Saint Juan Diego was born in 1474 in the calpulli or ward of Tlayacac in Cuauhtitlan, which was established in 1168 by Nahua tribesmen and conquered by the Aztec lord Axayacatl in 1467; and was located 20 kilometers (14 miles) north of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City).

On December 9, 1531, St. Juan Diego rose before dawn to walk fifteen miles to daily Mass in what is now Mexico City. Juan lived a simple life as a weaver, farmer, and laborer. That morning, as Juan passed Tepeyac Hill, he heard music and saw a glowing cloud encircled by a rainbow. A woman’s voice called him to the top of the hill. There he saw a beautiful young woman dressed like an Aztec princess. She said she was the Virgin Mary and asked Juan to tell the bishop to build a church on that site. She said, “I vividly desire that a church be built on this site, so that in it I can be present and give my love, compassion, help, and defense, for I am your most devoted mother . . . to hear your laments and to remedy all your miseries, pains, and sufferings.”

The bishop was kind but skeptical. He asked Juan to bring proof of the Lady’s identity. Before Juan could go back to the Lady, he found out his uncle was dying. Hurrying to get a priest, Juan missed his meeting with the Lady. The Lady, however, met him on his path and told him that his uncle had been cured.

She then told Juan to climb to the top of the hill where they first met. Juan was shocked to find flowers growing in the frozen soil. He gathered them in his cloak and took them at once to the bishop.

Juan told the bishop what had happened and opened his cloak. The flowers that fell to the ground were Castilian roses (which were not grown in Mexico). But the bishop’s eyes were on the glowing image of the Lady imprinted inside Juan’s cloak.

Soon after, a church was built on the site where our Lady appeared, and thousands converted to Christianity. Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared the patroness of the Americas. He died on May 30, 1548, at the age of 74.

Juan Diego deeply loved the Holy Eucharist, and by special permission of the Bishop he received Holy Communion three times a week, a highly unusual occurrence in those times.

Pope John Paul II praised Juan Diego for his simple faith nourished by catechesis and pictured him (who said to the Blessed Virgin Mary: “I am a nobody, I am a small rope, a tiny ladder, the tail end, a leaf”) as a model of humility for all of us.

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22 COMMENTS

  4. Oh God, Holy Lord, Mother of God, please work in my father’s life like you did in St. Juan Diego’s life. He went to the dr. to have some possible skin cancer removed. He is such a good man, and always been so generous to me and my family. Please St. Juan Diego pray for us all in these uncertain times. I long to have a vision of the Virgin Mary like you did. I have faith, I love Blessed Mary. Please Mary show me your evidence every day in my life more and more. Amen! Alleluia!! Alleluia!!

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  8. I am very happy when I found this website because by this address I can learn more and get many story about Catholic and Catholic traditions.thank you

  9. 4).
    Maria durch Guatelupe ging.
    Ky – rie – e – lei – son.
    Maria zu Juan Diego winkt,
    der hat zuvor dort noch nie Rosen gesehen.
    Jesus und Maria.
    5).
    Was trug Juan Diego in seiner Tilma?
    Ky – rie – e – lei – son.
    Spanische Rosen ohne Scherzen,
    das trug er voll Freud und Lieb´ in sein Herzen!
    Jesus und Maria.
    6).
    Da hat Guatelupe Rosen getragen!
    Ky – rie – e – lei – son.
    Als sie dem Zumarraga getragen,
    da haben die Indios Rosen getragen!
    Jesus und Maria.
    7).
    Da fängt an Glaube an Gott Wurzeln schlagen.
    Ky – rie – e – lei – son.
    Als Maria durch Mexiko getragen,
    da sind Millionen Frücht´ hervor gewachsen!
    Jesus und Maria!

    +++++++ +++++++ +++++++ +++++++

    nachgedichtet heute am Gedenktag “Unsre Liebe Frau von Guadalupe” – nach der Taufe von Stella in der Pfarrkirche in Weingarten bei Bruchsal und der anschließenden Feier im Familienkreis mit allen geladenen Gästen zu diesem Anlass – ins besondere durch die Inspiration vom Lob und Gesang aus dem neuen Gotteslob, Lied Nr.: 224# (siehe Bild-Anhang).
    Die Heiligste Jungfrau erschien damals dort den einheimischen Atzteke-Indianer Juan Diego vom 10. Dez. bis zum 12. Dez. 1531; exakt 10 Jahre nach dem Ausbruch der sogenannten “Reformation” – Bewegung in Deutschland , hauptsächlich im Osten Deutschlands im Jahre 1521, wo die Erzfeinde der Katholischen Kirche Gottes Martin Luther, von Karlstadt & Co. in nah zu allen Kirchen Ostdeutschlands den sogenannten “Bild-Sturm”(Entweihungen aller undenkbaren Arten und Ausschweifungen – genau wie bei der so genannten “Großen Kultur-Revolution” Chinas der 1960er Jahre – ) entbrennen ließen, wobei alles, was den Gläubigen der HL. Kirche heilig und teuer waren, in Asche und Schutt zerschlagen wurden!
    Dieses Gnadenbild in der Basilika von Guadalupe in der Mexiko City ist wohl die beste Antwort aus dem Himmelreich (not sky bus Heaven!) auf diese Banden und Horten von Banbinos Banditos dieser Sorten Arschlöcher wie Martin Luther, von Karlstadt & Co. samt ihrer “Reformation”!
    Kehrt um, Deutschlands Prostanten!
    Kehrt um, alle Protestanten der Welt!!!

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  18. DEAR ST.JUAN DIEGO PLS INTERCEDE FOR MY FAMILY ON THIS DAY, THAT PAIN, STRIFE, MISERY, IDOLATRY AND UNFAITHFULNESS WOULD HAVE NO HOLD IN IT, THAT LOVE,PEACE, UNDERSTANDING,PROGRESS AND FEAR OF GOD WOULD BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY HERE!

    VERY IMPORTANTLY TOO, THAT SPEEDY APPROVAL OF OUR APPLICATION WOULD COME IN THIS WEEK OF DECEMBER, 2018, WE PRAY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, AMEN.
    MOST HOLY MOTHER MARY, PRAY FOR US, ST. JUAN OF DIEGO, PRAY FOR US.

  19. PRAYER TO ST. JUAN DIEGO
    Saint Juan Diego, you are our first American indigenous saint.
    Please pray that God the Father would protect all migrants through his Son, Jesus Christ.
    Ask the Father to pour out the love of the Holy Spirit upon all
    who are isolated, alone and separated by choice or necessity from their native lands.
    May those torn away from their families and forced to leave their country to find work elsewhere be reunited: husbands with wives and parents with children.
    We ask especially for migrant women and children who are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of human trafficking. Give them your protection and shield them from evil.
    May we as a Church receive the grace to welcome with love migrants who enter into our country, seeking a home in our parishes and communities.
    We ask for your prayers and intercession for all immigrants
    who are desperate, alone and in need of God’s loving support.
    And we ask Our Lady, who appeared to you as your Mother and Mother of all in our land, to wrap her mantle of protection around all migrant people.
    We beg for her love, compassion, help and protection on all immigrants who today experience great sufferings, sorrows, necessities and misfortunes.

    Amen.

  21. I pray for our military men and women who serve our country’s. May the grace of God bless over them and their families.

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