablo to the Virgin of San Juan thanking her for always protecting and supporting him when he enters the arena facing the angry bulls and risking his life. He thanks because it always ends well for him.

Aguascalientes, Mexico

Rufino Orozco from Ciudad Guzman, Jalisco, offers this retablo to the Virgin of San Juan for the miraculous save when he was almost killed goring dangerously and deadly by a bull when he fancied himself as a torrero.

October 15, 1940

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

My son Doroteo and some his friends decided to bullfight an angry bull at the don Julio’s ranch. But the animal knocked my son down and was going to kill him when thank to the Virgin of San Juan’s intervention one of the workers caught the bull with a lasso and kept it for a while. I offer the retablo for this miracle.

I was hit by a bull during a bullfight. It left me wounded. I suffered so much, so I pray to Saint Michael the Archangel for healing me. Some time later I was recovered and went back to do what I enjoy the most—the world of the bullfighting. I give thanks.

Queretaro — Bernardo Flores