Lives of the Saints: St. Juan Diego

We all go on walks-sometimes for exercise, sometimes to enjoy the wonders of nature and other times simply to get to where we’re going. But how many of us walk 15 miles to daily Mass wearing a cactus cloak, or “tilma”? And how many of us meet the Blessed Virgin Mary during our walks?

Juan Diego, a native of Mexico, took walks like this and had such a meeting. On December 9, 1531, Juan was passing Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City when he heard music playing. A woman’s voice called to him, so he climbed the hill to investigate. What he found amazed him. A beautiful young woman dressed like an Aztec princess greeted Juan. She told him that she was the Virgin Mary, and she had a mission for Juan: to tell the bishop of Mexico, Juan de Zumarraga, that she wanted a shrine built in her honor on the ground where they were standing.

Juan Diego went to Bishop Zumarraga and shared Mary’s message, but the bishop was doubtful so he asked for a sign. Unhappy at having failed at his mission, Juan returned to Tepeyac Hill and asked Our Lady to send a different messenger. But Mary had faith in Juan and said he had to be the messenger. Juan returned to the bishop, but Bishop Zumarraga again said he needed a sign.

Mary promised Juan that she would give him a sign on December 12. But before Juan could receive it, his uncle became very sick. Instead of meeting with Mary, Juan decided to go care for his uncle. On the way to his uncle’s house, the Blessed Mother met Juan and assured him that his uncle would recover. She then told Juan to climb Tepeyac Hill. When he did, Juan found Spanish roses growing, even though the ground was frozen. Mary instructed Juan to carry the roses in his tilma, or cloak, and to not open it until he was with the bishop.

Both Juan Diego and Bishop Zumarraga were in for a surprise! When Juan met the bishop, he opened his tilma and the roses tumbled to the floor. On the tilma was an image of Our Lady-now known as Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas! The bishop fell to his knees. And it wasn’t long before the shrine to Mary was built.

In this week’s CRS Rice Bowl Story of Hope, we visit Nicaragua, where coffee farmers are learning how to care for their land and reap better harvests. We see, too, in the story of Juan Diego how important the land is: Juan finds roses growing, even in the cold. Whether by life-giving harvests or life-changing signs, God works through creation. How have you met God through creation? Has God spoken to you or impacted your life through nature?

Photo Credit: Rockero at the English language Wikipedia