Virgin of San Juan, thank you for all your favors. We went to celebrate the Town Day. We visited the church, and after we decided to have some snacks. My little girl carelessly ran to see the firework bull, and one of the petard hit her in the face. Her cheek was badly injured and cut. I took my girl to bandage her face. I was scared that she’d going to die. But thanks to Saint Jude {?) everything ended well.

Apolonia Gomez
Morelia, Michoacan, 1973

On my son Raul’s birthday party his older brother Luis climbed on a tree in the garden to fix piñata. He fell down and hit his head on the rocks. I saw him unconscious and wounded and I entrusted him to the Holy Virgin of Zapopan. Thanks to the Virgin the boy got better, didn’t lose his sight and didn’t became fool. I offer this retablo to the Saint Patroness.

On the Day of the Dead, Cleotilde and I went to the mass. We met skeletons who had got out to celebrate. We ran to the church and prayed some rosaries for the souls of the skeletons. We thank the Virgin of San Juan because when we left the church, the skeletons had already turned back to their graves.

I thank the Niñopa because the hipsters started to get interested in the products of small local farmers to prepare their tasty garnachas with organic food. So now my chinampas in Xochimilko, that I always had, help me to pay for the Estefany’s 15th birthday party.

Your faithful and devoted old chilango.
Xochimilko, Mexico City
July 2014

At the Christmas party in the neighborhood I went to put some liquor in my punch. Since I was already tipsy I got into the piñata event and was kicked in the head. I give thanks to Saint James the Apostle because I got only the lump. I promise not to drink so much.

Serapio Esparza
Oaxaca, 1968

The inhabitants of the Alvarado town, state Veracruz, thank the Virgin of Rosary because their carnival is getting funnier and more colorful with every year. So it attracts more tourists and brings prosperity to the town.

I dedicate this retablo to the Miraculous Virgin because she had blessed me with an amazing similarity to the very famous Italian-American singer Frank Sinatra. Thanks to that I’m always in demand for celebrations, weddings and christening parties in the whole state of Zacatecas.

San Cristóbal de las Casas
January 27, 2014

When I found out that Juansito cheated on me with this snake Mariela, I waited him at the kitchen. When he came back home from work, I killed him with the bread knife. Then I was going to thrust that knife into my heart but I fell and hit my head. I fainted. With this colorful picture I thank Saint Honoratus for the miracle that today, on the day of my 35th birthday, I’m going to be happy and in good health again.

At her saint’s day party Teresa Martine and her sister got acquainted with two handsome and formal men. Now they have become their fiancées. They thank the Virgin of San Juan for that.

The girl Catalina Rendon asked the Magi for a Barbie doll. Now, because her wish came true, she dedicates the retablo and thanks the Magi.

I went to USA as illegal immigrant to work. I missed my family so much, and I asked the Virgin of Guadalupe for a miracle to be with them. Few years later, I finally came back, at the height of the December holidays, to stay forever with my wife and my kids.

The girl Maria Mendoza was taken in hospital after being hit during the piñata hitting. Her parents thank the Holy Child of Atocha because she got recovered. They offer this retablo, in sign of gratitude.

I wanted to go to the Town Day celebration, so early at the morning, when even the sun had not yet arisen, I went to the river wash my clothes. There I met a nagual with long sharp claws. He went towards me. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe [. . .]