Refugio Amezcua found himself in a serious danger when Evaristo Aguilar dragged him because of the borderland argument. He entrusted himself to Saint Christopher, and the rope broke, and he got free and safe. He brings this small retablo giving thanks.

Chanenetla, 1925

Señor Agustin Dominguez bought a piece of land and, when he was digging a foundation, found a chest with gold coins. He gives infinite thanks to Saint Bruno with this retablo for such a great luck.

I sold a piece of land I didn’t used so much and, with that money, I though of buying cows. When I went to the ranch La Purisima to buy them, I took a shortcut through the cacti. There was a group of bandits who ambushed me. They scared my horse away and asked for the money. But then my dog who’s very clever took the bag with the money and ran away. The bandits went after him, but the dog ran through the most dense cacti. Meanwhile, I escaped and soon found my horse. When I got home my dog was already there with the bag of money. I thank Virgin of Zapopan for this miracle.

Señor Ceferino Perez dedicates this humble retablo Saint Isidor Labourer in sign of gratitude for having such magnificent lands that gives delicious pulque, and the people in the village love it very much. May you be blessed.

Tlaxcala, Mexico

To Saint Sebastian the martyr, I dedicate this retablo to thank him for protecting my house and my lands during the floods.

Agustin Melchor

We thank the Virgin of San Juan and the little Child of Atocha for giving us the whole corn harvest. We can sell it and get married. We only ask for health to be able to keep on working on our lands.

The Sanchez family, Puebla, Mexico, 20–11–1996

I dedicate this retablo to Saint Nicholas because we bought a property just before the quarantine began. When there is nowhere to go we kept us sane breaking our backs every weekend in our beloved “quarantine garden”.

Napa Valley, California, 2020

I want to thank the Holy Lord of Chalma because I got my lands back and I’ve started to cultivate my agaves and sell pulque to live properly. The land was my inheritance left me by my father before his death. But my uncles took possession of it. I begged you to admit my rights, and you did it for me.

Juvencio Roque
Iztapaluca, Mexico, 1960

Rogaciano and his wife Maria Lopez dedicate this little humble retablo to Saint Isidor Laborer in eternal gratitude for their lands are very generous and their corn harvest are very good, with big and tasty corncobs.

Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico

My land became dry and infertile. I was in despair for not be able to harvest. One day the devil presented before myself and showed me how he can make a dry mound became green and flourishing. He said he could make it with all my lands in exchange for my soul. I was thinking about my family, and it was very tempting. But I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for I could resist the temptation. My resistance prevailed with the good rains coming to my land and making it green again. I give thanks.

Indalesio Jimenez who was seriously getting on my nerves because of a borderland issue came out of scrubland and threatened me. I thank the Merciful Lord because we made up and came to an agreement.

Margarito Garsia. Puebla, 1911

To my Lord and to the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, I offer this retablo because I got my lands back. I inherited them from my late parents and then the lands were taking from me without any reason as a mortgage. I prayed to you and now I work on my lands again as my parents’ wish. Bless me, Holy Virgin, since I’m all alone.

Serafin, Cuajumalpa, May 3, 1975

The Hernandez brothers, Ponciano and Salvador, bring this retablo to Saint Isidor the Labourer because they managed to buy some land in their village for the money they’d earned as farm-workers in USA. They thank from the bottom of their hearts.

Morelia, MIchoacan