Saint of the day for December 9: the history of San Juan Diego

Saint of the day for December 9nd
San Juan Diego (1474 - May 30, 1548)

The history of San Juan Diego

Thousands of people gathered in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on July 31, 2002, for the canonization of Juan Diego, to whom Our Lady appeared in the XNUMXth century. Pope John Paul II celebrated the ceremony by which the poor Indian peasant became the first indigenous saint of the Church in the Americas.

The Holy Father defined the new saint as "a simple, humble Indian" who accepted Christianity without renouncing his identity as an Indian. “In praising the Indian Juan Diego, I want to express to all of you the closeness of the Church and the Pope, embracing you with love and encouraging you to overcome with hope the difficult moments you are going through,” said John Paul. Among the thousands attending the event were members of Mexico's 64 indigenous groups.

First called Cuauhtlatohuac ("The Talking Eagle"), Juan Diego's name is forever linked to Our Lady of Guadalupe because it was to him that he first appeared on the hill of Tepeyac on December 9, 1531. He comes told the most famous part of its story in connection with the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 12 December. After the roses collected in his tilma were transformed into the miraculous image of the Madonna, however, little more is said about Juan Diego.

In time he lived near the shrine built in Tepeyac, revered as a holy, selfless and compassionate catechist, who taught by word and above all by example.

During his 1990 pastoral visit to Mexico, Pope John Paul II confirmed the long-standing liturgical cult in honor of Juan Diego by beatifying him. Twelve years later the pope himself proclaimed him a saint.

Reflection

God counted on Juan Diego to play a humble but enormous role in bringing the Good News to the peoples of Mexico. Overcoming his own fears and the doubts of Bishop Juan de Zumarraga, Juan Diego collaborated with the grace of God in showing his people that the Good News of Jesus is for everyone. Pope John Paul II took the opportunity of the beatification of Juan Diego to exhort the Mexican laity to assume the responsibility of transmitting the Good News and bearing witness to it.