St Juan (1474-1548) was an Indian, born in or near Cuauhtitlan, Mexico City. He and his wife were among the first to be baptised following the arrival of Franciscan missionaries in 1524.
In 1531, when St Juan was walking from his home to the Franciscan Mission he encountered his first of five visions from the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary told him to ask the local Bishop to build, in her honour, a Chapel nearby. The Bishop requested a sign to prove that the apparition was indeed from Mary. Among the signs Mary gave was the healing of St Juan’s uncle who was near to death and the miraculous creation of her image on St Juan’s cloak after she arranged some flowers and he placed them inside, to take to the Bishop.
A Chapel was hastily built as Mary had requested but while St Juan’s cloak, now with the image of Mary, was being taken to it, a local Indian was accidentally hit in the neck by an arrow and critically injured. However, miraculously, when the arrow was removed, his wound rapidly healed.
Many more miracles were soon reported at the Chapel and the news quickly spread. Today, millions of people visit the site annually, now known as Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine. It is the most visited Marian shrine in the world.
St Juan’s Feast Day is the 9th December. He is the Patron Saint of indigenous people.
St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin:
Pray that we will seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in times of trouble and joy; may she be our way through the narrow door to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Glory be to the…
