My husband started to catch mermaids. I was very jealous seeing how beautiful they were. But when he saw that these damned gluttons were eating all his fish yield so he was left with nothing to sell, my husband finally came to his senses and released the mermaids back in the sea. I thank Saint Raphael, protector of the fishermen.

With this retablo I, Tiburcio Acosta, am thanking the Virgin of Guadalupe because a mermaid saved me when I was hit by the waves. She took me back on the beach and now I’m repaying you with this ex-voto.

Veracruz, August, 19 1970

My son had been charmed by a mermaid, and every day he took his boat and went to the reef to listen her singing. I was afraid that she could take him to the bottom of the sea as she had done before with many fishermen. I prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan, and thanks to her my son met a beautiful girl and he fell in love with her. That broke the charm of the mermaid. I thank for this miracle that saved my son.