Rodolfo Perez, a caricaturist, was beaten and thrown in jail for a caricature of the governor. With this retablo, he thanks Saint Patrick because he got out alive, and he decided it was better to move in another state.

On our honeymoon my wife Juanita and I were on the Acapulco beach. Suddenly a mermaid appeared. She fell in love with me. Out of jealousy she grabbed my wife’s hair and tried to drown her. But thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe I didn’t let her to do so.

Amador Ramirez
July 10, 1982

Joaquin Morales had a dream with naked she-devils who started to bite him off. He suffered very much and prayed to Saint Jude Thaddeus. The saint delivered him from the she-devils, and Joaquin is thankful for that.

Ruben Garcia was attacked by some bastard with machete. He chop the Ruben’s hand off. Ruben thanks Saint Juan Diego because he was helped promptly and they managed to stitch his hand back. And the offender was thrown in jail.

Virgin of Guadalupe, I dedicate this retablo to you in the name of the women cowardly killed in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. I ask you, with all my heart, to repose their souls in the paradise, for the sake of their families’ comfort

Mexico City — January 25, 2004

Tired from constant abuses and humiliation from the owners of the weaving factories in Rio Blanco, who, felt protected by the regime of don Porfirio Diaz, had forced us to slave labour for a scanty pittance, we went on strike for our rights to dignity and justice. Not far away from the factory, we were caught and repressed. They started to chase and catch us. On that tragic day, January 7, 1907, hundreds of our workers companions, with the wives and the children, were murdered on the streets of Orisaba, Veracruz, by the three cavalry battalions commanded by the general Rosalio Martinez. I give thanks to the Lord of Sacromonte because I managed to escape and hide myself in Amecameca, Puebla, from where I thank you now.

1910

A crazy woman, who kept saying she loved me, attacked me and Lucia on the day of our wedding. She arrived and wanted to kill me, but thanks to the Holy Spirit she was stopped in time. My Lucia had only some scratches and fainted out of fear.

Guadalupe Gonzales liked to gossip so much that her neighbors got fed up and trashed her with brooms. She thanks Saint Raymond for this lesson and promises to reform.

Arturo Fernandez kept talking on his cellphone in the cinema, until one big fellow didn’t push the phone in the Arturo’s mouth. Arturo thanks Saint John of the Cross for he didn’t lose his teeth and promise not to be so reckless.

One policeman leant on the balcony and broke my grandmother’s flower pot. My grandmother went out and started beating the policeman with a stick. The policeman got angry and wanted to arrest my grandmother. I prayed to the Virgin of Paloma, and she miraculously softened his heart. So he didn’t throw her in jail.

My husband went crazy with jealousy, because the devil possessed him. I was pretty close to got killed, when he shot me three times. But thanks to St. Michael the Archangel no bullet shot out of the pistol, and my husband calmed down.

Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, because my husband doesn’t beat me so much. I asked you for this, and you heard me. Now we love each other, I’m very happy and thank you.

Maria Torres
Toluca, Mexico
May 10, 1970

I thank Saint Anthony for giving me enough strength to kick in the balls of the bastard who wanted to rape me. In this way I was able to save my honor.

Soledad Castillo Guevara
Mexico City, 1975