Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Welcome to Blessed is She, where we love Jesus & you.

Free U.S. Standard Shipping On Orders $75+

Shipping FAQ Contact Live
Search
  • Content
  • Shop
  • Community
  • Experiences
  • About
Blessed Is She
Account Search Cart
  • Content Toggle menu
    • Devotions
      Devotions
    • Blog
      Blog
    • BIS Member Community
      BIS Member Community
    • Podcast
      Podcast
    • Free Resources
      Free Resources
  • Shop Toggle menu
    • By Category Toggle menu
      • Accessories
      • Apparel
      • Books & Studies
      • Cards & Booklets
      • Home & Wall Decor
      • Jewelry
      • Journals
      • Planners
      • Rosaries
      • Stickers
    • Featured Toggle menu
      • New
      • Best Sellers
      • Month of Mary 💙
      • Gifts for Mom 💕
      • Planners 📒
      • For Men
      • For Kids
      • Gifts
      • Sale
      • Start a Return
    • 2025-2026 PLANNERS
      2025-2026 PLANNERS
    • SHOP ALL
      SHOP ALL
  • Community Toggle menu
    • Blessed Brunches
    • Regional Groups
    • Small Group Studies
    • Blessed is She Membership Community
    • College Students
    • Retreat
  • Experiences Toggle menu
    October 10-11, 2025

    The New Retreat

    Join us as we let God bring our dry bones back to brand new and vibrant life.

    register
  • About Toggle menu
    • What's New
    • About Blessed is She
    • Staff + Writers
    • Support Blessed is She
Left
  • Content Toggle menu
    • Devotions
      Blog
      BIS Member Community
      Podcast
      Free Resources
  • Shop Toggle menu
    • By Category Toggle menu
      • Accessories
      • Apparel
      • Books & Studies
      • Cards & Booklets
      • Home & Wall Decor
      • Jewelry
      • Journals
      • Planners
      • Rosaries
      • Stickers
    • Featured Toggle menu
      • New
      • Best Sellers
      • Month of Mary 💙
      • Gifts for Mom 💕
      • Planners 📒
      • For Men
      • For Kids
      • Gifts
      • Sale
      • Start a Return
    • 2025-2026 PLANNERS
      SHOP ALL
  • Community Toggle menu
    • Blessed Brunches
    • Regional Groups
    • Small Group Studies
    • Blessed is She Membership Community
    • College Students
    • Retreat
  • Experiences Toggle menu
    October 10-11, 2025

    The New Retreat

    Join us as we let God bring our dry bones back to brand new and vibrant life.

    register
  • About Toggle menu
    • What's New
    • About Blessed is She
    • Staff + Writers
    • Support Blessed is She
Planners 📒
Catholic Academic Liturgical Planner // Mini Layout
Left Right Quick buy
Catholic Academic Liturgical Planner // Mini Layout
208.00 SR
Catholic Liturgical Academic Planner // Big Layout
Left Right Quick buy
Catholic Liturgical Academic Planner // Big Layout
224.00 SR
Litany of Humility Magnetic Bookmarks – Catholic Prayer-Inspired Page Markers for Bible, Journals & Devotionals
Left Right Quick buy
Litany of Humility Magnetic Bookmarks – Catholic Prayer-Inspired Page Markers for Bible, Journals & Devotionals
58.00 SR
Catholic Wall and Desk Calendar 2025 with liturgical dates
62% off
Left Right Quick buy
Catholic Wall and Desk Calendar 2025
58.00 SR 154.00 SR Sale
Digital 2025 Catholic Liturgical Planner
Left Right Quick buy
Digital 2025 Catholic Liturgical Planner
97.00 SR
Planner Page Digital Download - Blessed Is She Digital Download
Left Right Quick buy
Planner Page Digital Download
20.00 SR
Academic Planner Accessory Bundle - Blessed Is She
31% off
Left Right Quick buy
Planner Accessory Bundle
185.00 SR 270.00 SR Sale
Planner Stickers - Blessed Is She Stickers
Left Right Quick buy
Catholic Planner Stickers
58.00 SR
Notepad // Pure In Heart - Blessed Is She Accessories
21% off
Left Right Quick buy
Notepad // Pure In Heart
31.00 SR 39.00 SR Sale
Magnetic Bookmarks // Pure In Heart - Blessed Is She Accessories
17% off
Left Right Quick buy
Magnetic Bookmarks // Pure In Heart
58.00 SR 70.00 SR Sale
Shipping FAQ Contact Live
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Our 2025-2026 Liturgical Planners are here ✨
Welcome, we're so glad you're here 💜

On the Feast of Saint Juan Diego

In an interesting "which came first" scenario, this week we celebrate two inter-related feast days. Later this week we will celebrate the popular feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which goes hand in hand with the one we celebrate today—the feast of Saint Juan Diego.

We celebrate Juan Diego as a bearer of Mary’s apparition and request for a church. We celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe because of Juan Diego’s willingness to speak on her behalf.

Simple Obedience

Saint Juan Diego’s story began on a rural hillside outside of Mexico City in 1531 where the Virgin Mary appeared to him and requested that he speak to the Bishop about building a church in her honor on Tepeyec Hill where they were speaking. Juan Diego was an indigenous man of no particular means or connection, and honored her request and proposed the idea to the bishop.

The bishop was skeptical of the encounter and asked that he return with a sign. Meanwhile, Juan Diego’s uncle fell ill and Juan Diego nearly missed his second appointment with the bishop. Instead, the Virgin reassured Juan Diego that his uncle would live. She instructed him to collect the roses (growing unseasonably) on the hill and bring them to the bishop as a sign. Juan Diego did as he was told. When he presented the flowers to the bishop, an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe became visible inside of his tilma (cloak).

With the appearance of this sign, a church was constructed in her honor.

A Legacy of Love and Our Lady

Today the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (in Mexico City) is one of the most frequently visited pilgrimage sites in the world. Juan Diego’s tilma bearing Mary’s image can still be viewed inside of the Basilica, though its rough and poor fabric likely should have disintegrated long ago. The Virgin of Guadalupe is the patroness of Mexico, which is overwhelmingly Catholic, as well as the Americas. Many believe that this apparition endeared the Mexican people to the Mother of God and to the Church in a special way.

There are two aspects of this story that I especially love:

  1. Mary chooses to appear to a simple indigenous man without connections or means, to receive her message.
  2. As it happens with Marian apparitions, Mary appears as an indigenous woman herself; connecting immediately to those with whom she speaks.

Saint Juan Diego’s Witness

If there is any downside to being a part of a Church with such a rich and vibrant cloud of witnesses that have gone before us, it might be that it can be intimidating to find our own circumstances particularly inspiring. And this is why I love Saint Juan Diego: he is obscure, and in his obscurity he ushers in and has fostered tremendous devotion to Jesus and His Mother. Mary could have chosen someone with influence or means who could have built the Basilica themselves. But, lost would have been the image in the tilma and the ongoing exchange between Juan Diego and Our Lady, and the message that the lives of seemingly obscure folks do not escape the significant and loving gazes of Jesus and Mary.

The Virgin of Guadalupe and People on the Margins

In 1531 there would have been a wide array of artistic renderings of Jesus and Mary, but likely none that reflected the experience and appearance of all who would look upon them. Mary’s distinct appearance at Tepeyac echoed familiarity to the hearts of Juan Diego and a Mexican people ready to receive it. Our Lady’s radiant appearance communicated a relationship with the divine that could be both holy and familiar and that God has always had particular love for those who are marginalized.

Marian Apparitions

Apparitions like this one have communicated to people all throughout time and geography that they are seen and loved by God and His Mother in their most specific circumstances. Mary has appeared to men, women, and children all over the world. Her invitations offer opportunities and instruction to those who hear her to grow closer to her Son. Our Lady of Fatima, Lourdes, Knock, and Guadalupe are well-known apparitions, but only a few of the many places Mary has made herself available to the people of the world.

As we journey through Advent during a very unique season of our own history, we do so in good company. Saint Juan Diego offers a timely reminder that even in our obscurity we can offer our very selves to the greater glory of God. Our Lady of Guadalupe assures us of the possibility to be employed in heavenly errands.

Saint Juan Diego, pray for us!

 

On the Feast of Saint Juan Diego #BISblog //Click to tweet Twitter

Katie Cassady - Blessed Is She
About Katie Cassady
View other posts from the author

Katie Cassady is a regular contributor to the BIS blog. She is a wife and mom to three little girls in Denver, CO. Steeped in theological reflection, beekeeping and motherhood, she is appreciative of any and all wisdom she can glean from those living intentional lives of faith. Find out more about her here. Read all of Katie's posts here.

GET YOUR PLANNER
SAINTLY SOAP
TUNE IN WEEKLY 🎧
SUPPORT THE BIS MISSION
Share
  • Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Pinterest Pin it
December 09, 2020 — Katie Cassady
Tags: Author_KatieCassady BLOG CELEBRATES feast days saints
Left Older Post Back to Blog Newer Post Right

Left What's New Right

View all
Cover of Abide in His Love Gospel of John study guide
Left Right Quick buy
Catholic Bible Study: The Gospel of John // Abide in His Love
116.00 SR
Saintly Soaps
25% off
Left Right Quick buy
Saintly Soaps
58.00 SR 77.00 SR Sale
Catholic Academic Liturgical Planner // Mini Layout
Left Right Quick buy
Catholic Academic Liturgical Planner // Mini Layout
208.00 SR
Catholic Liturgical Academic Planner // Big Layout
Left Right Quick buy
Catholic Liturgical Academic Planner // Big Layout
224.00 SR
Litany of Humility Magnetic Bookmarks – Catholic Prayer-Inspired Page Markers for Bible, Journals & Devotionals
Left Right Quick buy
Litany of Humility Magnetic Bookmarks – Catholic Prayer-Inspired Page Markers for Bible, Journals & Devotionals
58.00 SR
Hardcover Eucharist study guide with full-color pages
Left Right Quick buy
Gift // Study on the Eucharist
From 70.00 SR
Immaculate Heart of Mary Stud Earrings
Left Right Quick buy
Immaculate Heart of Mary Stud Earrings
116.00 SR
Morning Joy Mug
Left Right Quick buy
Morning Joy Mug
54.00 SR
Catholic women's virtual mentorship program - The Well Overflow by Blessed is She
Quick buy
The Well // Overflow
304.00 SR
Litany of Humility Print Set (3-piece)
Left Right Quick buy
Litany of Humility Print Set (3-piece)
58.00 SR
Come Holy Spirit Print (11x14)
Left Right Quick buy
Come Holy Spirit Print (11x14)
58.00 SR
Chapstick Set
19% off
Left Right Quick buy
Jesus is the Balm Lip Balm // 3-pack
47.00 SR 58.00 SR Sale
Catholic Wall and Desk Calendar 2025 with liturgical dates
62% off
Left Right Quick buy
Catholic Wall and Desk Calendar 2025
58.00 SR 154.00 SR Sale
Miraculous Medal Earrings // Silver
Left Right Quick buy
Miraculous Medal Earrings // Silver
135.00 SR
Morning Star 40oz water bottle
38% off
Left Right Quick buy
Morning Star 40oz water bottle
108.00 SR 174.00 SR Sale
Women's Gold Crucifix Necklace
Left Right Quick buy
Women's Gold Crucifix Necklace
154.00 SR
Gold Monstrance Locket
16% off
Left Right Quick buy
Monstrance Gold Locket
162.00 SR 193.00 SR Sale
Monstrance Silver Locket
16% off
Left Right Quick buy
Monstrance Silver Locket
162.00 SR 193.00 SR Sale
Hand-Lettered Hail Mary Poster (11x14)
Left Right Quick buy
Hand-Lettered Hail Mary Poster (11x14)
58.00 SR
catholic cross earrings
18% off
Left Right Quick buy
Dainty Cross Stud Earrings // Gold
70.00 SR 85.00 SR Sale
Welcome to Blessed Is She

Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through their Catholic faith.

Blessed Is She
Quick links
  • Support BIS
  • Subscribe to the Devos
  • About Us
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • Affiliates Program
  • Wholesale Login
Social
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Amazon
American Express Diners Club Discover JCB Maestro Mastercard PayPal Union Pay Venmo Visa
  • Privacy Policy
  • Shipping & Returns
  • Terms of Service
© 2025 Blessed Is She. Powered by Shopify
To Top