Saint Juan Diego
Orginial Name: Cuauhtlatoatzin “The Talking Eagle”
Born: 1474, Cuautitlán, Mexico
Death: May 30, 1548, Tepeyac Hill, Mexico
Canonized: July 31, 2002
Feast Day: December 9
Saint Juan Diego was an Aztec Indian n who converted to Roman Catholicism and was visited by the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Guadalupe). Little is known about the early life of Juan Diego. It is believed he was an Aztec prince. He was married to Maria Lucia but had no children. When he was 50, he and his wife were among the first indigenious people to be baptized, likely by Father Toribio, and convert to Christianity. Maria Lucia died in 1529. Between December 9th and 12th, 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared before Juan Diego four times. Juan Diego took proof of the Virgin’s appearance to the bishop and a church was built in her honor on Tepeyac Hill. For the rest of his life Juan Diego lived in a hut next to the church. He took care of the pilgrims who came to visit the shrine. He was buried in the church
Born: 1474, Cuautitlán, Mexico
Death: May 30, 1548, Tepeyac Hill, Mexico
Canonized: July 31, 2002
Feast Day: December 9
Saint Juan Diego was an Aztec Indian n who converted to Roman Catholicism and was visited by the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Guadalupe). Little is known about the early life of Juan Diego. It is believed he was an Aztec prince. He was married to Maria Lucia but had no children. When he was 50, he and his wife were among the first indigenious people to be baptized, likely by Father Toribio, and convert to Christianity. Maria Lucia died in 1529. Between December 9th and 12th, 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared before Juan Diego four times. Juan Diego took proof of the Virgin’s appearance to the bishop and a church was built in her honor on Tepeyac Hill. For the rest of his life Juan Diego lived in a hut next to the church. He took care of the pilgrims who came to visit the shrine. He was buried in the church
Apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe
1st Apparition
At dawn on December 9, 1531, Juan Diego, began his journey to the Church in Tlatelolco to attend catechism class and Mass. As he was passing Tepeyac Hill, he saw a brilliant light on the summit and heard the strains of celestial music from songbirds. Then he heard a feminine voice call him by name in his Native language of Nahuatl and asking him to ascend the hill. When he reached the top he saw a beautiful woman with a tan complexion bathed in golden beams. The Blessed Virgin Mary was standing in a glorious light. She told him she was the Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God. She said
“I am the Virgin Mary, Mother of the one true God, of Him who gives life.
He is Lord and Creator of heaven and of earth.
I desire that there be built a temple at this place where I want to manifest Him, make him known, give Him to all people through my love, my compassion, my help, and my protection.
I truly am your merciful Mother, your Mother and the Mother of all who dwell in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me, of those who cry to me, and of those who seek and place their trust in me.
Here I shall listen to their weeping and their sorrows.
I shall take them all to my heart, and I shall cure their many sufferings, afflictions, and sorrows.
So run now to Tenochtitlan and tell the Lord Bishop all that you have seen and heard.”
2nd Apparition
Juan Diego traveled to the palace of the Franciscan Don Fray Juan de Zumarrago. The Bishop was reluctant to believe Juan Diego's story but asked Juan to visit again. Juan returned to Tepeyac Hill where he found the Blessed Virgin waiting for him. He told her of his failure. She bade him return to the Bishop the next day and repeat her wishes saying
“Listen, little son. There are many I could send. But you are the one I have chosen for this task. So, tomorrow morning, go back to the Bishop. Tell him it is the ever holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God who sends you, and repeat to him my great desire for a church in this place.”
3rd Apparition
Juan Diego called on the Bishop for a second time. The Bishop requested that the Lady give him a sign. Juan reported to the Lady that evening and she promised give him a sign to take the Bishop the following morning. Upon his return home, Juan Diego found his uncle, Juan Bernardino, gravely ill. Instead of visiting the Blessed Virgin the next day, he stayed home to care for his dying uncle.
At dawn on December 9, 1531, Juan Diego, began his journey to the Church in Tlatelolco to attend catechism class and Mass. As he was passing Tepeyac Hill, he saw a brilliant light on the summit and heard the strains of celestial music from songbirds. Then he heard a feminine voice call him by name in his Native language of Nahuatl and asking him to ascend the hill. When he reached the top he saw a beautiful woman with a tan complexion bathed in golden beams. The Blessed Virgin Mary was standing in a glorious light. She told him she was the Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God. She said
“I am the Virgin Mary, Mother of the one true God, of Him who gives life.
He is Lord and Creator of heaven and of earth.
I desire that there be built a temple at this place where I want to manifest Him, make him known, give Him to all people through my love, my compassion, my help, and my protection.
I truly am your merciful Mother, your Mother and the Mother of all who dwell in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me, of those who cry to me, and of those who seek and place their trust in me.
Here I shall listen to their weeping and their sorrows.
I shall take them all to my heart, and I shall cure their many sufferings, afflictions, and sorrows.
So run now to Tenochtitlan and tell the Lord Bishop all that you have seen and heard.”
2nd Apparition
Juan Diego traveled to the palace of the Franciscan Don Fray Juan de Zumarrago. The Bishop was reluctant to believe Juan Diego's story but asked Juan to visit again. Juan returned to Tepeyac Hill where he found the Blessed Virgin waiting for him. He told her of his failure. She bade him return to the Bishop the next day and repeat her wishes saying
“Listen, little son. There are many I could send. But you are the one I have chosen for this task. So, tomorrow morning, go back to the Bishop. Tell him it is the ever holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God who sends you, and repeat to him my great desire for a church in this place.”
3rd Apparition
Juan Diego called on the Bishop for a second time. The Bishop requested that the Lady give him a sign. Juan reported to the Lady that evening and she promised give him a sign to take the Bishop the following morning. Upon his return home, Juan Diego found his uncle, Juan Bernardino, gravely ill. Instead of visiting the Blessed Virgin the next day, he stayed home to care for his dying uncle.
4th Apparition
Two days later, on December 12, Juan Diego woke up early to bring a priest from the church to his dying uncle to perform the last blessing. During his travels, the Lady, who had come down from Tepeyac Hill to meet him in the road, stopped Juan Diego. She listened as Juan spoke about his uncle. When he had finished speaking she said,
"It is well, littlest and dearest of my sons, but now listen to me. Do not let anything afflict you and be not afraid of illness or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Are you not in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need? Do not fear for your uncle for he is not going to die. Be assured... he is already well."
Juan Diego rejoiced. He asked for the sign he was to take to the Bishop. The Blessed Virgin told him to climb to the top of the hill. She said he would find many flowers blooming there, which he was to cut and bring to her. Juan Diego did as he was told though he knew no flowers had ever bloomed before on the summit. To his shock, he discovered a marvelous garden of blossoms which he cut as she had asked. Placing them in his rough cloak, or tilma, he brought the flowers to the Lady, who rearranged them and told him to take them to the Bishop saying,
“You see, little son, this is the sign I am sending to the Bishop. Tell him that now he has his sign, he should build the temple I desire in this place. Do not let anyone but him see what you are carrying. Hold both sides until you are in his presence and tell him how I intercepted you on your way to fetch a priest to give the Last Sacraments to your uncle, how I assured you he was perfectly healed and sent you up to cut these roses, and myself arranged them like this. Remember, little son, that you are my trusted ambassador, and this time the Bishop will believe all that you tell him.”
Juan Diego stood before Bishop Fray Juan de Zumarraga for the third time and told him of the fourth encounter with the Lady. He opened his tilma to show the Bishop the sign and the flowers cascaded to the floor. The bishop rose from his chair and fell to his knees is adoration of the tilma. On it appeared an exquisitely colored portrait of the Blessed Virgin, just as Juan Diego had previously described her. This fourth apparition was the last known time Juan Diego ever saw the Blessed Virgin Mary.
5th Apparition
Earlier that same day, December 12, the Blessed Virgin had also appeared to Juan's uncle, Juan Bernardino, and restored him to health. Juan Diego was at that time fifty-seven years old; his uncle was sixty-eight. Juan Bernardino told his nephew that the Blessed Virgin told him her image was to be known as “Santa Maria de Guadalupe.” She has been known by this title for five centuries.
Two days later, on December 12, Juan Diego woke up early to bring a priest from the church to his dying uncle to perform the last blessing. During his travels, the Lady, who had come down from Tepeyac Hill to meet him in the road, stopped Juan Diego. She listened as Juan spoke about his uncle. When he had finished speaking she said,
"It is well, littlest and dearest of my sons, but now listen to me. Do not let anything afflict you and be not afraid of illness or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Are you not in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need? Do not fear for your uncle for he is not going to die. Be assured... he is already well."
Juan Diego rejoiced. He asked for the sign he was to take to the Bishop. The Blessed Virgin told him to climb to the top of the hill. She said he would find many flowers blooming there, which he was to cut and bring to her. Juan Diego did as he was told though he knew no flowers had ever bloomed before on the summit. To his shock, he discovered a marvelous garden of blossoms which he cut as she had asked. Placing them in his rough cloak, or tilma, he brought the flowers to the Lady, who rearranged them and told him to take them to the Bishop saying,
“You see, little son, this is the sign I am sending to the Bishop. Tell him that now he has his sign, he should build the temple I desire in this place. Do not let anyone but him see what you are carrying. Hold both sides until you are in his presence and tell him how I intercepted you on your way to fetch a priest to give the Last Sacraments to your uncle, how I assured you he was perfectly healed and sent you up to cut these roses, and myself arranged them like this. Remember, little son, that you are my trusted ambassador, and this time the Bishop will believe all that you tell him.”
Juan Diego stood before Bishop Fray Juan de Zumarraga for the third time and told him of the fourth encounter with the Lady. He opened his tilma to show the Bishop the sign and the flowers cascaded to the floor. The bishop rose from his chair and fell to his knees is adoration of the tilma. On it appeared an exquisitely colored portrait of the Blessed Virgin, just as Juan Diego had previously described her. This fourth apparition was the last known time Juan Diego ever saw the Blessed Virgin Mary.
5th Apparition
Earlier that same day, December 12, the Blessed Virgin had also appeared to Juan's uncle, Juan Bernardino, and restored him to health. Juan Diego was at that time fifty-seven years old; his uncle was sixty-eight. Juan Bernardino told his nephew that the Blessed Virgin told him her image was to be known as “Santa Maria de Guadalupe.” She has been known by this title for five centuries.
The Aftermath
Bishop Zumarraga was overwhelmed by the miracle of the tilma. He invited Juan Diego to stay the night and removed the tilma and placed in his private chapel. The following day, Juan Diego showed the bishop where Mary had appeared. The bishop directed that a small chapel be erected at the site. The chapel of Tepeyac was constructed by Christmas Day. On December 26, 1531, a procession including the Bishop, Juan Diego and Franciscan priests brought the tilma from the Cathedral to the Chapel at Tepeyac. Thousands of faithful attended the procession. During the excitement, Indians shot arrows into the air wounding a man in the procession. A priest tended to wounded man and prayed to the Virgin and the man was miraculously healed.
The news of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin spread like wildfire. The native population appreciated her appearance. First, the lady was Indian, spoke Nahuatl, the Aztec language, and appeared to an Indian. Juan Diego explained that she appeared at Tepeyac, the place of Tonantzin, the mother god. This sent a clear message that the Virgin Mary was the mother of the true God, and that the Christian religion was to replace the Aztec religion. The Indians, who learned through pictures and symbols, understood the image of the tilma, which revealed the beautiful message of Christianity. The miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe led to a tidal wave of conversions. The missionaries were overwhelmed with baptisms.
Juan Diego lived next to the chapel at Tepeyac and showed the tilma and explained the apparition and its Christian significance to pilgrims who visited the shrine. He died on May 30, 1548 and was buried at Tepeyac. Bishop Zumarrage died only three days after Juan Diego.
The news of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin spread like wildfire. The native population appreciated her appearance. First, the lady was Indian, spoke Nahuatl, the Aztec language, and appeared to an Indian. Juan Diego explained that she appeared at Tepeyac, the place of Tonantzin, the mother god. This sent a clear message that the Virgin Mary was the mother of the true God, and that the Christian religion was to replace the Aztec religion. The Indians, who learned through pictures and symbols, understood the image of the tilma, which revealed the beautiful message of Christianity. The miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe led to a tidal wave of conversions. The missionaries were overwhelmed with baptisms.
Juan Diego lived next to the chapel at Tepeyac and showed the tilma and explained the apparition and its Christian significance to pilgrims who visited the shrine. He died on May 30, 1548 and was buried at Tepeyac. Bishop Zumarrage died only three days after Juan Diego.
