Rodrigo Meneses made bandits angry by not cooperating with them, and they tied him to the railway tracks. He fervently thanks the Virgin of San Juan because he was able to get out before passing of the train.

We entrust the souls of these peasants to the Holy Trinity, take pity in them. They were hanged for joining the revolution like us who are keep on going hoping to defeat the evil government that imposes his law, hunger, poverty and death on us. Long live Emiliano Zapato! Death to Huerta! Long live revolution!

May 30, 1913
Xochimilco, Mexico

The Gonzalez brothers were attacked in their own butcher shop but they were able to defend themselves, with Saint Jude’s help. They bring the present retablo for that, giving thanks and testifying about this great favor.

In 1917, in the town of San Lucas, my buddy caught me on the mat with his wife. He started to shoot at us. I give thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe because bullets didn’t hit me. She took them all.

Catarino M.

— We’ve already paid!

The Son of Santo thank the Virgin of Guadalupe because on May 17, 2018, when he came back after a fight and saw some collectors behaving too haughty with his wife, he gave some boxing to those three collectors, until a neighbor started shooting.

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

My Holy, I pray you to thank you. You gave me strength to find justice against my abusive husband. The law didn’t help me, but you did. Bless me, Holy Death, and please keep my secret safe.

Gustavo Lopez was having a diner with his cousin when his girlfriend, crazy of jealousy, came and stab him in his neck with a broken glass. He fervently thanks Saint Raymond with this retablo for his recovery and for that crazy broad was put behind bars.

I was left without a job and I couldn’t pay my rent. Then I got an idea to put sexy clothes on and to flirt with my landlord to make him forgive me the payment. I didn’t count, however, that he would be with his wife that day. When she saw me, she went furious. I thank the Holy Lord of Chalma because the landlord managed to calm his wife and they didn’t kick me pit after this. I promise not to have such ideas anymore.

Silvia S. \ Campeche, Mexico

Sebastiana Garcia beat the crap out of her old-man who was a very irresponsible skirt-chaser and slacker. She thanks the Merciful Lord with this retablo because her old-man amended his behavior.

Puebla, 1920

Ramon Telles got drunk and went flirting with a girlfriend of a wrestler, but the wrestler kicked his ass. He thanks Saint Jude because he just got out of the hospital…

My wife, beside keeping me as a servant, enjoyed beating me because she was very violent and had a temper of thousand devils, and I lived in great fear. I give infinite thanks to Saint Maria Goretti for giving me courage to report domestic abuse to the police and to divorce her gaining my peace and dignity back.

Bonifacio Godinez — Tepic, Nayarit

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