I was washing the clothes in the river, when one of my shirt was taken by the current. I rushed to catch it, but the current was so strong, that I was carried down to the waterfall [...] I hit the rocks, but thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe I managed to get out the water [...] I thank the Virgin because now I’m getting better.

We went fishing and saw dancing skeletons on the river-bank. We thank the Virgin because we managed to escape from there.

Pedro Telles enjoyed spying on his mistress when she was taking a bath naked in the river. One day she noticed him, but instead of firing Pedro, they became lovers. Pedro thanks Saint Anthony for that.

Juan Pablo Rodrigez desperately asked the Virgin fro help. His sheep fell into the water, and he thought they were going to drown. The Virgin helped him, and he give thanks.

The girl went to swim in the river and met a crocodile. Saint Barbara saved her.

My son Ramiro was taken by the current. He didn’t know how to swim. But the Virgin of Zapopan send a brave and intelligent dog who saved him before he would have drowned.

Francisca Rodriguez Perez

We thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for letting us cross the river and arrive to the USA for work. From the bottom of the heart we offer you this retablo.

The Ramiraz Gutierrez family
Guadalajara, Jalisco
July 10, 1979

Jose gives thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe for letting him cross the Rio Bravo (Rio Grande) without being seen by immigration police. So he could fulfill his American dream and earn some bucks for helping his family in Mexico.

25 January 1990

My little sons were swimming in the river when suddenly came a giant toothy crocodile. I thank the Virgin because only by her infinite mercy the animal did nothing to them and I managed to get them out the river.

We offer this retablo to the Virgin of San Juan for the miracle that we arrived to USA after we had met the immigration police but managed to escape.

Antonio & Julio, 1941
Jalisco

I wanted to go to the Town Day celebration, so early at the morning, when even the sun had not yet arisen, I went to the river wash my clothes. There I met a nagual with long sharp claws. He went towards me. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe [. . .]

Ofelia Carrasco thanks Saint Francis because her lost puppy was found in the dirty river, so now everybody calmed down.

I, Vicente from the José López Portillo neighborhood, lost my job. I had no education, so I decided to pursue the american dream and went as illegal immigrant to USA. I heard a lot about it from my neighbors. During the river-crossing my two guides, whom I had payed, left me to the mercy of fate. In a danger moment when I almost got caught, I prayed to the Our Lady of all Mexicans. She helped me and I arrived to USA. I promised her a retablo. After many troubles, things were getting better. Now I’m coming back home and I keep my promise.

Mexico, 1990