Small Saint, Big Miracle: Celebrating St. Juan Diego with Kids

It is the Second Week of Advent. The purple candles are burning down, the calendar is filling up, and if you are like most Catholic parents, your to-do list is already a mile long.

In the midst of the holiday rush, it can feel overwhelming to pause and introduce *another* feast day to your children. But today, December 9th, the Church invites us to slow down and walk up a hill in Mexico with a humble man named Juan Diego.

This isn’t just another date on the liturgical calendar; it is a perfect Advent moment. The story of St. Juan Diego is about waiting, trusting, and how God uses the "little ones" to change the world.

If you are looking for meaningful, low-stress **St. Juan Diego feast day activities**, you are in the right place. Let’s explore how to bring this miraculous story to life in your living room, teaching our children that they don’t have to be big or powerful to do great things for God.

Who Was St. Juan Diego? A Morning Summary for Busy Moms

Before the school run or over a bowl of oatmeal, you might need a quick "elevator pitch" to explain who this saint is to your little ones. Here is the snapshot:

Imagine living in Mexico nearly 500 years ago. St. Juan Diego (born Cuauhtlatoatzin, which means "Talking Eagle") was an Aztec convert to Catholicism. He wasn't a priest, a king, or a wealthy merchant. He was a widower, a humble peasant, and a man who loved God very much.

One chilly morning in December 1531, while walking to Mass, he heard beautiful music like birds singing, coming from Tepeyac Hill. When he looked up, he saw a glowing lady who spoke to him in his own language, Nahuatl. It was the Virgin Mary! She gave him a very special job: to tell the Bishop to build a church on that spot so she could show her love to all the people.

The Takeaway for Kids: Juan Diego was an ordinary man doing his ordinary morning routine when God called him to do something extraordinary.

The Lesson of Humility: Why Mary Chose a Peasant

Children often think that to be a "hero," you need superpowers, a cape, or a crown. The world tells them that bigger is better. But the Gospel, and the story of St. Juan Diego, tells us the opposite.

When talking to your children today, focus on the Lesson of Humility.

When the Virgin Mary appeared, she didn’t appear to the Bishop in his palace or the rulers in the city. She appeared to Juan Diego. In his conversations with Our Lady, Juan Diego actually tried to talk her out of choosing him! He famously called himself a "man of no importance," a "leaf," and a "piece of rope." He thought he was too small for such a big mission.

But Our Lady of Guadalupe looked at him with love and said, "Am I not here, I, who am your Mother?"  She wanted him, not despite his smallness, but because  of his humble heart.

Parenting Tip:  Use this discussion to encourage your children. Remind them that even though they are small, their prayers are powerful. God loves to use "little saints" to bring joy to the family.

Activity Idea: Reenacting the 'Miracle of the Roses'

The best way to teach the faith to young children is through tactile storytelling . Kids learn with their hands and their eyes. This brings us to the most exciting part of today’s celebration: Reenacting the Miracle of the Roses.

You don’t need a complex craft setup or glitter glue (unless you want it!). You just need your imagination and a few props.

The Setup  
Clear a space in the living room. You will need:
*   A "Tilma":  A rough blanket, a poncho, or even a pillowcase.
*   Roses:  If you have fake flowers, great! If not, cut some simple circles out of red construction paper or color them on paper plates.
*   The Characters:  You can dress up, or better yet, use durable figures to act out the scene.

The Script
1.  The Walk:  Have your child march "Juan Diego" (the wooden figure or themselves) across the room. Talk about how cold it was. Brrr! 
2.  The Encounter:  Bring in the figure of Our Lady. Have her ask Juan Diego to go to the Bishop.
3.  The "No":  Explain that the Bishop didn't believe him at first. He wanted a sign.
4.  The Miracle:  This is the fun part! Have Juan Diego return to the "hill" (the couch). Tell your kids that even though it was winter and snow was on the ground, beautiful Castilian roses were blooming!
5.  The Reveal:  Have your child gather the roses into the "tilma." Then, have them run to the "Bishop" (Dad or a sibling). When they drop the tilma to let the roses fall out, show them an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Explain that the real miracle wasn't just the flowers—it was that Mary’s picture was miraculously painted on Juan Diego’s cloak, a picture we can still see today in Mexico!

Connecting the Dots: Preparing for December 12th 

Celebrating St. Juan Diego today creates a wonderful bridge in our Advent journey.

In the liturgical calendar, today acts as the "Part One" to the feast later this week. Today we celebrate the messenger; on Thursday, December 12th (The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe), we celebrate the message.

It reminds us that Mary always points us to Jesus. Just as she appeared to Juan Diego to bring Jesus to the people of the Americas, she wants to bring Jesus into our hearts this Christmas.

A Simple Family Prayer

Wrap up your St. Juan Diego feast day activities with a simple prayer before dinner or bedtime. Ask your children to hold their "tilmas" (or their hands open) as you pray:

> Dear Jesus, 
> Thank you for giving us St. Juan Diego, who loved You and Your Mother so much. 
> Help us to be humble like him. 
> When You ask us to do hard things, give us the courage to say "Yes." 
> Our Lady of Guadalupe, wrap us in your mantle of love. 
> St. Juan Diego, pray for us! 
> Amen. 

Bring the Story to Life

The story of the tilma, the roses, and the humble peasant is one of the most beautiful treasures of our faith. It teaches our children that holiness is accessible to everyone.

If you want to make this story a permanent, tactile part of your family’s faith rotation, consider adding the Little Saint Juan Diego & Lady of Guadalupe Wooden Play Set  to your playroom.

These figures are designed for little hands and big imaginations, helping you catechize through play long after the feast day is over.

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To listen to a story about Saint Juan Diego please visit our site, signup its free and we have tons of daily and night stories for our kids.

Download the Coloring Page for this special day here

We also have a variety of sweaters for kids and moms for Lady of Guadalupe. Check them out! 

Happy Feast of St. Juan Diego! May your Advent be filled with small miracles and great love.