St. Juan Diego Statue

HAND PAINTED PLASTER STATUE – 9 Inches High & 4 Inches Width

Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (Cuautitlán, May 5, 1474 – Mexico City, May 30, 1548), was, according to Catholic tradition, a Chichimeca Indian who witnessed the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe in 1531. He was beatified in 1990 and canonized in 2002, in both cases by Pope John Paul II.

STORY ABOUT HIM
Juan Diego is the first indigenous saint of America and the third Mexican saint to be canonized. Juan Diego belonged to the largest and lowest class of the Aztec Empire; according to the Nican Mopohua, he was a “poor Indian”, that is, one who did not belong to any of the social categories of the Empire, such as officials, priests, warriors, merchants, etc., nor was he part of the class of slaves.

On Saturday, December 9, 1531, very early in the morning, during one of his walks on the way to Tenochtitlán, he reached the slopes of the hill called Tepeyac and suddenly he heard beautiful, harmonious and sweet songs that came from the top of the hill, when he reached the summit he met a beautiful Maiden standing there waiting for him and called him to come closer.

WHEN DO WE PRAY HIM?
We turn to him to intercede for us with the perfect virgin. For the Lord to help us with our urgent and special favors. For peace to reign and save nations from hatred, war. We ask for justice and respect for the rights of every man.

PRAYER
O St. Juan Diego, in appearances of Our Lady of Guadalupe, you, a humble peasant, were chosen as Her messenger. Your faithfulness in this task is evident still today, in the miraculous image the Virgin left upon your tilma. Intercede for me, I pray, that I might have your childlike trust in the Mother of God, and that my heart might respond to her maternal promptings. Through such simple confidence, obedience, and love, may I join you one day in sharing everlasting joy, where our heavenly Mother reigns in the glory of Her Son.
Amen