We have all heard of Our Lady of Guadalupe but have you heard of St. Juan Diego? Juan Diego was canonized on July 11, 2002 and his Feast day is on December 9. Juan Diego was of Indian descent and living as a conquered people. The Aztec people of Mexico had been conquered by the Spanish in 1521. This conquest signaled not only the end of an empire but also the end of a civilization and way of life. Juan Diego was not only poor but he struggled with a new life that included letting go of old ways and beliefs. He would have been in his fifties and be considered an old man back in December of 1531, the date he became forever linked to both the history of Mexico and the Catholic Church.
Juan Diego was living an obscure life when our Mother Mary appeared to him at Tepeyac hill on December 9, 1531. The most famous parts of the story of Juan Diego are usually associated with the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe which is celebrated on December 12. Our Mother Mary appeared to Juan Diego as he was on his way to daily Mass. He was instructed to talk to the local Bishop but his story of the appearance of Mary was not believed. The Bishop ask Juan to bring back evidence of the appearance of Mary. Juan was told by Mary to gather roses as proof of her appearance. The roses gathered were neither in season nor native to the area. He put the roses inside his tilma, a cloak, to protect them. Upon reaching the Bishop he opened his tilma and the roses fell out. Left on the surface of his tilma was an image of Mary. Today we celebrate this appearance of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Our Virgin Mother not only left an image of herself for the whole world to see, she talked to Juan in his native language and wore the clothes of an Aztec princess. These Marian apparitions sparked the conversion of millions of persons to the Catholic faith in just a few years. The tilma Juan wore and which holds the image of Mary has withstood time, scrutiny and attempted destruction. St. Juan Diego though has faded into history. Not much is known about him after these events. He is said to have lived at the shrine constructed at Tepeyac Hill and verbally taught the catechism until his death. We do not even know what St. Juan Diego looked like. The earliest images we have of him are paintings from the 17th century.
What is important to remember about St. Juan Diego is the example he is for us. We may feel insignificant in worldly events but God has a role for each of us in salvation history. We are to help build up the Church established by Jesus. This Advent let us look at the role we play in our own parish and the life of the Church. Whatever role God has for us in his Church is never too small and always important
What is important to remember about St. Juan Diego is the example he is for us. We may feel insignificant in worldly events but God has a role for each of us in salvation history. We are to help build up the Church established by Jesus. This Advent let us look at the role we play in our own parish and the life of the Church. Whatever role God has for us in his Church is never too small and always important
