I got this great idea to propose to my Chabelita in a trajinera-boat at Xochimilco. I thought it would be very romantic. But then I got so nervous I slipped and I fell into the lake. I give infinite thanks to Saint Anthony of Padua because I didn’t lose the ring—it fell inside the boat—and, despite this embarrassing moment, my fiancée said “yes” and made me very happy.

Genaro Roldan, Mexico City

Ciriano Perez gives thanks because we were drowning in the lake but my piggies saved us.

Zumpango, December 4, 1950

I took my girlfriend for a romantic boat ride on the lake. But at the middle of the lake, a monster appeared out of water and tried to climbed into the boat. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for I reacted immediately, although I was frightened to death, and I was able to push the monster far away with a paddle. Then I rowed for the shore at full speed, and now my girlfriend thinks I’m a hero.

I was coming back from fishing in my boat when I accidentally got myself into a part of lake I didn’t know well. Suddenly I stumbled upon three huge crocodiles. I got very scared because I had nothing to defend myself. That’s why I implored Saint Francis of Assisi for help, and then, by a miracle, those dangerous animals went away. I give thanks for that.

Rufino Villanueva — Tabasco, Mexico

We found a headless dove without blood on the set. It wasn’t a witchcraft but an extraterrestrial Peruvian chupacabra that drowned in the lake afterwards. I dedicate this retablo to Saint Genesius for saving our play.

Kumiko Aparicio Bilchir ~ Xochimilco, 2020

Calixto Santiago and his wife Carmencita were on their way to the town for milk when an enormous shining flying saucer came out from behind a mountain. They ran away from this big thing, but the saucer chased them and beamed them with light. They implored the Guadalupan for her intervention, and the object submerged in Zumpango lake not to come out.

1947

January 4, 1931, Eutimio Mora went to swim while he was fishing at the Champoton laguna and had an encounter with a crocodile of more than two meters long. It attacked him furiously, and, finding himself exhausted, he was lucky to entrust himself to the divine image and was saved. He brings the present retablo in gratitude.

I came close to the edge of the cliff on my horse to feel the absolute freedom and to see the world at my feet. But the ground was soft and started to crumble. We, man and horse, fell down. By the miracle of Saint Barbara, the deadly trajectory of our fall got curved and we fell into the lake. We were so much lucky that nothing happened with us. We swam to the shore and saved ourselves.

The boy Luis is walking at the bottom of the lake. Help me to cure him.

I got this great idea to propose to my Chabelita in a trajinera-boat at Xochimilco. I thought it would be very romantic. But then I got so nervous I slipped and I fell into lake. I give infinite thanks to Saint Anthony of Padua because I didn’t lose the ring—it fell inside the boat—and, despite this embarrassing moment, my fiancée said “yes” which made me very happy.

Ramiro Tellez, Mexico City

Ofelia Gonzalez got disappointed in love, so she threw herself into the lake wearing her wedding dress, since she wouldn’t use it anymore. But it happened so a fisherman noticed her and saved her. Ofelia thanks the Virgin of Zapopan because she met a new love in her savior.

My son Manuel had a congestion because he went swimming right after having a meal. He fainted and went straight to the bottom of the lake. I thank the Virgin of the Rosary who sent a dog that pull the boy out of the water before he drowned. My son is all right now, and the dog has become our pet. We thank the Virgin.

My son Manuel had a congestion because he went swimming right after having a meal. He fainted and went straight to the bottom of the lake. I thank the Virgin of the Rosary who sent a dog that pull the boy out of the water before he drowned. My son is all right now, and the dog has become our pet. We thank the Virgin.