My father didn’t like that I was going out with Raul. But we loved each other. So we kept dating, but we met at the cemetery at night so nobody from the town would see us. One of those nights, we saw a couple of skeletons. They came out of their graves, and he was swearing her his eternal love. We were so overwhelmed with what we saw, the next day, I announced to my father that if he wouldn’t allow Raul visiting me at home, I’d run with him (?). Thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe he understood me, so we can date openly.

I was very shy and had no girlfriend. One day I met a beautiful girl on the internet. In order to be accepted by her, I wrote her that I’m handsome and sent her photos of another man. I thank Saint Anthony of Padua because when we finally met in person, she forgave my lies and told me that she loves me not for my look but for what I’m inside. Now my Dulce and I love each other very much.

Gaspar Tellez, 2002

Every day at lunch, my boyfriend and his colleagues go buy tacos from a very flirtatious woman. I thank Saint Benedict for my boyfriend shows me his love and never falls into the temptation. This woman flirt with everybody all the time. But I don’t worry because my Raymundo is faithful to me.

Refugio Vallejo
Villahermosa, Tabasco

Samuel Rodrigues fell in love with two mermaids. They enchanted him with their singing. He couldn’t eat, he couldn’t sleep, he didn’t want to work but spent all days long at the bottom of the laguna. Until one day he saw the mermaids eating with their big sharp-toothed mouth. He thanks the Virgin of the Rosary for delivering him from those monsters’ spell.

I offer this retablo to Saint Rose. I decided to visit very famous lesbian tattoo artist in Tijuana to make a surprise for my husband’s birthday. But when my hubby saw my body all covered in tattoos he freaked out and kicked me out. He didn’t want to know me anymore. But the most amazing thing was that after this I came back to Tijuana and went to the lesbian artist with whom I had already started falling in love. Now we’re living and making tattoos together.

I met a woman of my dreams. But every time I was at her home and tried to kiss her, her cat began to meowing like crazy. Then her grandmother came in the room with angry face. I was desperate and asked the Virgin of Guadalupe for help. The grandmother decided to go live with her other grandsons, and she took the cat with her. Now nobody interrupts me while I’m kissing my Rosita.

J. F. brings this retablo thanking Saint Charbel for they didn’t found, at the University where he is working, about an improper love affair he had with a student.

We thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for giving us the opportunity to celebrate one more year of being together as a couple. We were bullied for being homosexuals, but we didn’t care because we are happy.

February 14, 2009
Acapulco, Mx.

All my family kept telling me that I have to lose weight. They told I was of at I’d never find a husband. I tried to lose some pounds, but I couldn’t do it. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because, despite my weight, I’m always in cheerful mood, I laugh and sing. Thanks to that the most handsome guy in town fell in love with me. I can always make him laugh and he forgets about his problems. We had a wedding, we are happy, and the love has even helped me to lose some weight.

I took Dorita for a boat ride down the river. I planed to read her some poetry and declare my love to her. But when we passed the old cemetery down the river we saw dead men. They had come out their grave and were dancing, gathering flowers and waving to us. Dorita was so frightened that I though she’d never accept my proposal after this ride. However, thank to the Virgin of Guadalupe she agreed to marry me despite everything.

My fiancé went to work to the North. Some time later I stopped receiving his letters. I though he had forgiven about me. I was disappointed and angry. Thats why I accepted the marriage with Ramon Alcantara, although I didn’t love him at all. But on the day of the wedding, my old fiancee Fernando came riding horse, grabbed me and took me away. We got married in another town. Then I found out it was my brother who hid the Fernando’s letters because he disliked him. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because my love came back to me right in time and I didn’t make such a horrible mistake.

We thank St. Francis for our families accepted our relationship, so from now on we can live together.

Juan Soria & Rogelio Flores
Mexico City, 1992

St. Anthony, I’m desperately asking you for a man who would love me and would marry me.

September, 7, 2007

* * *

St. Anthony, I’m deeply thanking you for I met the love of my life.

September, 7, 2008