Raul Rodriguez was a professional musician and played saxophone. But his neighbors always complained. They didn’t let him rehearse in peace, they even threw some things in his window. They didn’t like the music. The landlord even wanted to throw Raul out. Raul thanks the Virgin because his fellows musicians rented out a room in their house to him. Now he can rehearse without being thrown trash.

Roberto P. used to spy on his sexy neighbor while she was hanging washing out. One day she noticed him and instead of getting angry she made him her lover. Roberto thanks Saint Charnel with this retablo.

A flower pot fell on the Laura Rodriguez’ head because of two dogs fighting. Laura lost her memory and forgot her name and where she lived. Fortunately, one of her neighbors saw her wandering confusedly and took her home. Laura thanks the Virgin of the Rosary because she got her memory back, although sometimes she still has doubts about her name.

Petronila Rodriguez loved to flirt with her neighbors. But one day one of them got drunk and got in her bedroom. She thanks Saint Martin for saving her and promises to not be such a coquette.

My bedroom was filled with rats. They came out every night, and I was scared to go to the bathroom because they could have gotten in my bed. My cats though were so lazy, they didn’t catch them and slept all the time. Thanks to my prayers to the Virgin of Zapopan she gave me an idea to ask my neighbor for her cat. Her cat got through with the rats in one night. My cats were ashamed and now they stay awake at night and patrol the house so I have no more rats.

Elvira Torres loved to spy on her neighbor while he was undressing. But one day he noticed her, and she got very embarrassed. She promises to Saint Raymond to try to resist her impulses, although it’s gonna be difficult.

My neighbor loved to listen radio very loudly until one day I hit him in the teeth. I ask Saint Francis to forgive me for my bad action, which I went to jail for.

My husband started to kick and gesticulate in his sleep. Sometimes he even pushed me of the bed. I had no idea how to calm him down until one day my neighbor recommended to give him valerian tea with tequila. Now my hubby sleeps like an angel. I give thanks to the Virgin of San Juan.

Our new neighbor had an enormous and angry dog that scared my cats. I was afraid that one day it could kill one of them. So I prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan for protection, and thanks to her the neighbor didn’t stay for long here. He found a much better house on the other side of the town. He moved there, delivering my cats from his beast.

Andres Ortega thanks the Virgin of the Solitude with this retablo because no damage was done to his house during the strong hurricane. He also asks to give him strength to help his less fortunate neighbors.

My neighbors’s pigs were eating my cabbages. They were very voracious. I prayed to Saint Francis, and he worked a miracle. So now my neighbor keeps his pigs in pigsty. Thanks.

With this drawing, I want to thank Saint Francis for the miracle he made. Your slave Juan Luis Rubert had some drinks in the bar. On the way back, I was riding a horse and hit my head on a badly planted tree. I fell off the horse and broke two ribs and one leg. On top of everything I was stung by a viper.

However, that moonless night Saint Francis heard my prayers. He sent me my neighbor Geniero, who was passing by on his donkey. He took me to the hospital where I met Dr. Paty and fell in love with her.

Mexico City — December 2013

With this drawing, your slave Juan Luis thanks you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for teaching him new tricks to please his wife, who already was making eyes at the neighbor Raul and others.