Ruperta Canseco brings this retablo to Saint James giving thanks for she met the painter Frida who helped her to bring her son to the doctor when he received a blow in the balls from a mule.

Jeronima Tiomitzi was carrying a jug full of pulque, and when she passed near a damned mule she received a kick in her coccyx. She gives thanks to the Child of Atocha for she has been recovered and the owner of the mule has repaid for her jug and pulque.

Puebla, 1920

Our mule had always been very docile. But one day when we needed to get to San Martin earlier to take the better place to sell our flowers it got stubborn and refused to walk. More we pushed him, more he resisted. Then we asked Saint Francis for help. And he must have whispered something into the mule’s ear because suddenly the mule shook his ears and started walking. We managed to take place near the church and sold all our flowers. We thank for this miracle.

I offer this retablo to the Zacacalco Crucifix for helping me with the agaves. After selling my pulque I could buy this mule that helps me to deliver more orders in and out of the town. There are a lot of orders now. Bless my work as a pulque gatherer, give me strength and health.

Eligio Chavez
San Cristobal Zacacalco, Hidalgo
May 17, 1960

Catarino Telles, Nicolasa Ramirez’ son, was in bad conduiton after being hit in the testicles by a mule. No remedy would help him. Then he was entrusted to the Holy Child of Atocha.The next morning, he woke up healthy. He gives this retablo in gratitude.

Real del Monte, 1909

When my children and I were crossing the waterfall our mule fell off the cliff. We thank Holy Child of Atocha for it was caught by branches and the saint gave us enough strength to pull it up. I have no other explanation but miracle that I did it only with the help of my kids.

Our mule had always been very docile. But one day when we were going to San Miguel to sell our flowers it got stubborn and refused to walk. More we pushed him, more he resisted. Then we asked Saint Francis for help. And he must have whispered something into the mule’s ear because suddenly the mule began to walk very lively as if nothing had happened. We thank Saint Francis for that miracle.

When I was riding in the mountains I looked at the valley. And the devil disguised as a snake scared my mule, so we both fell down. I was falling and thinking that I’d die without having loved anyone. So I implored the Virgin of Guadalupe, and thanks to her my mule and I, we both fell into dense bushes. We didn’t brake any bone. I thank for that.

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

My donkey Clavelina got sick and I had to take the mule to go to the town to sell the flowers. The mule was very stubborn and bad-mannered. On the slope of the hill he no longer wanted to walk. No matter how much we pulled and pushed him, he didn’t move. Only after we asked Saint Francis for help we managed to made him go. So we arrived to the town and sold the flowers. Also I give thanks to the saint because he healed my Clavelina who is a very joyful and obedient donkey.

Jasinta Romero brings this retablo to Saint Nicholas because her puppy got better after her godfather’s mule had stamped on it.

Puebla, 1930

When we got stuck on a railway track, the Virgin of Guadalupe sent us two farmworkers with a mule. They helped us to cross the track right before the train. We thank for that.

July 19, 1966