It was to Juan Diego that Mary, the Mother of God, first introduced herself to the world as Our Lady of Guadalupe. Juan lived in the sixteenth century when Mexico City was known as the Valley of Anahuac. After Juan’s particular mission was completed, it is said that he became a hermit. He spent the rest of his life in prayer and penance. His little hut was near the first chapel that was built on Tepeyac Hill. He was greatly esteemed. Juan took care of the little church and greeted the pilgrims who began to come there to honor their Mother of Guadalupe. He would show them the miraculous tilma or cloak, that preserves Mary’s beautiful image. Pope John Paul II declared Juan Diego a saint on July 31, 2002. You can still see Juan Diego’s tilma in Mexico City today. Juan Diego’s story is a particularly powerful story for us in the Americas. About the Series The Encounter the Saints series offers intermediate readers relatable portrayals of the saints. Each story, in a handy format, vividly recreates the saint’s place of origin, family life, and corresponding historical events.
