Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe

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Recommended: Mexico's Political Culture and Religion

For most of the people in the Spanish-speaking world, religion is a large part of daily life, and a large percentage of those people are Catholics. According to America Magazine, in 2010, the largest population of Catholics in the world resided in Latin America and the Caribbean. Mexico has the second-largest Catholic population of any country in the world, with 85 percent of its residents identifying themselves as practicing Catholicism (Catholic). One of the main beliefs of the Catholic faith is the sanctity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ.

In 1531 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a poor and humble Indian man named Juan Diego at Tepeyac Hill, northwest of what is now Mexico City. The “Lady from Heaven” (Our2) requested of Juan Diego one thing – to build a church on the ground where she appeared. She said to Juan Diego “"My dear little son, I love you. I desire you to know who I am. I am the ever-virgin Mary, Mother of the true God who gives life and maintains its existence. He created all things. He is in all places. He is Lord of Heaven and Earth. I desire a church in this place where your people may experience my compassion. All those who sincerely ask my help in their work and in their sorrows will know my Mother's Heart in this place. Here I will see their tears; I will console them and they will be at peace. So run now to Tenochtitlan and tell the Bishop all that you have seen and heard" (Our1)

Juan Diego immediately journeyed to the palace of the bishop to present the Lady’s request, but was unable to speak with him. Upon returning to the hill the next day, the Blessed Mother appeared again to Juan, and instructed him to return to the bishop. This time the bishop instructed Juan Diego...

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... Shifts to South." America Staging. America Magazine, 11 Mar. 2013. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. .

Encyclopedia Britannica, Editors. "Saint Juan Diego (Mexican Saint)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. .

"Our Lady of Guadalupe." Catholic Online. Catholic Online, 2014. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. .

"Our Lady Of Guadalupe | Www.sancta.org." Our Lady Of Guadalupe | Www.sancta.org. Sancta.org, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. .

"Science Sees What Mary Saw From Juan Diego’s Tilma." Catholic Education Resource Center. Zenit, 2001. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. .

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