It was getting dark. I went with my wife Lupita in the field to scrape the agave and gather the maguey sap with the acocote. Suddenly we noticed a horrible animal with wings and long teeth. It wanted to attack us. We entrusted ourselves to the Holy Child of Atocha so that he would protect us. Thank God we managed to escape.

Zitacuaro, Michoacan
May 3, 1985

Federico Aguilar Aguascalientes

Thank you, God, for saving us from the chupacabra.

Acocote is a long gourd pointed at both ends, used in Mexico for extracting the nectar of the maguey.

The Lopez brothers went fishing, and the sea snake appeared to them. They were petrified with fear. But their dog, that always went with them, started to bark and to grunt. The snake got scared and swam away. The brothers give thanks to the Virgin of Zapopan because the snake didn’t hurt them.

My husband was a heavy drinker, and God punished him with hallucinations. One day the hallucinations were so horrible and he saw strange monsters chasing him. He entrusted himself to the Virgin of Guadalupe, mounted the mule and left the village. God led him to the capital, in a place where several months later with Virgin’s help he was cured. He came back home cured from his madness, and he doesn’t drink anymore.

1939

Strange creatures appeared on my ceiling by night. But my prayers to the Virgin of the Solitude helped me to get rid of them. Thanks.

July 17, 1973

The Lopez sisters watched a horror movie in the cinema. And after, on their way home, they met a nagual in an alley. They thank the Virgin of Zapopan because with her protection they managed to run away from the spell of this horrifying monster.

At the dawn, I saw a giant “duende” with strange beings. Thanks to the Virgin they never came back.

1970

Duende is a mythological creature, similar to elfs and goblins.

When Estela and I were going to church we heard a strange buzzing noise. We turned the corner and we saw a light behind us and after that blue balls with eyes and feelers came out from a ship. They followed us. We ran to the church, filled with horror. We thank the Virgin of San Juan because those balls were moving slowly and they couldn’t catch us. Now we choose a longer way when we go to the church or to the market. But they say walking is good for health and it is an exercise for legs.

My sons went to the movie to watch a movie with monsters and mummy without asking my permission. After the movie they were so scared, that when they were going through a dark alley they imagined that there was a mummy growling at them. But my Samuel took out his medallion of the Virgin of San Juan, and the mummy got scared. So the kids ran away, and this monster didn’t follow them. I thank the Virgin for protecting my sons.

Ana Lopez

The devil tried to tempt me with an enormous pearl. It was so big and so beautiful, that I almost yielded to the temptation. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe, because she strengthened my belief and I resisted.

My sons went to the movie to watch a movie with monsters and mummy without asking my permission. After the movie they were so scared, that when they were going through a dark alley they imagined that there was a mummy growling at them. But my Samuel took out his medallion of the Virgin of Zapopan, and the mummy got scared. So the kids ran away, and this monster didn’t follow them. I thank the Virgin for protecting my sons.

Ana Maria Lopez de Perez

My little boy plays with a martian creature. Thanks to the Virgin it is not hurting my son.