I thank the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception for two things. First, for helping me to find a wonderful job. I became a maid in the house of a very rich lady. She pays me well. Second, when she is out I can try on all her shoes, blouses and skirts.

I bought my son Manuel rain boots. He was so happy, he walked through the puddles. But one puddle turned out to be a deep pit, and he fell in it. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for other children who were on their way to the school saw what happened and helped Manuel to get out. Otherwise, he would have drowned. I offer this retablo in gratitude.

The shoes in our family were scratched and torn. We didn’t know the reason until one night when I woke up to go to the bathroom and looked under the bed searching my slippers and saw there the culprits. There were aluxes with giant claws. They tried to put my favorite shoes on. I thank the Virgin of San Juan because the duendes ran away in fear when we smoked them out with tobacco. Because it’s a known fact that the aluxes can’t stand the cigar smoke.

One night some martians landed on my farm. They got in my bedroom through the window. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for they didn’t abduct me or my dog that didn’t even wake up. One of my slippers is all they took. They though it was a very valuable object.

Gudelia Meneses had to go shopping. Since it was raining and she didn’t want to ruin her new shoes, she put her husband boots on. But they were so big, she slipped and fell in a puddle. She hit her coccyx so bad, she though she’d become paralyzed. She thanks the Virgin of the Rosary for her quick recovery from the back pain.

One night some martians landed on my farm. They got in my bedroom through the window. I thank the Virgin of San Juan for they didn’t abduct me for their experiments, nor did they take my dog that didn’t even wake up. One of my slippers is all they took, and they seemed to be very interested in it.

Lucia Martinez bought a new dress and her first high heeled shoes. She dressed up and went with her little brother to the town square so that all the boys could admire her. But when she was going up the stairs one heel got stuck in the crack and she fell on her back. Lucia gives thanks for she didn’t fall on her brother, nor the dog. Although the stairs were high, Luisa didn’t hurt herself either. She only bruised her elbow. She gives special thanks because the heel didn’t break.

Anita Sandoval thanks Saint Rita of Cascia with this retablo because little by little she overcame an addiction to buying shoes, for now she has hundreds pairs of them.

Saint Marguerite liked to wear patent leather high heels very much against the pope’s wishes.

My old shoes’ soles were cracking. Since it had been raining for a few hours, I didn’t want to ruin my new shoes, so I decided to wear my husband’s boots. But they were so big, that I stumbled and fell in a puddle. I hit my back, and it was so painful. I was scared that I’d be bedridden for the rest of my life. My prayers to the Virgin of Zapopan were heard though, and I recovered pretty soon.

I thank the Virgin for the amazing patent leather boots I found at the Salvation Army Thrift Store.

Sometimes I like to put women’s clothes on. I love the feeling of soft cloth on my skin, I love the shine of the jewels, the colors and the aroma of the cosmetics. And I love how it affects and transforms all my body. I thank the Virgin for an understanding wife, who has no problem with me using her clothes. Also because of that I buy her more dresses and shoes, and she knows that I have a very good taste.

February 2008, Teodocia Cruz couldn’t find dotted heeled shoes. She was desperate, so she entrusted herself to the Holy Virgin of San Juan. And she found the shoes at last season’s sales.