The Feast of Saint Juan Diego

December 9, 2022
Author: Hannah DeVivo

Peace be with you! Today, December 9th, is the feast of Saint Juan Diego. In honor of him, I will be sharing his story and the miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast day is December 12th.

Who was Juan Diego?

Juan Diego was an Aztec Indian born to a very poor family in 1474. His birth name was Cuauhtlatoatzin, which meant “Singing Eagle”. His parents died when he was young, so Juan’s uncle helped to raise him. When Juan Diego became an adult, he married a woman named Malitzin and the two lived near Juan’s uncle. Juan Diego worked very hard in the fields and also made mats.

Around 1523, Franciscan priests from Spain preached to the Aztecs about Jesus and the Catholic Faith. Juan Diego, his wife, and his uncle believed the Gospel. They accepted Jesus as their Savior and were baptized in the year 1525. Their Baptismal names were Juan Diego, Maria Lucia (his wife) and Juan Bernardino (his uncle). Sadly, Juan Diego’s wife died in 1529. Since they had no children, Juan cared for his uncle, who had become very sick. The Franciscan priests offered Holy Mass on Saturdays in honor of Our Lady at the church of Santiago (Saint James) in the nearby town. Juan ran the 7 miles from his village to the church so as not to be late for Mass.

Although some Aztec Indians had converted like Juan Diego, the Franciscan and Dominican missionaries had great difficulty winning many souls to Jesus. This was partially because of the poor example of the Spanish soldiers. The priests found that the indigenous peoples worshiped their own gods, even to the extent of human sacrifice. It was clear that a miracle would be needed to reach and win the hearts of the indigenous people, who God so dearly desired to come to Him.

How and When did Our Lady Appear to Him?

A miracle is exactly what happened. As Juan walked the seven miles to Mass on the morning of December 9th, he heard a voice calling to him: “Juanito!”. He looked up to see a beautiful young maiden dressed as an Aztec Princess, wearing a blue cape covered in stars and appearing in a golden beam of light. The beautiful lady said she was the Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Juan fell to his knees in amazement and Our Lady continued, saying “God made everything, and He is in all places. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. I desire a temple, a church, in this place where I will show my love to your people. I want to show my compassion to all people who ask my help. Here I will see their tears. I will console them and they will be at ease. Run now to tell the Bishop all you have seen and heard”. Juan ran all the way to Mexico City and related the request to Bishop Juan de Zumárraga. The Bishop listened kindly to him, but dismissed him saying he would think about the request. That night, Juan slowly returned home, tired and sad that the Bishop did not believe him. As he passed the hill of Tepeyac, suddenly the beautiful Lady appeared to him again. “Listen, my little son,” she said. “I have chosen you for this task. Tomorrow go to see the Bishop again and tell him the Virgin Mary greatly desires for him to build a church in this place.”

The next morning, Sunday, December 10th, Juan returned to Mexico City. Bishop Zumarraga was surprised to see him again so soon, but he patiently listened to Juan. This time, he told Juan to ask the Lady for a sign. Juan left the palace and ran back to the hill. He knelt before Our Lady and told her of the Bishop's request. She said, “Very well, my little son. Come back tomorrow and I will give you a sign”. Juan went home and found that his uncle was very sick. Juan cared for his uncle all that night and all the next day, Monday, as well. He did not go to see the Lady. Juan feared that his uncle was dying.

Early Tuesday morning, December 12th, Juan left his uncle to go bring the priest. As Juan Diego ran past the hill of Tepeyac, the Blessed Mother appeared to him again. “My little son,” she said, “do not be afraid. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Your uncle will not die. At this very moment he is cured.” Juan felt a deep peace in his heart. Mary told him to climb the hill and cut the flowers growing there. Juan knew that no flowers ever grew in the cold winter, as the ground was frozen. Still, he obeyed Mary, and climbed the hill. There, before him, were beautiful roses such as only grew in Spain! Juan cut them and put them in his tilma, which was like a cape worn in front of him. Then he ran down to the Lady. Mary arranged the roses tenderly with her own hands, and then tied the tilma in back of Juan so that no flowers would drop out. She told him to return to the bishop. “Do not let anyone but the Bishop see what you are carrying. Tell him everything you have seen and heard this morning. This time he will believe you.”

The Bishop’s staff tried to discourage Juan from his mission, even attempting to see what he guarded so carefully in his tilma. However, he courageously stood his ground and insisted he must see the bishop. Finally the bishop himself came out to see what was the matter. When he saw the bishop, Juan knelt humbly before him. “Here is the sign you requested,” Juan said, letting the roses fall from his tilma. But the bishop and his shocked attendants looked beyond the roses. To their surprise and wonder, the image of a beautiful Aztec Lady was imprinted on the tilma! Falling to his knees, Bishop Zumárraga accepted the sign and fulfilled Mary’s wish by building a church in her honor, where her image was enshrined.

The Conversion of Hearts Since Our Lady Of Guadalupe Appeared

In the next decade, eight million Indians converted to Jesus because of this lovely lady who looked like them. They realized that God, who is not a respecter of persons, loved them as much as the European Spaniards, and that His Son had died for them as well. And from then on Our Lady of Guadalupe, “La Alma de la Gente,” took her rightful place in the souls of her children. In 2002 at the canonization of Saint Juan Diego, Pope John Paul II declared Our Lady of Guadalupe the Patroness of both continents of the one America.

For devotional products to Our Lady of Guadalupe, click here!

Before You Go

Do you have a special devotion to Saint Juan Diego or Our Lady of Guadalupe?

Have you ever seen the Tilma in person?

Did you learn anything new in this article?

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