The Church throughout America (North, Central, and South) celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Patroness of the Americas on December 12, 2019.
The story of the origins of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is well known. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin was a quiet, humble man, a poor peasant. When the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him and asked him to tell the local bishop to build a church in her honor, Juan Diego became a very reluctant messenger. The bishop would not believe him. So Mary filled Juan Diego’s tilma, or cloak, with roses in December, and when he emptied out these beautiful flowers at the bishop’s feet, there, imprinted on his tilma, was a wonderful image of the Virgin, dressed like a young Aztec woman.
The chapel was quickly built, millions embraced Christianity, and the Church increased its protection of the indigenous peoples.