Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe | Miracles of Mary | Episode 01

Summary

In 1531, Juan Diego, a humble Mexican farmer, experiences a miraculous encounter with the Virgin Mary on Tepeyac Hill. Mary, appearing as a native princess, instructs him to ask the bishop to build a shrine in her honor. After initial disbelief and doubts from the bishop, Juan Diego returns with a miraculous sign: roses blooming in winter and an image of Mary imprinted on his tilma. His uncle is healed, and the shrine is built, marking the beginning of the veneration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This event is considered one of the most significant religious miracles in Mexican history.

Takeaways

• 😀 Juan Diego was an elderly Mexican man, a farmer, and laborer with strong Christian faith, despite having no formal education.
• 😀 On December 9, 1531, while hurrying to church, Juan Diego heard divine music coming from the Tepeyac hill.
• 😀 At the top of Tepeyac hill, Juan Diego encountered Mother Mary, who appeared as a native princess surrounded by radiant light.
• 😀 Mother Mary asked Juan Diego to tell the bishop to build a shrine in her honor at the hill, promising to offer her love, compassion, and protection.
• 😀 The bishop initially dismissed Juan Diego’s account as a fabrication, even suspecting he was being deceived by the devil.
• 😀 Juan Diego, confused, returned to the hill, where Mother Mary reassured him and asked him to try again with the bishop.
• 😀 The bishop still demanded a sign to believe in Juan Diego’s story, leading to a request for a miraculous proof from Mary.
• 😀 While caring for his sick uncle, Juan Diego couldn’t fulfill his promise, but Mother Mary reassured him that his uncle would not die.
• 😀 Mother Mary instructed Juan Diego to gather flowers from the cold hilltop, which were miraculously found blooming despite the winter season.
• 😀 Juan Diego presented the flowers to the bishop, revealing an image of Mary on the cloth, which convinced the bishop and others of the miracle.
• 😀 Following this event, Mother Mary cured Juan Diego’s uncle, and her mission was complete, with her final name being Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Q & A

Who was Juan Diego and what was his background?

Juan Diego was an elderly Mexican man born during the Aztec rule. He was a farmer and a laborer with no formal education but had recently converted to Christianity. His faith was very strong, and he never missed attending mass.

What significant event occurred on December 9th, 1531?

On December 9th, 1531, while on his way to church, Juan Diego heard divine music and encountered the Virgin Mary on Tepeyac Hill. She appeared to him surrounded by radiant light and gave him a message to deliver to the bishop.

What did the Virgin Mary ask Juan Diego to do?

The Virgin Mary asked Juan Diego to tell the bishop to build a shrine in her honor on Tepeyac Hill, where she promised to offer her love, compassion, help, and protection.

How did the bishop respond to Juan Diego's story?

The bishop did not believe Juan Diego's story and thought that Juan was seeking attention or making up the tale. When Juan shared his experience with others, they too dismissed him, thinking he had been tricked by the devil.

Why was Juan Diego unable to fulfill his promise to the Virgin Mary initially?

Juan Diego was unable to keep his promise to bring a sign to the bishop because his beloved uncle fell ill, and he had to care for him. Despite this, his uncle's condition worsened, and it seemed he would soon die.

What did the Virgin Mary tell Juan Diego regarding his uncle's illness?

When Juan Diego encountered the Virgin Mary again, she reassured him that his uncle would not die. She advised him to stop worrying, reminding him that he was under her protection.

What miracle did Juan Diego witness on Tepeyac Hill?

Upon following Mary's instructions, Juan Diego found beautiful flowers blooming on Tepeyac Hill, despite the cold winter weather. This was a miraculous sign to show the bishop.

What happened when Juan Diego presented the flowers to the bishop?

When Juan Diego presented the flowers to the bishop, they fell out of the cloth, covering the floor. The bishop and others were stunned to find that the image of the Virgin Mary appeared on the cloth, resembling a native princess with high cheekbones and a blue cloak with stars.

What name did the Virgin Mary choose for herself, and what significance does it have?

The Virgin Mary chose to be known as Santa Maria of Guadalupe, or Our Lady of Guadalupe. This title emphasized her protection and care for the people, especially those of native descent in Mexico.

How did Juan Diego's uncle's condition change after the appearance of the Virgin Mary?

After the Virgin Mary's appearance, Juan Diego's uncle, who had been near death, was immediately healed. His fever vanished, and he was restored to health.