Day 10 of Advent: the Feast of Saint Juan Diego

This is one of my very favourite stories Cloë.

Which one is that Tallulah?

The story of Saint Juan Diego meeting Mary.
 

I agree with you Tallulah, it is a wonderful story. Can you tell us about it.

I sure can. Juan lived in the 1500s and was from Mexico.

 

 

Every day he walked 15 miles to go to Mass. On December 9, 1531, he was going to Mass as usual, when all of a sudden he saw a beautiful lady that was dressed like an Aztec princess.

 

 

 

She told him that she was Mary (Our Lady of Guadalupe) and that she wanted Juan to go to the local bishop and tell him that she wanted him to build a church on this very site.

 

Of course the bishop did not believe Juan and asked him to bring proof.

So the next time Juan saw the beautiful lady, she had him pick roses to take to the bishop. The miracle was that it was winter and it was too cold for roses to grow!

He brought them to the bishop in his tilma (cloak). When he dropped the roses at the bishop's feet, a picture of Mary was on the tilma. 

 

The church got built and the Catholic Church began to grow in Mexico.

Did you know Tallulah that this church is the most visited of all the Marian shrines in the world! and that almost 500 years later you can still go to see Juan's tilma.

On Friday we will celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Here are crafts you can make to recognize both days. Go to Catholic Icing.
 

Don't forget the food Cloë! We found two recipes to help celebrate: Mexician Sopapias for today's feast (December 9th)

and Mexican Wedding Cookies for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Friday.

To end today's post here is a little video recap. Woof!

(youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnSqEALs3a0)

Cloë and Tallulah