I liked my neighbor very much, and she responded me. But we were secretly seeing each other for she had a grumpy and violent father who didn’t let her to have a boyfriend. One night I climbed to her room to see her, and her father caught us by surprise with a pistol in his hand. I thank Saint Raymond for illuminating me to act like a sleep-walker. With his divine help, her father believed it, so I saved my skin.

Nepomuceno Diaz / Zacatecas, Mexico

Pedro Flores had a pulque bar, and there was one rogue who had robbed his place. Pedro entrusted himself to the Virgin of Juquila, and, when the assailant came back again with a machete, he and his friend were waiting for him with pistols. The bastard ran away and never came back. Pedro gives infinite thanks for that.

Puebla, 1917

I was going back to my hut when suddenly a bandit jumped out on my way. He was going to hurt me. I thank the Virgin of the Solitude for giving me the courage to grab the pistol from the bandit and defend myself. I saved my life, after all I have three kids who totally depend on me.

Apolonia T. — Chihuahua, Mexico

December 31, 1968

When I, full of hope of getting into the United States, crossed the Rio Bravo, I was caught by the migration police. He threatened me with death, pointing his gun in my mouth. I saw that there was no salvation for me, and I implored the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe. I realized what it is to be in a foreign land. I was searched, they took the little i got on me, then they threw me back to the river. I came back, relaying on my luck. I promised to bring you this retablo when I came back to my land. Now I do what I promised because you stayed with me.

Tomas Huerta — Zitacuaro, Michoacan

Oscar Ballesteros brings this retablo to Saint Elias with gratitude of managing to get a great collection of guns.

I was a very jealous man. My jealousy went to extremes when I saw my beautiful wife reading a letter. I thought it was from a lover. The demon of jealousy clouded my mind and made me take the gun and point it to my wife. But then I felt two small hands pulling the gun aside. Later I found out that the letter was from my wife’s grandmother. I realized it was the Virgin who sent a little angel to save me from this horrible crime. My wife forgave me for being such an idiot.

Eulalia Tepox heard a noise late at night. It was coming from a henhouse. She grabbed a pistol and went out. There she saw a horrible being—the Chupacabra—who had killed 80 of her chicken. Eulalia started shooting at it but with no result. The monster ran away. Then doña Eulalia entrusted herself to Saint John the Baptist and now thanks for delivering her from a bigger evil. She brings this as her testimony.

San Juan Cuatlancingo, Cholula, 1973

There was a very pretty girl in our town that I liked very much. One night I embrace myself to give her a serenade without any idea that she had a very aggressive and grumpy father. I thank Saint Jude Thaddeus with this humble retablo because the mariachi and I could escape before he started to shoot at us with a shotgun he pulled out.

Liborio Zamora \ Guadalajara, Jalisco

Enrique Perez woke up with a thief in his room. He thanks Saint James with this retablo for he managed to grab his gun and shoot him.

Because of rumors my father didn’t accept my boyfriend and even forbade me to see him. But I still met with him secretly. However, one night my father caught us in my bedroom. He was furious, he grabbed his pistol to shoot my boyfriend. I implored Saint Raymond Nonnatus to not let a tragedy happen. The pistol misfired, and my boyfriend managed to escape. Afterwards, I spoke with my father, and he ended up liking my boyfriend. I dedicate this ex-voto for such a great miracle.

Sara Flores — Mexico, 1960

There was a very pretty girl in our town that I liked very much. One night I embrace myself to give her a serenade without any idea that she had a very aggressive and grumpy father. I thank Saint Jude Thaddeus with this humble retablo because the mariachi and I could escape before he started to shoot at us with a shotgun he pulled out.

Epigmenio Reyes \ Zacatecas, Mexico

Joaquin Martinez lost his job. He had no money to feed his family. He was so desperate he went to rob the people on a bus treating them with a pistol. He got into the bus and fired a shot. A girl fell down. Joaquin got frightened and prayed to the Holy Heart of Mary because he didn’t want to end up as a murderer. The girl wasn’t wounded but fainted of fear. Joaquin apologized to the passengers and left the bus.

November 15, 1958

Santiago Merino wanted to kill himself and fired a bullet, but it just scratched his head because he didn’t know how to handle a weapon. He thanks Saint Nicholas of Bari with this retablo for his intervention, and he’s feeling better now.