Señorita Francisca Cruz thanks the Virgin of Juquila, with this little humble retablo, for giving her the talent of making tehuana blouses and dresses. Locals are buying them for the traditional dances, and they are also valued among domestic and foreign tourists.

Juchitan, Oaxaca

My daughter became a sleepwalker, and I always got up to see if she stayed in bed. One night I saw that she had left the house. I saw her on the edge of the ravine, gathering the stardust, putting it together and then scattering it down over the village to convert it into fulfilled wishes and blessings for all. I thank heavens for allowing me to see this marvel and for making my daughter so special.

I’m happy playing my instrument. And I’m even happier when I notice that my music attracts forest animals. I thank the Virgin of the Rosary for giving me this marvelous talent.

I thank Saint Francis for giving my daughter the ability to communicate with birds. It’s amazing to see how the birds seek her and sit on her shoulders or in her hands or tangle in her hair, and she joins their twittering, and all together they make a harmonious symphony of friendship.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for giving me the gift of becoming a star of the ring. I’m invincible, and I owe everything to my Mother of Tepeyac. I dedicate her this exvoto, with all my faith and devotion.

My daughter Lourdes loves the music. She also likes the birds very much. When she’s playing her flute, the canaries began to sing, and also the parakeets and the cockatoos who sing very strangely but beautifully. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because my daughter is such a sensitive and talented girl.

Everyone in our family has a musical talent which we are very proud of. However, we were highly disappointed in our son Mario who hadn’t inherited a good ear for music and is awful in playing the instrument he chose. He hadn’t inherited my wife’s wonderful voice as well. He sings horribly. But his teacher has discovered that he’s a mathematical genius. We thank the Virgin of San Juan for our son has some talent.

I dedicate this humble retablo to the Virgin of Guadalupe and thank her with ll my hear for giving me the gift of singing. Thanks to my voice I can earn my living performing in canteens and at the town holidays where everyone loves and admires me.

Jose Luis Gallardo ~ Morelia, Michoacan

I enjoy cooking very much. I think that’s why my food taste so good—I make it with all my love. My cooking is so good that even the angels come over to my kitchen to eat something. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for giving me such passion and this wonderful gift.

Thank you Saint Cecily because I have the gift of singing. Since I was a little girl, everyone complimented my voice. Now I dedicate myself to singing, receiving applause and recognition of the people who come to listen me every week-ned at the town square. I dedicate this humble retablo for that.

Catalina Flores “The Nightingale”
Zacatecas, Mexico

Everyone in our family has a musical talent which we are very proud of. However, we were highly disappointed in our son Mario who hadn’t inherited a good ear for music and is awful in playing the instrument he chose. He hadn’t inherited my wife’s wonderful voice as well. He sings horribly. But his teacher has discovered that he’s a mathematical genius. We thank the Virgin of San Juan for our son has a talent.

My mother made a good thing when she baptized me with the name Francisca. Since I share the name with Saint Francis, he gifted me with an ability to communicate and to be friends with the animals. Anyway I go, I always have a company.

I thank the Virgin Mary for blessing me with the gift of being a dislocationist.