This is ex-voto of thanks to the leaders of Soviet revolution. If it hadn’t happened I couldn’t have had highly qualified workers from east for next to nothing. I’ve already had three musicians from Kiev Symphony Orchestra working for me as stevedores carrying cement. Now I have a surgeon working on a crane and two Ukrainian women at the kitchen. They were ballet dancers back in their homeland. They’re nice-looking broads, it’s nothing wrong with their bodies, probably because of gymnastics <…>

I spoiled my dog and let it eat at the table. But when I married a wonderful woman, I was afraid she wouldn’t allow my dog to eat with us. But she happened to have two well-mannered piglets and they also ate at the table. I thank the Virgin of San Juan because we are a very happy family now.

The kitchen was filled with corn demons. They we’re unbearably naughty, and we had no idea how to get rid of them. We thank Saint Paschal Baylon, because with our prayers and little bit of holy water we chased these damned demons away.

The kitchen was filled with bats. I was afraid that they were vampires and they’d suck blood from our family. I thank Saint Francis for we managed to get rid of them before they bit us. However, it seems they bit our cat, but it didn’t turn into a vampire cat. I thank the saint patron with this retablo.

One day I was cooking and I felt I was floating in the air. I managed to come down only some time later. I was afraid and prayed to Saint Paschal because I continued to fly every day. Finally the saint made me understand that it was caused by quesadillas with mushrooms that I loved so much and ate frequently. Obviously, they were hallucinogenic. Now, when I stopped eating them, everything is back to normal. I thank the Saint because it’s hard to cook while flying.

I thank the Virgin for giving me strenght to live and to help my partner.

Luis H. P. 1977

Sister Clementina and sister Lucia dedicate this retablo to Saint Paschal Baylon in gratitude because he blessed them and gave them ability to make mole and chili en nogada that the bishop enjoyed so much. He was very happy with the food.

Puebla de los Angeles, 1946

My kitchen was filled with rats. I was scared to grind flour on the floor because I was afraid they might bite me. I prayed to Saint Paschal for getting rid of the rats. One night I had a dream about the saint holding a kitten. The next morning, a cat came to my kitchen. It did away with all the rats. They never came back, and I thank Paschal for this miracle.

I used to cook chicken for my family because they liked it very much, and also I knew that chicken meat is very nutritious. But one day I was so tired, I fell asleep right in the kitchen. In my dream, I saw the ghosts of the chicken I had cooked. They looked at me with sadness, like they were reproaching me. I thank St. Francis for now on I cook fish and I have no more nightmares with the chicken ghosts.

Candida Perez thanks the Virgin of Regla for healing her from rheumatism in knees. She had terrible pain and didn’t work. She layer in bed all time. But now, thanks to the Virgin, she is cured.

The Sunday I made a tasty mole for my husband’s birthday dinner. But I dropped the pot, it fell and broke into pieces. The mole spilled on the floor. I felt miserable and didn’t know what to do because our guests were about to arrive. I was smitten with remorse so I entrusted myself to Saint Paschal. After that I picked up the mole in another pot. By the miracle it looked like it didn’t fall on the ground. On the contrary, it was tastier, and nobody became ill after eating it. I give thanks.

Margarita Peña was very nervous because of the arrival of her parents-in-law, who were coming from the capital. She broke the saucepan with the shrimp soup and burned the stew. Finding herself in such a disaster she entrusted herself to the mercy of the Virgin of San Juan. The Virgin made the parents-in-law miss the train and arrive the next day. Margarita gives thanks to the Virgin.

March 28, 1949

When I married Gregorio I didn’t know that besides being a kind man and a great lover he’s also a wonderful cook. He cooks almost every day, and I enjoyed all the food. I give thanks to the Virgin of San Juan for such a joy and for sending me my husband.