Since the rains continued for a long time, we couldn’t work, because the materials deteriorated. We prayed to the Virgin of San Juan because we were scared we would be fired because we weren’t working. But the engineer understood us and didn’t fire us. He even celebrated the Day of the Holy Cross with us. We present this humble retablo, as we promised.

Michoacan, 1970
Lucio and Evelio Grajales

When I came out of my house to go to the church to marry my beloved Juan, I slipped on a banana peel that one of my sisters had thrown on the ground. There were a lot of puddles around because it had rained the night before, but the Virgin of Zapopan worked the miracle so I fell at the dry spot and didn’t soil my dress. To ruin my wedding dress few minutes before the most important moment of my life would’ve been horrible. I thank the Virgin because everything went well and I got married without problems.

Gudelia Meneses had to go shopping. Since it was raining and she didn’t want to ruin her new shoes, she put her husband boots on. But they were so big, she slipped and fell in a puddle. She hit her coccyx so bad, she though she’d become paralyzed. She thanks the Virgin of the Rosary for her quick recovery from the back pain.

A rainy day, a demon began to follow me. He followed me for a week like a dog without a master. To scare him off, I put an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe on my back. It chased the demon away, and he doesn’t follow me anymore.

Artemio and Araceli Ramirez prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe because it didn’t rain for a long time and their harvest was drying. The Holy Virgin send them rains and saved the harvest.

Hidalgo, 23 June 1973

The Feast of San Juan is celebrated on June 24. We pray for a good monsoon to bring us the necessary rains that help the plants and animals. When the rains start, the desert comes to life. The smell of the wet creosote in the cool breeze gives a welcome relief. Early the next morning worms of flying ants hover in the air. The creeks and washes flow into the Santa Cruz river and within days, everything is green.

Because of our lack of money, we couldn’t build a stable. And every time when it rained, my wife brought the cow in the house so that it wouldn’t get wet. I hated to see cow’s muzzle waking up. I prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe for money for the stable, so now the animal sleeps over there.

My old shoes’ soles were cracking. Since it had been raining for a few hours, I didn’t want to ruin my new shoes, so I decided to wear my husband’s boots. But they were so big, that I stumbled and fell in a puddle. I hit my back, and it was so painful. I was scared that I’d be bedridden for the rest of my life. My prayers to the Virgin of Zapopan were heard though, and I recovered pretty soon.

Saint Isidore, thank you for bringing us the rains. My cows were dying without water and there was no place to graze them.

Felipe & Fidel
Metepec, Mexico
June 7, 1990

Because of our lack of money, we couldn’t build a stable. And every time when it rained, my wife brought the cow in the house so that it wouldn’t get wet. I hated that, because this damned animal licked my feet and waked me up. I prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe for money for the stable. The Virgin worked that miracle for me, and now the cow sleeps outside.

St. Isidore the Labourer. thank you for sending us the rains that brought the land to life. It didn’t yield for years because of the drought that had struck the villages around Metepec. I prayed for you help, and you send it to us. I bring you this retablo on your feast day, May, 15, 1960.

Facundo

There was a big drought in 1963 and 1964. The soil started to crack and my animals were dying. I thank Saint Isidore the Labourer because finally, after many prayers and requests, 28th of july a heavy thunderstorm arrived with rain falling several days after.