Holy Virgin, thousand thanks for saving my life in this hellish ride. I saw a woman died run over by a train.

March 21, Arriaga, Chiapas

When Elisa and I were engaged, she was so jealous that on the day of the wedding, after the banquet, she was on edge and she died of indigestion. Three years later I decided to marry again. I met a nice beautiful girl, and we got married. After our honeymoon, when we were back, Elisa’s ghost began to appear in our bedroom. She was furious and stared at us with anger. I was frightened, I prayed the Virgin of Zapopan for her soul. I even brought a priest and sprinkled holy water. Her soul rested in peace, and now we can sleep with peace.

Ramiro Balbuena, 1960

We all ran from my mother-in-law’s wake because the old lady gave us fright—she was lying down and then stood up. We thank Saint Pancras with this retablo because later she really died and didn’t kill anyone.

Puebla, 1915

The other day I went to see my animals in the corral. To my fright I found several goats dead. I remembered the people in the town spoken about the Chupacabra going loose. I fervently asked Saint Benedict to protect my cattle, and thanks to his divine help this horrible scene never happened again.

Carmelo Armenta ~ Paracuaro, Michoacan

Dani Lopez

September 11, my son Dani Lopez died at the attack on the twin-towers. I ask the Virgin to take my little son to her holy heaven.

Maria L.

The night of November 1, I went to work in my taxi to make some dough. I met a lady on the highway who asked me to take her to one place. When we arrived I got goosebumps because there was a cross and the lady said that she had died here. With all might, I entrusted myself to Saint Benedict, and suddenly she disappeared and nothing happened to me. I dedicate this simple retablo for that.

Cosme Padilla, Mexico City

A young womanizer Genaro Ramirez lived his life surrounded by women. But when he decided to get married he had a heart attack and fell before the altar. The death caught up with him, his bride will never forget him.

July 13, 1960, Morelia, Michoacan

I went to the mountains to gather wood. I was about to eat my juicy chicken when the Bony Death appeared and asked me for the half of my chicken. With all my heart, I implored the Virgin of Guadalupe. The horrible apparition sat down to eat in silence and then disappeared.

Eustaquio Cortez

We felt horror and anxiety of dying suffocating because of lack of air and terrible heat, locked up inside the trailer for more than four hours from Laredo to San Antonio, Texas. We made two holes with a knife to breathe a little bit because there were 70 of us, immigrants going to the United States in search of job. I thank the Virgin of San Juan because I managed to arrived alive to the destination. I pray for those who didn’t—let they rest in peace.

Immigrant, August 2017

I was gravely ill with fever and had some horrible hallucinations. The most torturing was the one with the death on spider legs who was stinging all my body. I felt so much pain and fright that I implored the Virgin of Guadalupe…

Emiliana Garcia

Santa Lucha wrestles Death to save the lives of prematurely departed.

I dedicate this retablo to the Virgin of Guadalupe for eternal peace of my idol Pedro Aguayo Damian, the great, genius, amazing Dog Aguayo. Dog of Nochistlan, thank you for giving us so much joy at the ring.

Pancracio Rodriguez

Alberto Murillo thanks the Virgin of the Charity for helping him to get rid of these terrible pain in his back that he felt like the Death was dragging him. Now he don’t need to be operated. With his eternal gratitude, he gives this retablo.

April 24, 1947 — The Peacock, Jalisco