Saint of the day: Juan Diego
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THE FIRST VISION
When Juan Diego, a fifty-five-year-old Indian who lived five miles north of Mexico City, was hurrying on Tepeyac Hill to attend Mass at a Franciscan mission, he heard a great many birds singing. Then, when they stopped, he heard a woman’s voice calling him, not by his name, but by the affectionate diminutive, “Juanito, Juan Dieguito.” She then asked, “Juan, smallest and dearest of my little children, where were you going?” After he explained that he was on his way to attend Holy Mass, the Lady said:
“Know for certain, dearest of my sons, that I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God, through whom everything lives, the Lord of all things, who is Master of Heaven and Earth. I ardently desire a temple be built here for me where I will show and offer all my love, my compassion, my help and my protection to the people. I am your merciful Mother, the Mother of all who live united in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me, of those who cry to me, of those who have confidence in me. Here I will hear their weeping and their sorrows, and will remedy and alleviate their sufferings, necessities and misfortunes. Therefore, in order to realize my intentions, go to the house of the bishop of Mexico City and tell him that I sent you and that it is my desire to have a temple built here. Tell him all that you have seen and heard. Be assured that I shall be very grateful and will reward you for doing diligently what I have asked of you. Now that you have heard my words, my son, go and do everything as best as you can.”
THE SECOND VISION
When the bishop showed little interest in Juan’s story of the apparition, Juan Diego returned to the hill and found the vision waiting for him. Pleading with her that she should send someone more worthy to deliver her message, he was told,
“Listen, little son. There are many I could send. But you are the one I have chosen for this task. Tomorrow morning, go back to the bishop. Tell him it is the ever holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God who sends you, and repeat to him my great desire for a church in this place.”
Once again Juan visited the bishop who again dismissed him politely.
THE THIRD VISION
Juan Diego had already visited the bishop twice, but then, during the third visit, since Juan Diego seemed sincere and honest, the bishop asked for a sign from the Lady. This Juan duly reported to the Lady during her third apparition. This fourth and final vision of Juan Diego took place on December 12 when Juan was hurrying to fetch a priest for his dying uncle. Suddenly the Lady appeared and asked where he was going. To his troubled explanation, the Lady spoke these consoling words:
“Listen and let it penetrate your heart, my dear little son. Do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need? Do not let the illness of your uncle worry you because he is not going to die of his sickness. At this very moment he is cured.”
This article is taken from a chapter in See How She Loves Us by Joan Carroll Cruz which is available from TAN Books.
