Cesar Morales used to sleep with the daughter of a farmer. But one day the father caught them and pierced a Cesar’s leg by the pitchfork. He thanks Saint James with this retablo for healing.

When I lost my job my wife and I had to move to my mother-in-law. It was a true hell because she was very mean—she kept us as her servants and even forced me to massage her feet. I thank Saint Barbara for I finally found a job and we moved out. Now we are happy again.

Narciso Paz
Veracruz, Mexico

Rosito Lagaretta had a stomachache after eating his mother-in-law’s soup. He didn’t know she had tried to kill him and had poisoned the soup. When he found out about it, he asked Saint Cyprian for helping him get rid of his mother-in-law. One day she had a party and poisoned the orgeat syrup. But she was a fool to not know that Rosito doesn’t drink anything but beer. His mother-in-law and her daughter got drunk at the party and when they got thirsty they drank all the orgeat.

Now my wife rests in peace. I thank for her mother kicked the bucket alongside with her because I couldn’t stand her. She was treating me very badly.

Puebla

I, Roberto Pilar, thank the Souls in the Purgatory for help. I was a faggot since childhood. I loved dolls, I dressed up as a girl. But my father used to beat me for that. Later I was dating a doctor named Butcher. Thanks to the Souls, I ran away from my home and now live as a woman. I dedicate this exvoto.

Mexico City, Tlalpan
January 11, 1970

Since the parents of the girl I liked didn’t allow us to be together, I had to steal her. I give thanks to Saint Anthony because after that they realized that our love is true. so now, my Lupita and I, we are very happy living together.

Cristoforo Vargas
State of Mexico

I thank my mother Leticia who healed my heart when I was sad with her knowledge and some tea with medical herbs.

With love, Itzayana
10/05/17

Catarino Menendes was going through the cemetery and met his mother-in-law’s soul. She wanted to grab him, so he prayed Saint Jude for protection. The old witch didn’t get him, and he thanks for this mayor favor although he lost his sombrero hat and his bottle of tequila.

Puebla, 1915

November 2, 1917, the Day of the Dead, Facundo Ruiz went to the cemetery, and there his mother-in-law’s ghost appeared to him. She tried to catch him. Facundo thanks the Holy Child of Atocha for protection so that damned old-sack didn’t get him.

Zacatlan, 1917

I liked my neighbor, and she responded me. But we were secretly seeing each other for she had a grumpy and violent father who didn’t let her to have a boyfriend. One night I climbed to her room to see her, and her father caught us by surprise with a pistol in his hand. I thank Saint Benedict for illuminating me to pretend a sleep-walker. With his divine help, her father believed it, so I saved my skin.

Nepomuceno Diaz
Guanajuato, Mexico

Felipe Rodriguez got tired of her food being constantly criticized by her mother-in-law. She blew her with a frying-pan and split her head open. Felipe thanks Saint Pascual Baylon for she didn’t stay in jail for a long time.

I dedicate this retablo to Saint John Bosco thanking him because my husband is such naive and innocent and he doesn’t know that when he goes to his work I’m secretly seeing my ex-boyfriend. I do not like cheating on him but I married him pressured by my parents and our marriage has always been pretty boring.

Sonia N.
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon

We thank the Virgin Mary for we had made it to the other side without getting caught, although my brother Carlos caught the flu. Now, after 10 years in States, we got our documents and we aren’t illegals anymore. We ordered to build a new house for our mother who never wanted to go with us. That’s how much she loves her grandsons, so she preferred to stay with our sisters.

Agustin & Jose, 1956

Leopolda Tecanguey 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, that her mother-in-law even licks her fingers after the meal. Leopolda thanks for that.

Puebla, 1920