St. Juan Diego

Juan Diego and his wife were among the first converts to Christianity in Mexico. In 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan, asking for a church to be built. When the bishop asked for a sign, Mary told Juan Diego to gather flowers in his cloak, and the miraculous image known as Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared. From then on, Juan lived near the newly-built shrine and cared for pilgrims. Feast Day: December 9 Patronage: Indigenous Peoples, Mexico