Dominga Ruiz was alone with her cats when an abusive robber paid her a visit. He threatened her with death, and she implored Saint Teresa whom she thanks, with fervent devotion, because her cats defended her, and the robber got badly screwed and ran away.

Puebla, 1920

I very much love going to the wrestling. But the other night, after the performances, I decided to pass through a deserted alley. Suddenly a robber jumped on me and grabbed my bag. I thank Saint Rita of Cascia because my idol the Eagle Prince was passing by. He heard my screams and ran to help me. He caught the robber, and now I admire him even more.

Lolita Gallardo, Mexico City

When I was coming to Monterrey with the money for the land I’d sold, I was attacked. I implored the Virgin of the Rosary, but then Agapito Treviño’s ghost, or the White Horse, appeared. The robber ran away. Since I don’t know who helped me more, this retablo is for both of them.

Ramon Martinez, Monterrey, 2020

Pedro Flores had a pulque bar, and there was one rogue who had robbed his place. Pedro entrusted himself to the Virgin of Juquila, and, when the assailant came back again with a machete, he and his friend were waiting for him with pistols. The bastard ran away and never came back. Pedro gives infinite thanks for that.

Puebla, 1917

May you be blessed, Lord of Chalma, for looking after me and saving from death when I was attacked by a robber outside my house. I had no money on me, and he wanted to kill me. Then, like a miracle, came my dog Tequila and bit him, and I could save my life.

1966

I sold a piece of land I didn’t used so much and, with that money, I though of buying cows. When I went to the ranch La Purisima to buy them, I took a shortcut through the cacti. There was a group of bandits who ambushed me. They scared my horse away and asked for the money. But then my dog who’s very clever took the bag with the money and ran away. The bandits went after him, but the dog ran through the most dense cacti. Meanwhile, I escaped and soon found my horse. When I got home my dog was already there with the bag of money. I thank Virgin of Zapopan for this miracle.

I was very annoyed because my dogs followed me everywhere. But one day I was taking my proceeds to the bank, and a robber with a knife wanted to attack me. My dogs attacked him instead, and he had to ran away, having nothing but some good dog bites. I thank the Virgin of the Rosary because my dogs protect me very well.

Josefina Reyes and her son Ramon Reyes dedicate this retablo to the Lord of Sacromonte for granting them with the luck that her son Ramon Reyes survived after being shot by some bandits, who attacked us, when he refused to give them his money. Seeing what a tragedy happened, we implored you to deliver him from death, and, by a miracle, the bandits went away, and I was able to save my son’s life. I offer this retablo for that.

Tlaxcala, 1931

In times of the Revolution I was unlucky to run into bandits who weren’t satisfied by taking my horse and my belongings but also decided to hang me on a tree. I wholeheartedly entrusted myself to the Virgin of San Juan, and when they left leaving me hanging there the rope miraculously broke down saving my life.

Leandro Garcia ~ San Luis Potosi, Mexico

I left the uni and, while walking, was checking my facebook on my new cel that my daddy gave me on my b-day. Suddenly a robber jumped on me, grabbed my phone and ran away. Thousand thanks to Saint Jude Thaddeus because a super cool cop was passing by. He caught the dude and returned me my cel. I promise to Saint Jude to be more careful because this experience wasn’t cool at all.

Katy Perez ~ Puebla

Rafael Aguilar thought it’d be easy to rob passengers in a bus but they disarmed him and were going to lynch him. He thanks Saint Jude because the police arrived in time and saved him.

Virgin of San Juan, thank you for saving me from dying being shot by an asshole robber after refusing to give him my schoolbag.

Antonio Montiel
Olivar del Conde, Mexico City
March 10, 2009

The night of May 30, 1949, some guys robbed don Carmelo Medina’s shop taking advantage of his wife being alone. The robbers took all the money they’d earned last month and also grabbed some bottles with expensive liquor. Thanks to the Holy Virgin, the gendarme Natividad was having a meal in the tavern of Lupita who has big eyes and very delicious tacos. He caught the bad guys because they didn’t notice him standing in the shadows. Don Carmelo thanks the Virgin of San Juan.