Virgin, I thank you for I am a prostitute and I have money for my kids.

Rita Perez

We were going through financial difficulties and we had no money to buy food for the family. And we had nothing to give to the animals so they had to provide for themselves. They looked at me with starving eyes, and I felt so bad. I thank the Virgin because our situation got better and now we had enough money. And I give double portion to the animals in order to make it up for them.

I thank Saint Jude because I was able to save some money to enlarge my boobs.

Elsi Camara

My dogs had five cute puppies. They were all so different so I decided to have all of them. I thank Saint Francis because my house is big enough and has a garden and I have enough money to keep all my dogs.

My family was going through financial difficulties. I wanted to help them within my abilities. I took all the flowers I was growing back in the garden and went to sell them in the Xochimilco dock. My flowers were so beautiful, I sold them in a moment. And the people wanted to buy more. So I opened a small flower shop. Now I give job for other families who help me. I’m very glad to work with such a beauty and earn money in this way. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for my luck.

Francisca Hernandez

My husband quit his job because he didn’t like it. However, instead of searching new one, he dedicated himself to sleeping all day long. We started spending our savings because the money I earned making cookies wasn’t enough. I prayed the Virgin of Zapopan, and thanks to her help my herbalist gave me herbal tea in leaves. I gave it to my husband every morning, and he has become very active. Now he has two jobs, and I thank the Virgin.

I stopped putting my rooster in fights because we both became old. But I suddenly found myself with a lot of debt and had no opportunities to pay them off. So I asked my rooster if he could fight for the last time during the big feast in Palenque and try to win the grand prize. The rooster agreed to do so. During the fight the enormous enemy-rooster tried to kill my rooster. I prayed the Virgin of Guadalupe. Thanks to her my rooster won. He got some wounds but he survived. We have payed the debts and there are enough money left for living the rest of our lives.

I went to the town to collect some money in order to pay to the workers from my rancho. I was followed by some suspicious evil-looking men. I entrusted myself to the Virgin of Zapopan and she made my horse run like a lighting. It ran so fast, we left those men behind. They were probably bandits. I thank for such a wonderful miracle and dedicate this retablo.

October 25, 1959

The Teodoro brothers and Lucio Garcia thanks Saint James the Apostle because they rooster El Giro won over the White Cock which had never lost a fight before. With the money they won they payed off their debts.

Aguascalientes, 1949

The music teacher Laura Rodriguez suffered a lot because the girls in the school where she gave lessons were horrible and very unquiet. She thanks the Virgin of Zapopan because now she can retire and with this money—together with her savings—she thinks about buying a piano to give private lessons to people who appreciate the music and can sing.

Some bandits attacked the train when Menche and I were on it carrying our money to buy the parcel near the river. I thank the Virgin who gave me strength and courage to go up to the roof with all my money. The bandits didn’t find me there and we bought the land that we wanted so much for having our own little rancho.

I thank Saint Francis because I earn enough money to support all the stray cats that come to my house. And they give me their love and keep me company.

Raquel Huerta thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe with this retablo for meeting a very handsome young man. And she doesn’t care that she has to support him.