An ex-voto, short for the Latin ex voto suscepto, or “from the vow made,” is a type of offering left at a shrine or church as a way to give thanks to a saint for an answered prayer. First appearing in the 1490s, ex-votos have taken on many different shapes — three-dimensional artifacts, pressed metal forms, and paintings detailing the narrative of a reported miracle, for example. Ex-votos allow an individual to express humility and gratitude for the assistance of a saint, and their physical presence at a shrine helps to illustrate visitors’ faith in the possibility of miracles.

A popular form of ex-voto is the milagro, Spanish for “miracle.” Milagros can come in all kinds of shapes and materials, though most are made of metal. Many depict specific objects, such as parts of the body, symbolizing the nature of the answered prayer or healing request. Visitors often leave these charms at shrines as votive offerings after healings; however, milagros also can be purchased and kept for personal devotion...