Feast December 12Feast · Patroness of the Americas

Our Lady of Guadalupe

In 1531 the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego in Mexico and left her image on his cloak.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, original image on the tilma of Juan Diego, 1531 · Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City (public domain)

Who was Our Lady of Guadalupe?

In December 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared four times to Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac. She spoke to him in his own language, Nahuatl, called herself his mother and asked for a church. As a sign for the bishop, she had him gather roses in winter. When Juan Diego opened his tilma before the bishop on December 12, the roses fell and her image was printed on the cloth. Millions of Indigenous people were baptized in the years that followed.

Feast day and traditions

Pope Pius XII called her Patroness of the Americas, and in the United States her day is ranked as a Feast. Parishes across the country sing Las Mañanitas to her at dawn, hold processions and matachines dances, and many pray to her for mothers and unborn children. The Basilica in Mexico City is the most visited Marian shrine in the world.

Prayer

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, you said: "Am I not here, I who am your mother?" Cover us with your mantle and keep us in your heart. Amen.

Novena

To pray a novena that ends on the eve of the feast, begin on December 3 and finish on December 11.

Mass readings

Read the Mass readings for December 12 from the US bishops (USCCB).

Open readings →

Free · By email

We'll remind you of the feast

Get an email before December 12 with the saint's story, prayer and a greeting ready to send.

Celebrate as a family

Sing Las Mañanitas to the Virgin, bring roses to church and share pan dulce and hot chocolate.

Wish someone a happy feast day

Send a greeting with this saint's story and prayer.