My cow Luisa wouldn’t leave the tracks, and the train was closer and closer. Only a miracle could save her. I prayed the Virgin of Guadalupe, and she made the miracle. Luisa saw opuntia prickly pears and went to eat them.

Virgin of San Juan, I dedicate you this ex-voto. I fell of the train, but nothing serious happened. Jasinto Robledo gives thanks.

Zacatecas, 6th November, 1939

May you be blessed, Virgin of Guadalupe, for working that miracle for me. I survived after I had tried to cross the railroad just before the approaching train. Finding myself in fatal danger I implored to you and was able to get out of my car. I bring this retablo to your altar.

Roman, 10–Dec–1990

I dedicate this retablo to the Christ of Medinacelli for being lucky to survive a very horrible railroad accident in which all others died.

The Benitez family thanks the Lord of the Wonders with this retablo for they survived when the train derailed and the government helps them to rebuild their house.

My donkey Pancho is very stupid. One day he crossed the railroad right before an approaching train. Only thanks to the miracle of Saint Francis, the engineer decided to stick out his head to look around and saw my donkey. He hit the brakes in time so the train didn’t run over the poor animal. I offer this retablo to the saint.

Amatlan, Veracruz
Mexico, 2004

God, bless these women “the Mistresses” and help them so they could keep helping to all those immigrant who are coming to our country in search of the American dream. They survive so many dangers moved by this dream to find their destiny. Protect them—this humble artist is asking you from the bottom of his heart.

With this retablo, I want to give my condolences to the people of Spain and to condemn the terrorist attacks on the innocent people on the Atocha train station and in the Madrid trains. A lot of people was killed. From the bottom of my heart, I ask the Holy Child of Atocha to not allow this to happen again. I’m lighting up a candle and bringing these flowers in memory of the lost.

Alfredo Vilchis Roque
Mexico City — March 12, 2004

Alberto Ruiz was depressed and was going to jump on the subway tracks. But he was stopped by a good samaritan. Alberto thanks Saint Francis for he got over his depression.

Juan Velazquez got drunk and fell asleep on the railroad. He thanks Saint Pancras for his buddy came in time and dragged him off the tracks before he was chopped in pieces by the locomotive.

[…] a lady with a cow […] and a boy who was looking for his dog. I implored the Virgin of Guadalupe because I had no time to brake. The next moment they went out the tracks. I thank for that because I couldn’t have lived with such a massacre weighing on my conscious.

Some thieves stole my bags at the San Pedro station while I was helping a lady with a boy off the train. Thanks to the Virgin of San Juan the thieves dropped my contrabass and I got it back because it’s my working tool.

Juan Garcia, professional musician

My husband Juan began walking at his sleep. I couldn’t sleep because I went after him and looked so that the dogs wouldn’t bite him because they growled and barked at him. My husband kept walking and even got to the railroad. I was scared that he might be hit by a train. I thank the Holy Child of Atocha because thanks to his miracle my husband doesn’t go outside anymore and walks around the bedroom.