Dorotea Armendarez went to swim in the sea. She was swimming underwater when dozens of crabs pinched her body. She couldn’t free herself from these damned animals. She thanks Saint Barbara for helping her to come to the surface where she finally got rid of the crabs. She offers this retablo thanking for her saving.

I thank the Virgin of Help, because after the cruise ship, on which I went to Cancun, took the ground and I had to spend few minutes in the water totally naked, I was saved by the boat “Esmeralda” handled by a handsome fisherman, who became my husband nine months later.

The Virgin sent me a dream in which I was playing with a giant dolphin and felt so happy. After that dream I decided to study marine biology because I understood that it’s my vocation. Now I’m very happy with the sea animals. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan.

At the day of the Mariana’s wedding her fiancé didn’t come to the church, because he decided no to get married. Furious, she ran to the cape and threw herself into the sea. However, after the contact with the water, she came to her senses and she didn’t want to die anymore. But her dress got wet and heavy. It was difficult to go up, and St. Barbara came to help her. A current took Mariana and brought her up to the surface. She managed to get to the beach. She thanks for this miracle and promises not to do stupid things again, because no man is worth it.

My son Ramon is a good swimmer. One day we swam underwater and he got entangled in the seaweed. I thank Saint Barbara because she made me look back so I saw him entangled. I managed to save him in time so we didn’t drown. I offer this retablo thanking for the miracle.

My husband went fishing, but his boat never turned back because of a dense fog. Three days later a giant octopus dragged the boat pushing it with the tentacles. My husband was alive, and I thank the Virgin of the Rosary for that.

When I was swimming I was attacked by a giant octopus. He chocked me with its tentacles, so I decided I’d gonna die. My strength gave out, I was losing my life, when suddenly the beam of light flashed from nowhere. The octopus let me go and I managed to escape. I swam to the shore. I thank the Virgin of the Solitude for this miracle.

After few years of marriage my husband was taken by the sea. He left me alone with our little boy whom I had to feed. I didn’t know a lot about fishing, but I took the boat and the net and went to the sea. I asked St. Barbara for help, and she decided to help me. My net was filled with fish. So, without great effort, I managed to have a good yield. In that way I was able to collect enough money to open a fish shop at the town market.

With this retablo I, Tiburcio Acosta, am thanking the Virgin of Guadalupe because a mermaid saved me when I was hit by the waves. She took me back on the beach and now I’m repaying you with this ex-voto.

Veracruz, August, 19 1970

Evodio Martinez was drowning when he swam underwater because his leg got stuck in bulrush. He entrusted himself to the Saint Archangel Michael. Because he saved his own skin Evodio gives thanks with this retablo for such a great miracle.

My son had been charmed by a mermaid, and every day he took his boat and went to the reef to listen her singing. I was afraid that she could take him to the bottom of the sea as she had done before with many fishermen. I prayed to the Virgin of Zapopan, and thanks to her my son met a beautiful girl and he fell in love with her. That broke the charm of the mermaid. I thank for this miracle that saved my son.