After leaving the town few years ago, when his bride had died on the way to the church, Roberto Mendival came back, full of memories. Since it was the Day of the Dead, he went to put some flowers on his late beloved one’s grave. He stayed over there till dark, reflecting about how it all could have gone different. Suddenly he heard some noise. He saw the dead men leaving their graves. And his bride Clara, who had turned into a skeleton, was among them. She saw her groom and hugged him. Other skeletons prepared everything for a wedding and were looking for a dead priest to conduct the ceremony. Although Roberto had feelings for his bride, he wasn’t into marrying the dead woman at all. He prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan, and the Virgin hastened the hour of the dawn. With the cockcrowing, the dead men rushed to their graves, and Roberto didn’t have to link his life with a skeleton. He thanks for that.

My beloved Casimiro spent too much time fighting alongside with Villistas. I was afraid that it wouldn’t end well for him. I prayed to Saint Anthony of Padua for protecting him. Some time later Casimiro returned to me to marry me. I thank for that.

Casilda Perez — Durango

My parents forced me to marry a rich landowner whom I didn’t love. However on the day of the wedding, Jesus Lopez, whom I always loved, came back to the town. He abducted me right in front of the church and took me on his horse. I thank the Blessed Sacrament because we’ll be happy now.

We, Jose, Luis and Pablo Martinez, dedicate this retablo to the Virgin of Juquila. Our border crossing guide left us but then came back. So we managed to get to New York and make a lot of dollars. Now we are going back to Mexico and we thank you for protecting us during these three years abroad.

Puebla — July 18, 1999

My husband was a heavy drinker, and God punished him with hallucinations. One day the hallucinations were so horrible and he saw strange monsters chasing him. He entrusted himself to the Virgin of Guadalupe, mounted the mule and left the village. God led him to the capital, in a place where several months later with Virgin’s help he was cured. He came back home cured from his madness, and he doesn’t drink anymore.

1939

Armando thanks Saint Sebastian because Felipe returned to him asking to forgive him for having doubts and suspecting that he was cheating on him.

January 16, 2000
Polanco, Mexico City

Eleazar Camargo went to the USA to make money but returned back really fucked up. He entrusted himself to Saint Martin and started to sell carnitas. The thing have been going pretty well, so he brings this retablo in gratitude.

Uruapan, 1935

I thank God and San Anthony of Padua for sending me a fiancé. I thought I would stay an old maid forever. And when I expected nothing to happen I heard a serenade. It was Pedro Lopez, a boyfriend that I had before and who came back from USA. We got married and now we are very happy.

Juanita Gomez
Colorado ranch, Jalisco, Mexico
27 May 1976

The Jimenes sisters’ cow Jasmina had been lost. The cow was almost a family member for them. So the sisters were very desperate. They searched the cow for more than two weeks, and the neighbors kept telling them that Jasmina must had already been chopped for steaks. But thanks to prayers to Saint Francis of Assisi one morning the cow turned up calmly walking by the road. The sisters give thanks for this miraculous return.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because I managed to stop taking drugs and I returned home to my parents, whom I love so much. I dedicate this retablo thanking you for helping me to get rid this bad habit.

Andres Torres
May 11, 1990
Tacubaya, Mexico

Gumersindo Jimenez went abroad for work when he was a little boy. He gives thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe because he managed to make some money. He bought a carousel and returned back to his beloved Mexico to work with his family.

Zitacuaro, Michoacan

I thank Saint Anthony of Padua with this humble retablo because my Maclovio came back to the ranch. He had gone very far away to work, and everybody was telling me that he’d never come back. I’m glad he kept his word, so now we’re going to get married.

Nicolasa Gomez
Guadalajara

My parents forced me to get married with a man I didn’t love only because he was a rich landowner. But it happened that exactly on the day of the wedding Jose Garcia, the man who I always loved, came back to town. He abducted me at the church door. I give thanks to the Blessed Sacrament because now we are going to be happy together.