North Carolina, Raleigh- Juan Diego was a Mexican Indian born around 1,474 in Cuauhtitlán, an area of Texco influence. The Indian Juan Diego was of Chichimenca origin and was baptized and educated in the Catholic faith by the Franciscans.
According to the Royal Academy of History, tradition and documentation of the time indicate that on Saturday, December 9, 1,531, when he was going to hear mass at the church of Santiago, upon crossing the hill of Tepeyac (today the town of Guadalupe), the Virgin Mary appeared to him, and amidst flashes of light told him that it was her will that he build a temple.
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Juan Diego was canonized as a Saint
The Indian Juan Diego ran to tell the apparition to Bishop Juan de Zumárraga, who listened to him kindly, but without giving him much credit.
Successive apparitions of the Virgin in the same place and to Juan Diego himself, who after each apparition ran to the bishop's house, ended up convincing Juan de Zumárraga, above all.
A river of healing waters arose on the hill and the prelate discovered the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Indian's worn cloak.
A hermitage was quickly built in Tepeyac, becoming a must-see for pilgrims and a sanctuary of the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico. Today known as Basilica of Guadalupe , through which thousands of parishioners make pilgrimages every year.
Juan Diego died on May 30, 1548. On July 31, 2002, he was canonized by Pope John Paul II, being the first American Indian incorporated into Christian saints.
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After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.
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