I was weeding the hillock in my beloved San Miguel at the dusk, when suddenly the ground yawned and a creature that had tentacles like an octopus came out of it. I was frozen and didn’t know what to do. The beast was looking at me with its enormous eyes. It tried to grab me. I implored the Brown-skin Virgin to give me strength. Then I took my machete and hit it with all might. The monster went back into the hole, and I survived.

Ruperto N., 1980

Pedro Flores had a pulque bar, and there was one rogue who had robbed his place. Pedro entrusted himself to the Virgin of Juquila, and, when the assailant came back again with a machete, he and his friend were waiting for him with pistols. The bastard ran away and never came back. Pedro gives infinite thanks for that.

Puebla, 1917

Lupita Martinez was a very pretty girl, and she had two suitors who were fighting for her love. On July 3, 1948, they got in a fight with machetes. She didn’t want to be responsible for a tragedy and asked Saint Michael the Archangel for help. He made it hail so heavy that the guys cooled down and stopped fighting.

Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe for saving me from my old lady Petronila’s machete, when she furiously attacked me, because I hadn’t been at home for four days, drinking pulque with my buddy El Chipujas. My old lady came and started swinging machete.

Nopaltepec
October 10, 1930

Enrique Chavez got a serious quarrel with his brother-in-law which got so angry that he cut Enrique’s belly with a machete. His guts dropped out. His wife prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe, and miraculously, after many surgeries, Enrique was saved. They offer this retablo in gratitude.

With machete in hands we rose up to fight for our land rejecting the construction of the airport and ridiculous expropriation. We knew we weren’t alone and with the blessing of the Virgin of Guadalupe we would achieve what we wanted. We showed them that we weren’t going to sit on our hands and we would defend our land with our lives if it would be necessary.

The people of San Salvador Atenco, state of Mexico
August 1, 2002

In 2002, there were protests in San Salvador Atenco. The violent mass protests against federal and local government were caused by the planned construction of a new international airport for Mexico City. The construction of the airport was cancelled.

When I cut the stubble, I cut my hand with machete. The cut began to fester, and I couldn’t do anything. I implored to the Holy Face of God for healing. Now I thank him because my hand got better. I dedicate this retablo.

Aquilino Chavez
June 13, 1930

Ruben Garcia was attacked by some bastard with machete. He chop the Ruben’s hand off. Ruben thanks Saint Juan Diego because he was helped promptly and they managed to stitch his hand back. And the offender was thrown in jail.