There was a very pretty girl in our town that I liked very much. One night I embrace myself to give her a serenade without any idea that she had a very aggressive and grumpy father. I thank Saint Jude Thaddeus with this humble retablo because the mariachi and I could escape before he started to shoot at us with a shotgun he pulled out.

Liborio Zamora \ Guadalajara, Jalisco

I’m a single father. After my wife died I took charge of my little Mary. She had a desire that we’d dress up as her favorite fairy princess on her birthday. But I was afraid that the guest would laugh at me. I thank Saint James the Apostle because instead of laughs I received congratulations for this act of father love.

Rafael Corona ~ Villahermosa, Tabasco

I dedicate the present retablo to Saint Anne for granting me a miracle of being able to organize my Britney Guadalupe’s 15th birthday party. It was my dream since I had no such celebration. I was selling everything: tupperware, clothes, shoes, makeup by catalog and even tamales on Sundays. But it worth to see my little girl as a princess, so happy on her special day.

Carmelita Perez \ Morelia, Michoacan

Claudia Perez got pretty drunk and, acting crazy, had a brilliant idea to have sex with her step-dad. But her mother caught them and kicked her out of the house. She thanks Saint Martha with this retablo because she has sobered up and promises to be a better person.

Alberto Gonzalez fervently thanks the Merciful Lord with this retablo for he found his astray daughter who went prostituting herself. They reconciled and she came back on the right track.

My family members criticize me for studying philosophy in the university for more than 15 years. I thank Saint Expeditus for there is this wonderful magic weed that helps me to understand the philosophic concepts. I don’t care what people say and I don’t care about studying so long because with these trips I’ll become the greatest philosopher of the new millennium.

The sisters R. and A. Ortega loved to have orgies with the soccer team. But one day they were caught by a coach who told everything to their parents. The sisters thank the Virgin of San Juan with this retablo for they weren’t kicked out of the house but only scolded.

I used to drink pulque with my buddy every day, but one night that witch my mother-in-law and my wife kicked me off the bar with their brooms. I thank Saint Raymond for I didn’t become an idiot after so many blows since that old nag was absolutely furious and was hitting me with all her might. I promise to stop drinking because it’s better to not mess with these women.

Eulogio Coronel \ Teziutlan, Puebla

I thank the Virgin of the Valley because now I can stop worrying about this crafty Carlos—my little daughter Carmen’s boyfriend whom I don’t trust for a moment—putting his hands all over my girl. Now I’m playing maracas at the parties and I don’t loose him for a second while they dance.

My dear Christ of the Sacromonte always helps me when I’m in trouble with my wife’s family.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe. My daddy and my mommy were fighting and arguing all the time. One day they were hitting each other so violently that I prayed the Virgin promising her to dedicate a retablo if they stop fighting. I thank because our house is peaceful now and we leave happily.

Dionicia
Puebla, February 14, 1934

Filomena Venegas had difficulties with her mother-in-law because she didn’t know how to cook. She prayed to Saint Paschal Baylon, and now she cooks so delicious food, that even the mother-in-law licks her fingers after the meal. Filomena gives thanks for that.

Puebla, 1925

My father wasn’t very glad that I had a boyfriend, so Antonio and I had to meet secretly. One night we were at the cemetery where no one could see us. We were sitting on a grave and talking when we heard a music. We saw the dead leaving their graves and having a party. They played instruments and danced. We were very much frightened. We thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for we could escape and the skeletons didn’t see us.