Saint Juan Diego

St. Juan Diego (1474–1548) is the patron saint of Indigenous people. He was born in
Cuauhtitlán (Kuwawtitlan), Mexico, to an Aztec tribe. He belonged to the poorest and most
numerous class of the Aztecs, besides that of the slaves. He is known for receiving the vision of
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Blessed Virgin Mary) and is depicted in the Basilica in the Our Lady of
Guadalupe Chapel and the Trinity Dome.

Feast Day: December 9

To know more about St. Juan Diego, I will tell you the story of his life.

Life
St. Juan Diego was born in 1474 as Cuauhtlatoatzin (“the Talking Eagle'') in Cuautitlán near
Mexico City. Following the early death of his father, St. Juan Diego was taken to live with his
uncle. From the age of three he had grown up under Aztec oppression. The Aztec religious
practices, which included human sacrifice, play an interesting and integral role in this story.
Every major Aztec city had a temple pyramid, about 100 feet high, on top of which was erected
an altar. Upon this altar, the Aztec priests offered human sacrifice to their god Huitzilopochtli,
called the "Lover of Hearts and Drinker of Blood," by cutting out the beating hearts of their
victims, usually adult men but often children.

Nevertheless, in 1520, Hernando Cortes outlawed human sacrifice. He stripped the temple
pyramid of its two idols, cleansed the stone of its blood and erected a new altar. Cortez, his
soldiers and Father Olmedo then ascended the stairs with the Holy Cross and images of the
Blessed Mother and St. Christopher. Upon this new altar, Father Olmedo offered the sacrifice of
the Mass. Upon what had been the place of evil pagan sacrifice, now the unbloody, eternal and
true sacrifice of our Lord was offered. Such an action, however, sparked the all-out war with the
Aztecs, whom Cortez finally subdued in August 1521.

In 1524, Franciscan missionaries came evangelizing the Indian people. They were so
successful that the Diocese of Mexico City was established in 1528. St. Juan Diego and many
of his family members were among these early converts to the faith. He was baptized "Juan
Diego" by Friar Peter da Gand when he was 50 years old along with his wife, Maria Lucia, and
his uncle Juan Bernardino. During his life, Juan Diego wanted to learn more about his faith.
Twice a week, he and his wife, Maria Lucia, walked fifteen miles to Mass and religious
instruction. When he traveled, Juan Diego often wore a tilma, a rough cloak made from cloth of
woven cactus fibers. The cloak protected him against the cold evenings and early mornings.

The Apparitions of the Virgin Mary

On December 9,1531 St. Juan Diego was headed to Mass. As he walked along Tepeyac Hill, he
began to hear beautiful strains of music, and he saw a beautiful lady, who called his name:
"Juanito, Juan Dieguito." He approached, and she said in his native language of Nahuatl, (Next
slide) "My son, I love you. I desire you to know who I am. I am the ever-Virgin Mary; mother of
the true God who gives life and maintains its existence. He created all things. He is in all places.
He is Lord of Heaven and Earth and I desire a church in this place where your people may
experience my compassion. All those who sincerely ask for my help in their work and in their
sorrows will know their mother’s near in this place. Here I will see their fears and I will console
men and they will be at peace.” (Next slide)

She told St. Juan Diego to tell Bishop Zumarraga of her desire for a church to be built at the
site. Bishop Zumarraga was a saintly man, very just and compassionate. He built the first
hospital, library and university in the Americas. Bishop Zumarraga listened patiently to St. Juan
Diego, and said he would reflect on the matter, understandably doubting such a story.

St. Juan Diego went back to Tepeyac and reported the bishop's response. Mary instructed him
to try again. So the next day on December 10, he did. Although this time it was more difficult to
see the bishop, Juan Diego prevailed, and the bishop once more listened patiently. However,
the bishop asked him to bring back a sign from Mary to prove the story. Again, St. Juan Diego
reported the matter to our Blessed Mother, who told him to return the next day to receive "the
sign" for the bishop.

On December 11, St. Juan Diego spent the day caring for his very sick uncle, Juan Bernardino.
He asked St. Juan Diego to go and bring a priest who would hear his confession and administer
the last rites. On December 12, St. Juan Diego set out again, but avoided Tepeyac Hill because
he was ashamed that he had not returned the previous day as our Blessed Mother had
requested. While making his detour, the Blessed Mother stopped him and said, "Hear and let it
penetrate into your heart, my dear little son: let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you.
Let nothing alter your heart or your countenance. Also, do not fear any illness or vexation,
anxiety or pain. Am I not here? I, who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and
protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing
of my arms? Is there anything else that you need?" Mary reassured St. Juan Diego that his
uncle would not die.

As for the sign for the bishop, Mary told St. Juan Diego to go to the top of the mountain and pick
some flowers. He went up to the hill which was dry and barren, a place for cactus and found
roses like those grown in Castille, but foreign to Mexico. He gathered them in his tilma. He
brought them to Mary who arranged them and said to take them to the bishop.

St. Juan Diego proceeded again to Bishop Zumarraga's house. After waiting a while for an
audience, he repeated the message to the bishop and opened his tilma to present the roses.
The bishop saw not only the beautiful flowers but also the beautiful image of Our Lady of
Guadalupe. Bishop Zumarraga wept at the sight of the Blessed Mother and asked forgiveness
for doubting. He took the tilma and laid it at the altar in his chapel. St. Juan Diego’s uncle fully
recovered. He told the archbishop of his miracle cure.
By Christmas of that year, an adobe structure was built atop Tepeyac Hill in honor of our
Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe.

For the rest of his life St. Juan Diego remained poor, simple, humble and devoted. He lived in a
hut next to the church built in honor of Mary and took care of the pilgrims who came to the
shrine; he spent most of his time in prayer and devotion. He died in 1548 at the age of 74, and
was buried in the church. His existence, which had been questioned by Catholics and non-
Catholics alike, was confirmed by the Vatican, and St. Juan Diego was beatified on May 6,
1990, and canonized on July 31, 2002, by Pope John Paul II.

Significance
St. Juan Diego is significant because he was one of the first indigenous people in the New
World to embrace and spread Catholicism. Our Lady of Guadalupe, with the help of St. Juan
Diego is said to be directly responsible for the 9 million or so conversions to Catholicism by the
native Mexicans. As Pope John Paul II said at St. Juan Diego’s canonization: “In accepting the
Christian message without forgoing his indigenous identity, Juan Diego discovered the profound
truth of the new humanity, in which all are called to be children of God. Thus he facilitated the
fruitful meeting of two worlds and became the catalyst for the new Mexican identity, closely
united to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose mestizo face expresses her spiritual motherhood
which embraces all Mexicans. This is why the witness of his life must continue to be the
inspiration for the building up of the Mexican nation, encouraging brotherhood among all its
children and ever helping to reconcile Mexico with its origins, values and traditions.”

Tilma
Today, Juan Diego’s tilma is Mexico’s most popular religious symbol. Unlike any painting, it
shows no sketching, or any sign of outline drawn to permit an artist to produce it. The very
method to produce it is still not known. The miraculous image, which is preserved in the Basilica
of Our Lady of Guadalupe, shows a woman with native features and dress. She is supported by
an angel whose wings are reminiscent of one of the major gods of the traditional religion of that
area. The moon is beneath her feet and her blue mantle is covered with gold stars. The black
girdle about her waist signifies that she is pregnant.

The first miracle surrounding the cloak occurred during the procession to Tepeyac Hill was
when a participant was shot in the throat by an arrow shot in celebration. After being placed in
front of the miraculous image of Mary, the man was healed.

The very fact that the image has lasted nearly 500 years could itself be considered a miracle,
according to some experts who have studied the tilma.

Values
● Optimistic
St. Juan Diego, showed us the importance of persevering through seemingly difficult
situations.
 St. Juan Diego himself was a catalyst in bringing the Catholic faith to the western
hemisphere. When the first Catholic Missionaries arrived in Mexico from Spain, Juan
Diego was one of the few natives to convert. Still, it was during this time of tension that
St. Juan Diego fell deeply in love with Catholicism. And it was in the midst of this
growing relationship with Jesus that the Lord chose to change the world forever through
St. Juan Diego.

● Selfless
St. Juan Diego was a simple man of little means, but he lived and gave to the Lord what
he had. He worked diligently in weaving mats, farming the land, and knew the true
meaning of hard work throughout his life. When he was not working on Saturdays and
Sundays, he would regularly walk around fifteen miles just to receive catechesis and
celebrate the Holy Mass.

He endured many trials and suffering, even losing his wife to a great illness. Through it
all, he kept his faith, and sought the Lord even more. Even when he needed to help his
uncle, St. Juan Diego trusted Mary to take care of Juan Bernadino in order to fulfill her
request.

St. Juan Diego believed he had nothing to offer or give, but he gave what the Lord asked
of Him. He even ended up giving up his tilma in order for it to hold the miraculous image.
He didn’t worry about whether Mary was going to give him a new one, he just offered
without reserve.

After the Guadalupe event, he gave everything to live near the chapel and stay focused
on the Lord. Even then, St. Juan Diego remained a lay Catholic, giving what he could in
the life he was given.

● Obedient
We live in trying times, and the very word obedience is seen as a negative. Regardless
of what it does to our pride, God asks us to live out obedience.

At the Guadalupe Event, St. Juan Diego was instructed with a message for Bishop
Zumarraga by the Queen of Heaven. When the Bishop didn’t believe him, St. Juan
Diego didn’t get upset or vengeful, he obeyed the bishop. St. Juan Diego had no doubt
that he was right, but he understood the bishop’s role and authority.

It’s important to note that Mary herself remained obedient to the bishop through his
questions, doubts, and concerns. We see this consistently throughout her apparitions
across the globe. As the servant of Mary, St. Juan Diego reflected her faithful obedience,
and she asked the same of us in order to be more faithful to her Son.

● Humble
St. Juan Diego lived in the class known as ‘macehualli’ or “poor natives”. He was one
who did not belong to any of the social categories of the Empire such as priests,
warriors, merchants. Nor was he a slave.

He found peace in understanding his role as a simple beggar before the Lord. In our
modern times, we are quick to see what we do not have and where we fall in rank. St.
Juan Diego found peace in simplicity and a grateful heart. He truly is a model of a
Marian visionary and son.