The Patroness of the Americas and the Star of the New Evangelization

On December 9, 1531, on the hill of Tepeyac in the north of Mexico City, a young woman "dazzling with light" appeared to a native called Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin.

She revealed that she was the Virgin Mary, and asked for a church to be built on the site of her apparition. The unbelieving bishop asked Juan Diego to obtain a sign from the apparition as proof. It did not take long for his wish to be granted.

On December 12th, appearing for the fourth and last time to Juan Diego, Mary sent him to gather roses at the top of the hill. He returned greatly astonished, with his tilma (or cloak) filled with the most beautiful roses he had ever seen, in the middle of winter! Under the injunction of the Virgin, he took these flowers to the bishop, and showed the content of his tilma to all the people gathered around the prelate.

To their amazement, they all observed the image miraculously printed on the tilma, representing "the ever-virgin Mary of Guadalupe," as she called herself. Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared the Patroness of the Americas and the Star of the New Evangelization by Pope Saint John Paul II.

The Mary of Nazareth Team