I give thanks to Magdalena who let me paint her and tell about her life. I ask Saint Jude Thaddeus to guard and protect her and to bless her life.

It happened one night in October 1990 on the street corner in the blessed city of Mexico.

Alfredo Vilchis Roque

The artist is holding “Stories of a night butterfly” in his hands.

I give thanks to Saint Anthony who always protected me so I could continue to do this job. It helps me to support my kids so they will have a good education and will become worthy people.

Lalis
Mexico, 1969

Virgin of Guadalupe, thank you for protecting me. A rude drunk threatened me with the pistol because I refused to dance with him. Another guy, noticing that annoying man, ventured on a very bold step. He started to dance with me, protecting me from the drunk with his own body. I thank the Virgin because this is my job and I make a living in this way.

Marta

It happened in the cabaret “San Francisco” on December 15, 1972.

I dedicate this retablo to the Virgin of the Solitude because I managed to work another year on this angle to send money back to Oaxaca to my parents so they wouldn’t lack anything. I beg from the bottom of my heart to look after them for me.

Morena
Merced, Mexico City — May 10, 2009

The man whom I fell in love with deceived me and made me sell my body on the street. I give thanks to the Holy Child because my parents forgave me and now I’m going back to Zacatecas which I would have never left.

Escandón, 1984

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because I was tested negative for AIDS, so I can continue to work as a prostitute to pay for my husband’s spine surgery and to provide for my family.

Magdalena Rubio
Merced, Mexico City, 1990

Fortino Ramos loved to go out with loose women until he caught an infection which wouldn’t go away. He entrusted himself to Saint Jude promising to offer a retablo for cure. And now, as he has been cured, he presents it.

I thank the Virgin of San Juan for sending me a man who took me out of prostitution and proposed me. Now I’m very happy with him. May you be blessed.

Sofia Izquierdo Ruiz
Guadalajara, 1955

Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, because I have a good corner where I work and earn my living.

Rosa

I thank the Virgin of the Light, because even I sell my body, I’m alright every day. Although I know it’s no good.

Mérida, Yucatán, 1959

I dedicate this retablo to Saint Andrew, because after so many prayers and many hours working on the streets I finally managed to pay for my breast augmentation surgery. So now the other girls won’t laugh at my tits, and all clients will go straight to me.

My two step-sisters and I thank the Virgin Mary Help [of Christians] because thanks to her compassion we had a splendid idea to dedicate ourselves to the female wrestling. We got lucky and we won all the fights. So now we don’t have to work as prostitutes.

Puebla, 1981

May you be blessed, Virgin of San Juan, for the miracle that I met a good man who loves me. It didn’t matter for him that I was a prostitute. He proposed me, and now we’re very happy together.

Claudia Perez
Merced, 1987