I give thanks to Saint Martin the Cavalryman for the miracle that I’m selling all the carnitas I prepare, so I can make money for my daughter Chayito’s first communion. I’m even getting orders from the entire neighborhood.

Uruapan, Michoacan
Evarista Molina

Cayetana Lopez dripped hot mole on her tit. Since no remedy helped her, she prayed to Saint Paschal. After that her terrible burn healed. She thanks for that with this retablo.

Puebla, 1914

I inherited marvelous secret recipes from my grand-grandmother Rosa. But I thought they would gonna die with me, because none of my daughters liked to prepare elaborate dishes. I thank the Virgin for my granddaughter Maria Luisa is interested in cooking. She enjoyed preparing food and learning how to do it better. So now I have a heir for my recipes.

Raul Menendez opened his hot dog & hamburgers stand and entrusted himself to Father Jesus. And his business is going wonderfully. He offers this retablo and thanks for such a big help.

As much as she tried, Federica Villegas wasn’t able to prepare chiles en nogada. She asked Saint Paschal for help. Now she cooks it very well and thanks for that.

Puebla, 1920

I dedicate this retablo, in sign of gratitude, to Saint Paschal Baylon for the miracle that I learned how to cook Mexican food. Because my husband was tired to eat hot dogs and hamburgers every day. Now my beloved Aureliano and I are happy with what I cook.

Margareth Wilson

My kids were attacked by dogs on their way to the school. The animals jumped on them, and my kids entrusted themselves to the Virgin of Zapopan, to whom we always pray. The dogs only took sandwiches from the bags and didn’t bite the kids. We thank the Virgin for that.

When I married Lupita, I discovered that she was a terrible cook. She either burnt the food or served it raw. So I had only a kiss for breakfast before going at work. I became thiner and thiner, and our dog, who got all the wasted food, became fatter. But thanks to the prayers to Saint Paschal Baylon, my Lupita finally learned to cook, and now I eat well. I thank for that.

My daughter Dora was a horrible cook. She was always burning the food, and I was afraid that she wouldn’t find a husband. I asked St. Paschal for help, and he, knowing in his infinite wisdom that Dora is a hard case, worked out so that she married a chef. She turned out to be a perfect wife for him because she never meddles with cooking, like other women do, and she always admires his dishes. I thank St. Paschal, the patron of the cooks.

My husband changed for the worse. He began to visit bars and ladies of easy virtue. I was afraid to lose him, so I prayed to the Virgin for a change in his behavior. Finally I had an idea. I said to him that if he’d continue to flirt with dames, I would not cook for him anymore. And I cook really good. He thought it over and broke off his bad habits. I thank the Virgin of San Juan.

My son studied to be a dentist, like my husband. But he was very annoyed to look in open mouths, and he felt unhappy. But one day he discovered that his real calling is to be a pastry-cook. He makes amazingly wonderful pastries and cakes. He even opened pastry-shop, and it is very popular. I thank, because he’s happy making such tasty cakes.

The gringo Jimmy Johnson tried to eat a handful of dried grasshoppers with chili in order to impress his girlfriend. But he choked. He thanks St. Patrick because he didn’t choke to death.

Cholula, 1937

My husband got ill, and the doctor said that he must stay in bed until he cured. My life became a real night,are. He asked me to bring him unimaginable things and after a while he didn’t need them anymore. Or he asked me to cook for him some complicated dishes, but then he left the food and didn’t eat. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for he got recovered quickly, otherwise, I would’ve gone insane.