Señora Canute Bermejo was ordered to make mole for the master’s wedding but it turned sour. She was heartbroken and implored Saint Paschal for help, and the mole stayed good. She gives infinite thanks for, although everyone suffered diarrhea, nobody kicked the bucket.

Puebla, 1927

Cayetana Pantoja was cooking mole at the kitchen, when a dog ran chasing a cat and overthrew the pot with boiling mole on her legs. Through this retablo, she thanks Saint Paschal because the burns were minors.

Puebla, 1925

I thank Saint Paschal Baylon with this retablo for having met my Maria. I love Mexican food, and she is an excellent cook. I used to travel a lot to Mexico for my work, then we met and got married and I stayed here. I’m very happy because she cooks for me, with great love, mole, quesadillas, chalupas, tacos and many other delicious dishes.

Robert Johnson \ Mexico City

I thank the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe for letting me put offerings to my dead. I saved some money for everything—mole, tequila, sweets, flowers, tamale. I beg for my dear ones so they rest in peace and find eternal light.

Camila Garcia was ordered to prepare a mole, but her kiddo lost two turkeys. She thanks Saint Paschal Baylon with this retablo for the turkeys were found, although she isn’t sure they are the ones.

With this retablo, I testify my gratitude to Saint Paschal Baylon for giving a great taste to my dishes, especially to mole poblano and chiles en nogada.

Puebla, 1910

My patrons asked me to cook some mole and two turkeys. I was feeling bad to kill birds. I thank Saint Paschal because I convinced my patrons to have another dish and they even gave me those two turkeys as a gift. I took them back to my hut, and I’m very glad.

Carmela Jimenez

Oaxaca, Mexico

To you, Miraculous Virgin of Guadalupe, I offer this retablo thanking for saving my tit when I accidentally got it in my mortar while grinding corn. I was in a terrible pain but you helped me. I also thank you, Saint Paschal Baylon, because despite all this my mole wasn’t bitter and everyone liked it. I give thanks for this favor.

Agustina Perez—Puebla de los Angeles—August 17, 1937

The sisters of the Divine Mercy Congregation thank Saint Paschal Baylon with this retablo for their good sales of mole and chiles en nogada. They were selling food to collect money for the reconstruction of the convent damaged by an earthquake.

Puebla de los Angeles, 1958

We were chatting and forgot that we left a pot with mole on the stove. We were cooking it to sale. Then we went to the market for turkey, and when we were back, we saw that the pan had been completely on fire and almost burnt our kitchen. My friend and I desperately prayed Saint Paschal for help and began to extinguish the fire with the pot with water. We managed to do so avoiding big fire, and we thank the saint.

Petra Cosme and Ramona Tlachi / Cuetzalan, 1949

Petra Sanchez was preparing mole at the kitchen when suddenly a rat ran on her leg up to the groin. Petra thanks Saint Paschal Baylon for the rat didn’t bite her.

Puebla, 1917

Isabel Morales prepared such a delicious mole de caderas that even her late husband came to try it. She thanks God for having seen her husband.

I thank Saint Paschal Baylon with this retablo for having met my Maria. I love Mexican food, and she is an excellent cook. I used to travel a lot to Mexico for my work, then we met and got married and I stayed here. I’m very happy because she cooks for me, with great love, mole, quesadillas, chalupas, tacos and many other delicious dishes.

Robert Johnson \ Mexico City