Oh my Lord, my eternal Father, who took him in the kingdom of heaven, may his soul rest in peace near by you. Send comfort to his parents, brothers and friends who will always remember him as Alex was a great friend. Rest with god.

Nancy N. and his friends from Milagros alley, Lagunilla, Mexico.
August 2002

The Death took me on her horse.

“He gave his life so you could live.”

— said mr. Crayencourt to the factory employees that cold morning while they were looking at the young heroin addict’s corpse. He had been in charge of money-laundering from drug traffic at the factory where they worked.

December 2003

Virgin of Guadalupe, I promise not to drink pulque nor mescal, or the death would take me. O, Mother Holy Virgin, help me not to get drunk again.

When I was ill, the death appeared. She approached my bed, and I got very upset, because I didn’t want her to take me, since I was still young. I grabbed the crucifix and started praying to the Lord of the Wonders for protection. The death receded before the crucifix. So I was saved. Thanks for that.

Juana Varela

Since I entrusted myself to the Miraculous Virgin, I haven’t had any problems with delivering babies. I had been out of luck before, and many of my babies had been dying. I hope my luck will keep up and I’ll get a raise in the hospital.

Josefa Gutierrez went to the town to sell fruits. On the way there, her donkey got furious, because of a wasp sting, and threw Josefina off. She fell on the rocks and hit her had so badly that she saw how the death and the devil were approaching to her. But thanks to her angel guardian, who came and gave her few slaps, she recovered consciousness. The devil and the death had to leave with nothing. Josefina thanks for they remained disappointed.

The Ramirez Lopez family thanks Saint Jerome because their uncle turned out to be alive, although he scared the hell out of everybody when he awoke and rose from the coffin.

The Death on her steed started to chase us, when we were coming back home late at night. More we ran from it, closer it got. Suddenly the sky was split apart, and Saint Michael Archangel with his shiny sword went towards the Death, barring its way. Thanks to his intervention, we managed to escape and lock ourselves in the house. We give thanks.

Gregorio Morales went to visit his girlfriend and met the Death who was riding her gaunt steed. Gregorio entrusted himself to the Virgin of Zapopan for not being taken by the Death, because he was so young and hadn’t experienced many things in his life. The Virgin made him invisible for the Death’s eyes. The Death passed by without noticing Gregorio. He thanks for that with this retablo.

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

Fausto Ceballos died on July 23, 1961. His wife prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan for not taking her husband away from her. And during the all-night vigil, Fausto suddenly came back to life. The wife thanks the Virgin for her husband wasn’t buried alive and for her mother-in-law didn’t die out of shock.

The Death was riding bike down our street. We were frightened guessing whom he came after. We prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan for not letting the Death take anyone. The Holy Virgin heard our prayers, because we haven’t seen the Death in our neighborhood afterwards. Because no one died, we dedicate the retablo.