I thank for I have a new boss now who gives me everything—woman and liquor non-stop.

Priest Fidel — Oaxaca, Mexico, 1965

I thank the Virgin of Talpa for giving me the opportunity of studying her retablos and for it was possible, thanks to the generous support of many people, to publish this book about her. I ask God for his intercession and to always look after the priests of Talpa, holy fathers Estrada Sting, Enrique Flores and Salazar Gonzalez, as well as Martha Becerra, don Francisco Arias and mr. Ernesto Valdez.

Prof. Elin Luque Agraz, Mexico City, May 10, 2015

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for I arrived right before this lousy priest would rape my boy when I sent him to confess. I ask God to punish this damned priest.

Anastacia Perez Castillo
Mexico City, 1967

When Elisa and I were engaged, she was so jealous that on the day of the wedding, after the banquet, she was on edge and she died of indigestion. Three years later I decided to marry again. I met a nice beautiful girl, and we got married. After our honeymoon, when we were back, Elisa’s ghost began to appear in our bedroom. She was furious and stared at us with anger. I was frightened, I prayed the Virgin of Zapopan for her soul. I even brought a priest and sprinkled holy water. Her soul rested in peace, and now we can sleep with peace.

Ramiro Balbuena, 1960

Dulce Maria Morales’ mother-in-law doña Martiniana used to have anger attacks during which she seemed demoniacal. The father Ruperto told Dulce to pour holy water in the mother-in-law’s tea and to pray to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Some time later she changed. Dulce thanks Our Lady for her help.

Etla, Mexico, 1970

To our Lord Jesus Christ, I ask to forgive me for what I did when I found out that the priest abused my son. But since neither the church nor the government have done anything after so many similar cases, I did it.

Filomeno M., 13–11–2018

I thank the pious John Paul because, when I was accused by some demons in some horrible sins, I entrusted myself to him and nothing happened to me.

Marcial

Notes:
Marcial Maciel was a Mexican Catholic priest who was involved in a scandal with accusations that he had sexually abused many minors and fathered a total of six children by three different women. He was close to Pope John Paul II, and Vatican chose not to prosecute Maciel. However, the next pope Benedict XVI forced him to retire from active ministry.

God in the highest, thank you because you protected our parish priest when the authorities were looking for him because they said he’d raped some people when they were children. But I know that he didn’t do it by evil because he did it to me also and I know he did it with love because the holy father is very kind and not in bad faith. That’s why you looked after him because you’re also very kind.

Gustavo Rodriguez was a priest but he fell into sin and had sex with a parishioner. He thanks Saint Peter with the present retablo because he got courage to quit the priesthood, and his life has become more peaceful.

We thank God because the father Fray Tormenta won this fight so he could keep helping the children from the streets and helpless women who need his support. For his generosity and modesty we dedicate this to him, with all our hearts.

San Juan Teotihuacan — April 30, 1994

The father Macario Mendoza brings the present retablo to Saint Pascual Baylon thanking him for he got recovered from a bad typhus and now can enjoy again chiles en nogada made by the nuns of the convent.

Puebla, 1917

I thank Saint Francis for saving me from exploding like a petard when my aunt sent me to put the town ammunition dump on fire after she was caught with the father Vladimiro under the Saint Francis’ habit.

October 3, 1967
Ixtlán de los Hervores, Michoacan

We offer this retablo to the Virgin of Guadalupe because the holy father Fray Tormenta won this fight in order to help the children from the streets and helpless women. They pray for him seeing his generosity and modesty. We entrust him to you, with all our hearts, for his help.

San Juan Teotihuacan, December 31, 1993