Being under the influence of drugs, El Pancho took out his pistol and shot El Abel. Seeing him in danger of dying, we entrusted him to the Lord of Chalma, and he saved his life.

Pedro
Barrio Norte, Mexico City
May 1, 2000

When I was returning after a concert, I ran into some bastards who tried to mug me. But they got nothing from me. Then one of them pulled out a gun and put it to my head. I grabbed him and took the gun, but the other one stabbed me. I fell feeling pretty bad. Those two were definitely high. Then the first guy picked up the gun and was going to finish me. That moment, I prayed the Archangel of Justice. Suddenly my pal appeared, and those two ran away, without killing me. Good thing you stopped them in time, pal.

Tepito, Mexico City

June 15, 1942, seven o’clock in the evening, the Ruiz sisters, Rosa and Carmen, were coming back home and got scared when a robber with a pistol attacked them in an alley behind the market. They entrusted themselves to the Virgin of San Juan, and thats’ why the robber didn’t kill them. He only took their bags with some money and the missal. The sisters thank because he didn’t hurt them.

I liked my neighbor, and she responded me. But she had a grumpy and violent father. He was very suspicious and kept an eye on her. One night I climbed to her room to see her and made some noise. Her father heard and came running with a pistol. I prayed Saint Jude Thaddeus, and he gave me an idea to pretend being a sleep-walker. The neighbor believed in to and let me go. I thank for such an exceptional favor.

Onesimo Carreto
Zacatecas, 1959

I liked my neighbor, 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 Benedict for illuminating me to pretend a sleep-walker. With his divine help, her father believed it, so I saved my skin.

Nepomuceno Diaz
Guanajuato, Mexico

Holy Child of Atocha, thank you for having heard my prayers. I organized a bus trip to Zitucuaro, Michoacan, because I had a bus. It’s an old model but in good conditions. We almost arrived there when suddenly we were stopped by three armored men. They called themselves agents and began to check the passengers—as they were saying— for drugs and weapons. I was worried for kids. There were 10 of them in the bus. I think they were “sicarios” hitmen, because they were asking me what gang I’m in. I prayed them to let us go and finally they did.

Rafael Arroyo
Mexico City, 1981

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 take away the pistol from the bandit and defend myself. I saved my life, and I have three kids who totally depend on me.

Apolonia T.
Chihuahua, Mexico

January 1947, near the Guanajuato river, Tomas Ramirez was attacked by three men—two were beating him and the third man, with a gun, shot him in stomach. Tomas fell unconscious. The bullet remained inside. A surgery was performed to avoid any infection. Tomas entrusted himself to the miraculous image of Saint Francis of Paola and little by little got better. Now he’s offering this retablo to keep the miracle in mind.

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 thank the Holy Spirit for sending a little angel to save me from this horrible crime and for my wife forgave me for being such an idiot.

Rosario Morales got involved with a married man. But one day his wife appeared with a gun in her hand. Rosario thanks Saint Jude for she was able to convince the wife to not kill her.

I give thanks to Saint Anthony for giving me enough strength so this rotten bastard who broke into my house got what he deserved. He was so scared he dropped his gun he threatened me with. I thank with this retablo.

Josefina Santillan
Mexico, 1973

The writing on the sweater says «rat».

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe with this retablo because I managed to execute the mission imposed on me by mr. Madero. With these great, brave women and with their tricks, we managed to transport successfully the arms and the ammunition in trains—from the border with Texas to Piedras Negras, Coahuila—to protect the “San Luis” plan.

A. Aguirre Benavides
October 1910

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 finally accepted our engagement. Now he doesn’t believe any rumors, and I thank for that with this ex-voto.

Eduarda Solis
Mexico, 1959