Customer Reviews

Saint Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe (Encounter the Saints (14))

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This is a short book, 114 pages, that tells the story of Saint Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe. It begins with the background of what was happening in Mexico between the various tribes and tells of the arrival of the Spaniards and the Franciscans who taught the natives about God.

Chapter I relates the story of Princess Papantzin, who was thought to be dead but was in a coma, being place in a tomb and awakening screaming. The books states this occurred in 1505, all other sources I have read date this as happening in 1509. I don't think it is too much to expect accuracy in a book of this kind.

The latter chapters tell the beautiful story of The Blessed Mother appearing to Juan Diego and telling him to have a church built on the spot where she appeared. The bishop at first does not believe Juan and he asks for a sign. Our Lady provides Castilian Roses, which she places in Diego's tilma, and her image is left on the tilma for the bishop to see so that he might believe.

This is the only book about St. Juan Diego for kids that I have found and it is okay. However, for stories of other saints for kids I would prefer: Mary Fabyan Windeatt's Stories of the Saints for Young People by TAN publishers or the Vision Book Series by Ignatius Press. They seem to tell the stories more completely and with a greater spirituality

This book really breaks down what happened and how it happened. There is so much detail about the Blessed Mother's appearance and what everything meant in regards to the garments she wore and how she appeared to the Indians. If you want to learn about Our Lady of Guadalupe and get enough information that does not overwhelm you, this is the book.