When I was swimming, two beautiful mermaids appeared. They were flirting with me waving their tails and splashing in the water. I was taken with their iridescent beauty. I stopped for a moment, they came closer to me and then pulled me down to the bottom. I was lacking air, so I prayed Saint Barbara. She might have come to help me because I think I fainted and then woke up on the beach. I thank for being alive.

It was hard for Mariana Perez to make friends because she was very shy and didn’t socialize. Bu when her family moved to the coast she became friends with a dolphin. Now she’s very happy. She thanks Saint Francis.

I was swimming underwater and suddenly my leg got cramped. I thought I was going to die drowning but then the Virgin of Zapopan sent me a small whale. It took me to the surface on his back, and I was saved. I thank for this miracle.

We went fishing at dawn. Suddenly we heard laughs and music. Then we saw a boat on which a lot of skeletons were celebrating the Day of the Dead. They called us to join their party. We prayed the Virgin of Guadalupe, and thanks to her a strong wave took us away from them. We managed to come back home safe and sound.

The boatman Joaquin Meneses makes a good living taking tourists to see the whales. He thanks Saint Peter for this great favor with the present retablo.

The diver Raul Gomez was attacked by a giant squid. He ended up badly injured. He entrusted himself, with all his faith, to Saint Pancras and now thanks him with this retablo for surviving.

Samuel Rodrigues fell in love with two mermaids. They enchanted him with their singing. He couldn’t eat, he couldn’t sleep, he didn’t want to work but spent all days long at the bottom of the laguna. Until one day he saw the mermaids eating with their big sharp-toothed mouth. He thanks the Virgin of the Rosary for delivering him from those monsters’ spell.

I love surfing, but one day I fell off a big wave. I thank Saint Rita of Cascia with all my heart because although the falling was hard enough I didn’t get serious injuries and I can keep doing what I love the most. I dedicate this retablo for that.

Ramon Salgado
Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca

I thank Saint Quiteria of Frexeiras for not letting my boat drown.

Alipio Jose da Silva
Japaratinga, Alagoas
12/10/1999

The fishermen Cayetano and Pascual Rios give thanks to Saint Michael the Archangel because a beautiful mermaid made the fish get in their boat with her magical singing, and they didn’t have to use their nets.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for saving me from dying. She sent a mermaid for help. The mermaid pulled me out and brought to the shore.

Armando Soto Garcia
Veracruz, June 23, 1963

With all my faith and devotion, I dedicate this humble retablo to the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe for looking after me every time I throw myself to the Gorge. That’s how I make my living. Since I put myself in her holy hands, nothing bad will happen to me.

Dionisio Lopez
Acapulco, Guerrero

O my Holy Virgin, what a terrible experience it was in the sea. My daughter Anita and I were swimming, and suddenly a giant octopus appeared to us. He grabbed us with his tentacles. I felt drowning, but fortunately nothing bad happened. We only got scared that he might take us down with him.

Maricela Ramirez
Acapulco, Guerrero
February 5, 1982