Bonifacio Menendes had a great fear of spiders. One day many of them appeared in his room. His implored Saint Patrick, and all the spiders disappeared. He fervently thanks for this favor.

Puebla, 1928

I dedicate this ex-voto to Saint Benedict thanking him because, despite watching so many horror movies, I never have nightmares. I’m a fan of horror movies, and, although they scare me a lot, I enjoy the tension and adrenaline this genre is causing me.

Victor and Cesar Martinez, we dedicate this to Saint Francis because we were fucking scared when that damned nagual appeared to us and gave us a tremendous chase. It even made us sober up and shit so tremendously that nothing could stop it. But now we are safe and healthy. We promise not to drink anymore.

San Francisco Chimapla, State of Mexico
October 4, 1990

It seemed an easy thing to rob an old abandoned house. But I didn’t know that the house was haunted. Suddenly the furniture began to move by itself, the doors and windows opened which gave me goosebumps. I dedicate this retablo to Saint Benedict because I escaped safe and sound from this house. I promise I’d be a good man and won’t steal ever again.

Elias R. — Queretaro, Mexico

I dedicate this retablo to Saint Nicholas of Bari for the talent that the actor Bruce Davidson has. When I was a child I saw the movie “Willard”. As a result, I have a deadly fear of rats. I hope Bruce doesn’t suffer from the same fear after having shot this horrifying but marvelous movie.

Cesar Lopez — Mexico City

One night I camped in the mountains, and some extraterrestrials appeared to me. First I got scared but then, while the martians went looking for plants in the forest, I felt very peacefully. But when they flew away, the fear came back. I rushed to the tavern in the nearest village. I thank the Holy Spirit because the martians didn’t abduct me.

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

Pablo Andrade was taken for dead, and they already start reading a funeral service. He testifies his gratitude to Saint James with this retablo because he woke up before he was buried, although he scared his sister so she ended up in the hospital.

My husband Eusebio could only find a job at the cemetery. But he is easily frightened. I ask you, please Holy Virgin, would you find him another job.

Left grave:
Finally. Rest in peace, my mother-in-law.

Right grave:
Here lies Ramon H. G. and does good. He was a bad father, bad husband, bad son, bad man.

When Emeterio Ribera walked out of the pub he met the ghost of the hanged man. He even got sober right away He thanks Saint Pacnras for it didn’t hurt him and he only shit his pants from fear.

Puebla, 1915

In one eruption he unites birth and death. He is not man, he is not a god either. He is not me, he’s more than me, his belly is the labyrinth in which I find myself, being him. That is a monster. — Andre Masson

We stood terrified, staring at the devil dog with a man’s face. We froze for only a moment before we took off running, screaming and arms flailing back to the safety of my best friend’s home. His mother had warned us not to go out after dark, but we thought she was just a crazy bruja (not an evil one, more the healer type) and of course we didn’t heed her. She had an excessive need to protect her children from Evil. For this reason she seemed to invite it. Upon reading her home we exclaimed what we had seen. Immediately she made us kneel as she prayed fervently to St. Michael for his protection and she blessed us with holy water. I thank him for saving us but we couldn’t be consoled.

1983 — Ruben Urrea Moreno

I love dancing Argentinian tango and practiced very hard for a tango competition. At the same time I have a stage fright during competitions. I thank Saint Nicholas with this retablo that I had a very talented tang partner to practice for a few months, my tango skills improved and the competition got canceled.

San Francisco, 2020

When we were coming back home from the town fair, we met a headless horseman on our way. The sight of the ghost made our hair stand on end and our blood freeze in the veins. But the Virgin of Zapopan protected us, and the horseman passed by without seeing us and didn’t do anything to us. But the next day we saw that our hair turned gray from fright.