St. Juan Diego
Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin is the Indigenous lay saint associated with Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- Life
- 1474–1548
- Canonised
- 2002
Life and vocation
The Church’s account places the apparitions at Tepeyac in December 1531. Juan Diego carried Mary’s request for a shrine to the bishop. Details of his earlier life are less well documented.
Faith in action
He later lived near the chapel, caring for it and welcoming pilgrims. His place in the Guadalupe tradition connects prayer, humble service and the encounter of the Gospel with Indigenous peoples in Mexico.
For readers in England
This English-language edition serves readers in the United Kingdom; its regional selection and calendar specifically follow England. John Henry Newman and Thomas More provide starting points for exploring that history.
This biography is not a liturgical reading. For the observances in your area, consult the local calendar and your diocese.
Explore the local liturgical calendar →Daily Catholic Quotes →Sources and further reading
Sources checked:
Image credit
Miguel Cabrera · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain. Images resized for this page; social previews are cropped and include text.
Related saints
St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Kateri Tekakwitha was an Indigenous Christian woman whose short life centred on prayer and fidelity to her faith.
Read biography
St. José Luis Sánchez del Río
José Luis Sánchez del Río was a Mexican teenager recognised by the Church as a martyr.
Read biography
St. John Paul II
John Paul II was the Polish pope whose ministry from 1978 to 2005 reached Catholic communities across the world.
Read biographyCarry a little inspiration into your day
Read Bible verses and words from the saints in Catholic Daily.