Together with his wife, María Lucía, he received baptism and embraced the Christian life with deep consistency, standing out for his humility, piety, and dedication to religious instruction. After being widowed in 1529, he lived a life of recollection, strengthened by prayer and frequent participation in the Eucharist.
The Route makes it possible to follow in his footsteps up to the dawn of December 9, 1531, when, according to the Nican Mopohua, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to him for the first time on the hill of Tepeyac. In that encounter, Mary asked him to convey to Bishop Juan de Zumárraga her wish that a temple be built there, “where I may hear their weeping, their sorrow, and where I may cure their pains and sufferings.” After the bishop’s initial disbelief, Juan Diego received the mission of bringing him a sign. That sign came on December 12, when the Virgin asked him to gather winter flowers on the summit of Tepeyac. When he unfolded his tilma before the bishop, the roses fell to the ground and revealed the image that is venerated today in the Basilica of Guadalupe, one of the most powerful symbols of Mexican faith.
The Route also invites visitors to discover the later life of Juan Diego, who, with ecclesiastical authorization, took up residence in a humble dwelling next to the shrine of the “Lady of Heaven.” There he devoted his days to prayer, to caring for and cleaning the temple, and to welcoming pilgrims, becoming the first custodian of the Guadalupan message. His life reflects a quiet path of holiness, marked by voluntary poverty, contemplation, and obedience—elements that reinforce the spiritual character of the tour that today bears his name.
Beyond its spiritual dimension, the Route of Saint Juan Diego represents a bridge between history, culture, and collective memory. Visitors can envision the context of the time: the transition after the conquest, the military movements that passed near Cuautitlán and Tulpetlac, and the impact these events must have had on the daily life of Juan Diego and his family. Although his humble origin as a macehual placed him in the countryside and agricultural work, the geographic proximity to the events of the Conquest makes it clear that he was a witness to a period of profound sociocultural transformations, which formed the backdrop for the emergence of the Guadalupan Event.
By offering an immersive experience based on historical sources, traditional testimonies, and deep respect for popular devotion, the Route of Saint Juan Diego is strengthened as a proposal that weaves together faith, tourism, and heritage. Every step of the journey allows visitors to contemplate not only the places where the apparitions took place, but also the life and spirituality of the first indigenous saint of the Americas, whose figure continues to inspire millions of people around the world.
With its growing recognition and its ability to convey a timeless message of faith and hope, this route is positioning itself as one of the most emblematic experiences in contemporary religious tourism, inviting believers, scholars, and travelers to reconnect with the origins of a devotion that forms an essential part of Mexico’s cultural identity.
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