Roberto Sanchez, a juggler clown, got his mug polished by three blokes for being rude. He thanks Saint James for this valuable lesson and promise to be polite and respectful.

Ricardo Gutierrez was painting a graffiti on a wall. A neighbor got angry and let his doberman loose on him. With this retablo, he thanks Saint Benedict because his wounds have been healed and he didn’t get any infection. He promises to ask for permission next time.

Ramon J. and Luis N. got angry after a baseball game and kicked each other with the bats. They both ended up badly beaten. They thank Saint Charbel for healing, with this retablo, and promise not to be so violent to each other.

Pedro gives infinite thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe for letting him return back to Mexico safe and sound after he was beating till unconscious in the Arizona desert when the immigration police caught him trying to cross the US border only to earn some dollars to support his family.

January 25, 2001

Ramon Meneses ended up in the hospital because his jealous girlfriend tried to strangle him while he was watching soccer. He brings this retablo to Saint Jude Thaddeus thanking him for he’s feeling better and she has been arrested.

Saint Jude Thaddeus, thank you for protecting me. I took advantage of my husband being drunk and managed to escape. When my husband went to drink, he used to chain me in the house so I wouldn’t go out. That’s how jealous he was. When he came back from the street I asked him to unchain me to go to the bathroom. He did so. When I finished in the bathroom I noticed that my husband fell asleep. I ran away and hid myself in shrublands. Then I saw my husband walking near me with a whip in his hand—to whip me. I was very scared and decided to leave him. I went to the capital to my aunt and uncle and save myself from this cruel man.

Laura Mejia, Mexico City, 1952

Angelica F. was doing very well working as a stripper. But one day some clients went too far and wanted to bang her right there. She thanks Saint Catherine with this retablo for she was saved from being raped and promises to leave this profession.

Pedro Andrade ended up in fistfight with his neighbor who was listening music at top volume. He professes gratitude to Saint Jude because despite of leaving the neighbor badly beaten he didn’t lay charges.

Francisco Ramirez was caught while robbing a shop. The people was about to lynch him. He thanks Saint Elias with this retablo for the authorities came in time to save him from death.

In 1920 in San Nicolas my buddy caught me on the mat with his wife. He started to shoot at us. I give infinite thanks to the Holy Child of Atocha because bullets didn’t hit me. She took them all.

I refused to go with a drunkard, and he grabbed a knife and threatened to kill me. In this danger I implored your protection, and you saved me. Thank you for getting out alive.

Concha — Mexico City — November 12, 1990

To Lord of Chalma I prayed with all my soul so that he would help me to quit drinking. Every time I got drunk I beat my wife and kids with a belt. But I really love them. Thats’ why I quit drinking. Thank you for delivering me from this sin.

Eliodoro, May 10, 1925
San Francisco del Rincon, Guanajuato

Humberto Pineda beat his girlfriend. Her brother tied him to his pickup truck and dragged him around leaving him badly injured. Humberto thanks Saint Raymond for the recovery and promises to not be the macho with women.