When I watched the movie “From dusk till dawn” I completely fell in love with Salma Hayek after seeing her dancing with the snake. She became my platonic love. With this retablo, I thank the Saint James the Apostle because after many year of admiring her I finally could see her in person on a red carpet of one of her films. Few minutes I spent near her was the most marvelous moment of my life.

Francisco Ortiz \ Mexico City

Because of rumors my father didn’t accept my boyfriend and even forbade me to see him. But I still met with him secretly. However, one night my father caught us in my bedroom. He was furious, he grabbed his pistol to shoot my boyfriend. I implored Saint Raymond Nonnatus to not let a tragedy happen. The pistol misfired, and my boyfriend managed to escape. Afterwards, I spoke with my father, and he ended up liking my boyfriend. I dedicate this ex-voto for such a great miracle.

Sara Flores — Mexico, 1960

My poor cat had a bad luck to be a black one. Being rejected by the people he had developed shyness and had become very insecure—with the female cats as well. Lately he fell in love and completely lost his head over the kitty of our new neighbor. It was painful to see how insecure he was trying to conquer her. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because the kitty responded to him and now they are a happy couple.

During her tourist trip to Puebla, the Italian Antonella Peruzzi met a young painter Baltazar Mendez in the artistic neighborhood. She thanks Saint Anthony of Padua for having met in him the love she was always looking for. She married him and stayed to live in this beautiful city and wonderful country.

Puebla

I lied to my boyfriend out of fear and told him that I was a secretary while in fact I was working as a stripper. I thank Saint Raymond Nonnatus because when he proposed to me I revealed my secret, and he didn’t get angry. He understood me showing that he truly loves me and is not ashamed by my profession.

Esmeralda H. \ Tijuana, Baja California

There was a very pretty girl in our town that I liked very much. One night I embrace myself to give her a serenade without any idea that she had a very aggressive and grumpy father. I thank Saint Jude Thaddeus with this humble retablo because the mariachi and I could escape before he started to shoot at us with a shotgun he pulled out.

Epigmenio Reyes \ Zacatecas, Mexico

My fiancé Filemon and I tried to get married for many years but it was always that something unexpected happens and we have to cancel the wedding. I was losing any hope to get married. Then I decided to pray the Virgin of Zapopan every night, and she worked a miracle. This time everything was perfect, and we played the wedding. Everyone was happy to see us finally married. And I know that after so many stumbles we are going to be very happy.

Saint Jude Thaddeus, thank you for the happiness you gave me. I was looking for a partner so long and then I met Enrique, a boy from the capital. We began to date. I found the real love with him. Before him I had been treated very badly and bullied. My father had even kicked me out of house at midnight with a thunderstorm outside.

Oscar Muñoz
Acapulco, Guerrero, 1962

My boyfriend left me and went to another woman. I was depressed. I was going along the cliff and thinking to jump to the sea so I could end with this love pain. I was looking down at the waves crushing on the rocks and suddenly I slipped and fell down. While falling I realized that I definitely don’t want to die and no men is worth to be smashed over rocks because of him. I implored the Virgin of Zapopan and fell into the sea between the rocks. I could swim out. I thank for this miracle because now I could love again and find someone who’s better then that one who dumped me.

A mermaid fell in love with my Manuel. She was so jealous with me she grabbed my hair and tried to drown me taking to the bottom of the sea. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because Manuel had enough strength to not let the mermaid take me and he saved me.

The day of the wedding, I got a lot of doubts and got scared of marriage. I was so frightened I ran off the wedding. My parents and my fiancé were screaming behind my back and called me back. I heard their voices but kept running. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for I finally calmed down. I sat under a tree to make my mind. Then I come back right before the start of the ceremony. I wasn’t scared anymore. Now I’m very happy with my husband, and I understand that my doubts came out of the fear of my new life because I had no idea how it could go.

Alma Rosa P. was in love with her colleague but didn’t know how to win him over. She devotedly thanks Saint Jude because one day she let him see her assets and it was enough. Now they’re lovers.

Every time I went to sell the flowers to the town square, a very happy young man used to pass by and salute me. I liked him a lot. I dedicate this retablo to Saint Anthony because that man finally decided to ask me to court me and now we are couple—my Aurelio and I.

Remedios Pascual, Zacatecas