Our Lady of Guadalupe
Feast day: December 12
Our Lady of Guadalupe, who appeared to Saint Juan Diego in 1531 and left her image on his cloak (12/12).
Who is Mary?
Our Lady of Guadalupe is Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who appeared in Mexico in 1531. She is honored as the patroness of the Americas. Her image on Saint Juan Diego’s cloak is now kept in the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, one of the most visited shrines in the world.
The story
Juan Diego was a poor native man who had received the faith and lived a gentle life. According to the traditional account, on the morning of 9 December 1531, on his way to Mass, he heard beautiful birdsong on the hill of Tepeyac and a voice calling his name. A radiant young woman appeared and introduced herself as the Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God. She wanted a church to be built there, so that she could show her loving mercy to everyone, and she sent him to ask the Bishop.
Bishop Zumárraga did not believe him yet and asked for a sign. Meanwhile, Juan Diego’s uncle became very sick. Juan Diego hurried off to find a priest for his uncle, planning to avoid the road over the hill. But Mary came to meet him and gently asked: Am I not here, I who am your Mother? She told him his uncle was already healed, and then told him to go up to the top of the hill and pick flowers.
In the cold of winter, on the rocky hilltop, he found a great many sweet-smelling roses in bloom. He picked them, wrapped them in his cloak (tilma) and took them to the Bishop. When he opened his cloak, the flowers fell to the ground, and on the cloth appeared the image of Mary, just as it is today. The Bishop knelt down to pray. Soon after, the first chapel was built on the hill.
After that, a great many native people of Mexico asked to be baptized. Juan Diego spent the rest of his life beside the chapel, taking care of it and telling pilgrims what had happened. In 2002, Pope John Paul II canonized him.
Why does the Church honor Mary by this title?
At Guadalupe, Mary appeared as a mother whose face and clothes were close to those of the native people. She showed that the Gospel does not belong to any one people: Jesus and his Mother come to every people. The Church honors her as patroness of the Americas and protector of unborn children.
A lesson for you
- When you are worried, remember what Mary asked Juan Diego: Am I not here, I who am your Mother? Place your trust in her.
- Be kind to everyone, whatever their language, skin color or situation.
- Pray for babies still in their mothers’ wombs and for mothers who are expecting.
Identifying marks
- Golden rays of light all around her: as in the image on Juan Diego’s cloak, Mary stands in front of the sun.
- A blue-green mantle sprinkled with golden stars: the stars on her mantle, like the night sky, say that she is Queen of heaven and earth.
- A pink dress with golden flowers and a black sash: according to the traditional understanding, the sash shows that she is expecting the baby Jesus.
- Hands joined, head slightly tilted, eyes looking down: Mary’s humble, prayerful pose in the image.
- A dark moon under her feet and a little angel holding the hem of her robe: details found in the original image; the angel has red, white and green wings.
The text on this page is the saint card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
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