Saint Juan Diego
- Feast
- 9 December
- Patron of
- Indigenous peoples of the Americas
Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin was a Nahua man, a convert living near Mexico City, when in December 1531 the Virgin Mary appeared to him on the hill of Tepeyac. She asked for a church to be built there. He spent his remaining years beside the chapel raised on the site, died in 1548, and was canonised by John Paul II in 2002.
The bishop, Juan de Zumárraga, asked for a sign. Juan Diego gathered roses on the hill in winter and carried them to him in his cloak, the tilma; when he let it fall open, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was on the cloth. Painters show him kneeling with the tilma held open and the roses spilling out.
He was a poor layman whom the Mother of God chose as her messenger, and who went back to a doubtful bishop until he was believed. A good patron for anyone asked to carry something larger than themselves.
The print of Saint Juan Diego
Questions
When is the feast of Saint Juan Diego?
The feast of Saint Juan Diego is kept on 9 December.
What is Saint Juan Diego the patron saint of?
Saint Juan Diego is the patron saint of Indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Is Saint Juan Diego a good confirmation saint?
He was a poor layman whom the Mother of God chose as her messenger, and who went back to a doubtful bishop until he was believed. A good patron for anyone asked to carry something larger than themselves.
Choosing for a confirmation? See Confirmation gifts. Any two Charcoal Saints are 15% off.
Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFaustina KowalskaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJohn the BaptistJosephJosephine BakhitaJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaNicholasPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours