St. Juan Diego

Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin was a member of the Chichimeca people. His original name, Cuauhtlatoatzin means “the talking eagle.” He was born around 1474 in Cuautlitlán which is now part of Mexico City. Not much is known about Juan Diego’s life before he was baptized in 1524 by Franciscan Father Peter da Gand. On December 9, 1531 Juan was on his way to Mass when the Virgin Mary appeared to him on Tepeyac Hill and asked for a shrine to be built to her there. The bishop of Mexico City to whom Juan reported the apparition was understandably skeptical and told Juan to ask for sign from the Lady. On December 12, 1531 Juan Diego again saw Our Lady as he was on his way to get the priest to come to his dying uncle. She assured him that his uncle would recover and then she had Juan gather roses which were blooming on the hill although it was winter. She arranged these in his cloak for him to take to the bishop. When he opened his cloak (tilma) in the bishop’s presence, the roses fell to the floor and all present beheld the image of the Virgin on Juan’s cloak. She was as she appeared to Juan Diego; a young, beautiful woman with Aztec features, clothed in a star-studded mantle. The chapel was built as she requested and for the rest of his life Juan Diego lived as a hermit in a hut near the chapel. He cared for the church and welcomed the pilgrims who came to see Our Lady’s image. He grew in virtue and love of neighbor. Juan Diego died in 1548 and was buried in the original chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The miraculous image is still plainly visible on his cloak, although scientists have determined that material the tilma was made of would ordinarily deteriorate in twenty years. Juan Diego was canonized in 2002.