When I was caught by the rebels, their leader Tallarin ordered to hang me on a tree. I entrusted myself to the Virgin of San Juan. She heard my prayers and saved me from death. I bring this retablo thanking her.

Zacatlan, 1914

November 28, 1911, don Emiliano Zapata announced the Ayala plan. We entrusted ourselves to the Virgin of Guadalupe and eagerly started the fight for our lands promising to protect them till the end. We dedicated our lives to the fight for justice and honor, for our land and for our freedom.

The Zapatistas
Ayala, Morelos

There was a legend in my town about a ghost of a villista who rode the horse on the Night of All Saints. I never believed that but that night I worked late in the mountains, and on the way back to my hut I bumped into that ghost. He told me to go with him to the Revolution. I prayed the Virgin of Zapopan, and that moment the ghost disappeared. I thank for I didn’t die of fear.

Ponciano Morales
Durango, Mexico

There was a legend in my town about a ghost of a villista who rode the horse on the Night of All Saints. I never believed that but that night I drank too much mezcal and on my way back to my hut I bumped into that ghost. He told me to go with him to the Revolution. I prayed the Virgin of San Juan, and that moment the ghost disappeared. I thank for I didn’t die of fear.

Feliciano Piña
Durango, Mexico

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe with this retablo because I managed to execute the mission imposed on me by mr. Madero. With these great, brave women and with their tricks, we managed to transport successfully the arms and the ammunition in trains—from the border with Texas to Piedras Negras, Coahuila—to protect the “San Luis” plan.

A. Aguirre Benavides
October 1910

That’s how we celebrated that night till dawn with the adelitas (women soldiers) who had taken Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, with the Zaragoza brigade. Thanks to our protectress, Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, the town was surrounded to my general Francisco Villa. Saturday, November 15, 1913, there was a clear victory. Look after our women who risked their lives for this cause.

Simon Trejo

1914, the train was attacked by the Villistas near Chihuahua. They took my wife and my mother-in-law. I hid myself and entrusted myself to the Holy Child of Atocha to whom I gave thanks because they didn’t see me.

This is ex-voto of thanks to the leaders of Soviet revolution. If it hadn’t happened I couldn’t have had highly qualified workers from east for next to nothing. I’ve already had three musicians from Kiev Symphony Orchestra working for me as stevedores carrying cement. Now I have a surgeon working on a crane and two Ukrainian women at the kitchen. They were ballet dancers back in their homeland. They’re nice-looking broads, it’s nothing wrong with their bodies, probably because of gymnastics <…>

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

November 20, 1910, the people of Mexico took up arms at the call of Francisco Madero. Entrusting themselves to the Virgin of Guadalupe, the people fought doughtily for their rights, under the slogans “Viva the revolution!” and “Down with the bad government!”. With the faith in the better life and lands, and liberty, people fought for a free and independent Mexico. Don’t forget that there’s no other country like Mexico. Viva Mexico! Viva the revolution!

Minas de Cristo, Mexico City
November 20, 2010

I give thanks to the queen of my fatherland, Saint Mary of Guadalupe, for giving me health and a job to tell these stories about the revolution that goes on even now. This great woman, Elin Luque, opened the doors of the Casa Lamm for me. She is doing a marvelous work saving and protecting the value, customs and tradition of the Mexican exvoto. Because the art is a miracle that never dies. Till I have faith, hope and love, I swear my brushes speak for my fatherland.

Alfredo Vilchis Roque
Corner of the miracles
Minas de Cristo, Mexico
January 2011

Elin Luque Agraz is an art historian, curator and director of the Casa Lamm Cultural Center in Mexico.

There were some apple trees near the river, and the apples had ripened. We went to gather them before they fall to the ground. When we were coming back with baskets full of apples the terrifying encounter happened. We met two skeletons of revolutionaries on our way. One of them was zapatista, the other one was his companion-adelita. They went with their horse. When we saw them we entrusted ourselves to the Virgin of the Rosary. The skeletons passed by and didn’t notice us. Later we found out that they had been waiting in ambush since the Revolution and that day they inspected around. We thank the Virgin because if we had said one world they would have killed us.

Adelita is a type of woman warrior who accompanied a revolutionary during the Mexican Revolution. The term derived from the popular revolutionary song “La Adelita”.

I give thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe because I survived and bore our Standard of Zapatista Army at the Triumphal Parade to the National Palace in Mexico where my general, don Emiliano Zapata, and general Francisco Villa received a great ovation from the people. I proudly present this retablo that depicts that day, December 6, 1914. May the Virgin protect us who are fighting in the Revolution under her protection.

Zapatista and guadalupano Antonio Basona