St. Juan Diego was the first indigenous person from the Americas to be canonized as a Saint. You can seek his intercession for any cause by praying to St. Juan Diego Novena. He is the patron saint of the indigenous people of the Americas.
About St. Juan Diego
Franciscan missionaries arrived in Mexico City in 1523 to preach to the Indians. In 1528, the Diocese of Mexico City was formed as a result of their achievement.
Many members of Juan Diego’s family were among the first converts to the church. In 1525, he, his wife, Maria Lucia, and his uncle, Juan Bernardino, were all christened as “Juan Diego.”
Juan Diego was sent to live with his uncle after his father died suddenly. He was raised in the Aztec pagan religion from the age of three, although he always showed evidence of having a mystical sense of existence.
He was known for his religious zeal, his reverent and gracious attitude toward the Virgin Mary and his Bishop Juan de Zumarraga, as well as his unwavering affection for his ailing uncle.
Even before hearing the Gospel from Franciscan missionaries, he displayed an extraordinary and mystical sense of life, despite being nurtured in the Aztec pagan religion and society. Cuauhtlatoatzin and his wife converted to Christianity and joined the Catholic Church in 1524.
Juan Diego, a farmer, was devoted to his faith and walked vast distances to obtain religious education. He would be the recipient of a world-changing miracle in December of 1531.
Juan Diego was rushing to get to Mass to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 9, 1531. But he was stopped by the sight of a radiant woman who identified herself as the “ever-perfect holy Mary, who has the honor to be the mother of the real God” in his native tongue.
He was a mystic and spiritual man who grew up pagan before coming to Christianity in 1525 under the name Juan Diego. To get to Mass, he was believed to walk 15 kilometers.
In 1529, he lost his wife, and on December 9, 1531, he had a vivid vision of the Virgin Mary, who became known as Our Lady of Guadalupe. Juan Diego was led to a hilltop by the Virgin Mary.
Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared the patroness of the Americas and a church was built on the site. He passed away on May 30, 1548.
St. Juan Diego, an indigenous Mexican Catholic convert whose experience with the Virgin Mary sparked the Church’s devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, is commemorated on Dec. 9.
Facts
Novena Starts: November 30th
Feast Day: December 9th
Significance of St. Juan Diego Novena
St. Juan Diego was beatified and canonized by Pope John Paul II for his simple faith, humility, and devotion to theological clarification. The 9th of December is his feast day. In 1474, he was born roughly 15 miles north of modern-day Mexico City. He was born impoverished in a society that valued class distinctions. He worked as a farmhand, mat maker, and field worker.
Read more: St. Juliana Falconieri Novena
St. Juan Diego Novena
Day 1
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dearest Lady of Guadalupe, fruitful Mother of holiness, teach me your ways of gentleness and strength. Hear my humble prayer offered with heartfelt confidence to beg this favor…
<<mention your special request>>
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 2
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
O Mary, conceived without sin, I come to your throne of grace to share the fervent devotion of your faithful Mexican children who call to you under the glorious Aztec title of Guadalupe. Obtain for me a lively faith to do your Son’s holy will always: May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
<<mention your special request>>
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Read more: St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Day 3
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
O Mary, whose Immaculate Heart was pierced by seven swords of grief, help me to walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns strewn across my pathway. Obtain for me the strength to be a true imitator of you. This I ask you, my dear Mother.
<<mention your special request>>
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 4
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dearest Mother of Guadalupe, I beg you for a fortified will to imitate your divine Son’s charity, to always seek the good of others in need. Grant me this, I humbly ask of you.
<<mention your special request>>
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 5
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
O most holy Mother, I beg you to obtain for me pardon of all my sins, abundant graces to serve your Son more faithfully from now on, and lastly, the grace to praise Him with you forever in heaven.
<<mention your special request>>
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Read more: St. Isabel of France Novena
Day 6
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Mary, Mother of vocations, multiply priestly vocations and fill the earth with religious houses which will be light and warmth for the world, safety in stormy nights. Beg your Son to send us many priests and religious. This we ask of you, O Mother.
<<mention your special request>>
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 7
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
O Lady of Guadalupe, we beg you that parents live a holy life and educate their children in a Christian manner; that children obey and follow the directions of their parents; that all members of the family pray and worship together. This we ask of you, O Mother
<<mention your special request>>
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 8
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
With my heart full of the most sincere veneration, I prostrate myself before you, O Mother, to ask you to obtain for me the grace to fulfill the duties of my state in life with faithfulness and constancy.
<<mention your special request>>
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Day 9
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
O God, You have been pleased to bestow upon us unceasing favors by having placed us under the special protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Grant us, your humble servants, who rejoice in honoring her today upon earth, the happiness of seeing her face to face in heaven.
<<mention your special request>>
Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Read more: St. Elizabeth of Portugal Novena
